Union calls for tougher sentences after 8 women are gang-raped in South Africa

Over 80 suspects have appeared in court facing charges of 32 counts of rape and attempted murder. The attackers are allegedly part of criminal syndicates that are involved in artisanal and small-scale mining in some abandoned mines in South Africa.
 

The women aged 19-35 were part of a production crew of 12 women and 10 men that was shooting a music video at a mine dump when they were attacked by heavily armed men on 28 July. The crew was also robbed of personal belongings.
 

Although South Africa has passed laws and legislation to end gender-based violence and harassment, that include the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, the cases keep increasing and unions want the courts to prosecute more cases and convict the offenders. South Africa ratified International Labour Organization Convention 190 in 2021 which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.
 

The country also has a national strategic plan on gender-based violence and femicide. In the plan, President Cyril Ramaphosa describes gender-based violence and harassment as a scourge in which “rape and sexual violence have become hyperendemic” and that “South Africa holds the shameful distinction of being one of the most unsafe places in the world to be a woman.”

“The location of a video set is a workspace at that moment. Artists are deemed a vulnerable sector based on the type of work that they do, and as a trade union it is our right and joint responsibility with other formations to uphold and adhere to Convention 190 that commits to the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence,”

says Mathapelo Khanye, NUM national secretary for the women’s structure.
 

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa says:

“We are appalled by the rape and sexual violence which continue to traumatize South African women, and support unions and civil society organizations in their campaigns to eliminate rape, and gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH).” 

The Sub-Saharan Africa regional office continues to carry out training and campaigns to sensitise and equip unions with strategies for the prevention of GBVH, and the adoption of workplace policies that provide safe working environments.

Cambodia launches pension scheme for private sector workers

The minister of labour and vocational training announced that the pension scheme, which is a part of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), will be implemented on 1 October.

For the first five years, a private sector employee and his or her employer are required to contribute 2 per cent of the wages each to the pension fund. The rate increases to 4 percent from the employee and 4 percent from the employer respectively. An additional 2.75 per cent will be added to the employee and employer’s contribution respectively for each subsequent 10 years.

According to the ministry, the employee will begin to receive the pension payment after he or she reaches 60 years old, the amount is calculated based on the employee’s last drawn salary six months before retirement.

Athit Kong, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU) explained that,

“The pension scheme is an additional benefit and opportunity for workers in a private Company. And the majority of workers welcome it but they need more awareness raising.”

Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL director of textile and garment industry, expressed that, 

“Social protection is a human right and designed to reduce and prevent poverty and vulnerability throughout the life cycle.  Cambodia’s new pension scheme is a positive step forward in strengthening social protection for garment workers.” 

Recently, IndustriALL and ILR School's New Conversation Project launched a research report titled "Security for Apparel Workers : Alternative Models".

The report points out the inadequate social protection system in apparel-producing countries. IndustriALL’s textile and garment sector has used the report’s finding to launch a campaign for stronger social protection in order to mitigate future crises such as Covid 19 and to ensure income security for apparel workers. (Investor brief)

Brazilian metalworkers sign agreement with TK Elevator

The text determines that metalworkers at TK Elevator's 13 factories will receive the same amount of PLR, regardless of the state or region of Brazil where they are located.   

"Having a national PLR agreement is good to avoid disparity between workers in the same company. TK Elevator has many branches in several states, and although some sell more, the agreement unifies this same resource for all"  

explained Taise Gonçalves Almeida, the coordinator of the workers' network at the Guaiba plant in Rio Grande do Sul.

The unions affiliated to the National Confederation of Metalworkers of the CUT (CNM/CUT, affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union) held an assembly where they voted and approved the final proposal. It established that the value of the PLR will be R$ 2,800 + 50% of the nominal salary, if the stipulated goals are reached.

The interim president of CNM/CUT, Loricardo de Oliveira, stated that the agreement helps to distribute income and guarantee equality in working conditions nationwide.

"National collective bargaining agreements, which guarantee equality among workers of the same company in the most diverse plants, are a priority for a better distribution of income. Therefore, collective bargaining agreements, such as those of TK Elevators, are fundamental to guarantee equality of conditions for workers in the same company and is a priority of the CNM/CUT."

added Oliveira, he emphasized that the workers demonstrated that, with good faith negotiations, mobilizations and unified work, it is possible to achieve a better future for all.

ThyssenKrupp's elevator business recently transformed into an independent group of companies called TK Elevator. IndustriALL signed a Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with the TK Elevator business in 2021, to update the agreement it used to have since 2015 with thyssenkrupp. As in the previous agreement, the core labor standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) formed the basis for the text of the GFA.

IndustriALL deputy regional secretary Cristian Alejandro Valerio said:    

"I congratulate the comrades of the network for signing this national agreement this is a great achievement for the company's workers throughout the country.

This achievement is another example of how important it is to be able to form global, regional and national networks of workers from different plants of the same transnational comapny, whether from different trade union organizations or from the same confederation, as in this case here. This allows them to connect with each other and coordinate actions that provide them with greater strength when negotiating with the company."

Update on Ukraine

Many of the country’s mines are found in the Donbass and Luhansk areas. Donbass and Luhansk are now occupied by Russia, in this region some of the mines run by state companies Lysychanskvugillya and Pervomaiskvugillia were forced to close due to flooding. Unions reported that miners had to run from the war and the mineshafts flooded due to the absence of workers to pump the ground waters.

The Chornobyl nuclear power plant is now liberated after having been occupied for two months, but there have been dire consequences, and there are still concerns about another attack from Belarussian territory.

The situation at the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya is worsening by the day. According to IndustriALL affiliate Atomprofspilka, Russia wants to incorporate the plant into the Russian nuclear company Rosatom from 1 September. The aim is to replace part of the Ukrainian staff with Russian workers. 

IndustriALL and affiliates continue to stand by the unions in Ukraine. Solidarity support is needed more than ever: 

Support unions in Ukraine

Ukraine

So far, funds raised through IndustriALL has been used for financial support and for accommodation and shelter for internally displaced members.

Young workers commit to active participation in transforming trade unions in Botswana

The second Sub-Saharan Africa IndustriALL Global Union-Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) youth activist school program this year took place in Gaborone, Botswana, 20-23 July. Over 20 young workers participated,11 were women.

The activist school was held in partnership with IndustriALL, FES and the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU). A third session of the will take place in November.

The first school program for 2022 took place in Tanzania, previous schools were held in 13 African countries, before the learning events were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The next activist school programme will take place in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana.

The young workers' list of priorities on transforming unions include strategies to advance the decent work agenda, and the future of work. On advancing workers’ rights, the importance of national labour laws and international labour standards was highlighted.

The participants came from 10 unions that organize in the automotive, diamond, energy, garment and textile, mining, the public sector, and others.

Discussions included knowledge and skills that are needed for young workers to play effective roles in the union. The BFTU highlighted the history, legal frameworks, and the national trade union context, while the Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) presented on effective approaches to collective bargaining. The FES presented engagement and successful negotiations. These sessions explored the collective bargaining culture in Botswana and how to make it more effective. 

There were discussions on international worker solidarity, inclusive social dialogue processes that catered to young women and men and focused on strengthening non-adversarial industrial relations. Feminist approaches to trade union campaigns included discussions on gender equity and equality and developing workplace policies using International Labour Organization Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work. Gender role plays exposed how women workers had more roles than their male colleagues, and how this impacted on their participation in union activities.

“As young workers we welcome the youth activist school because it offers practical workers education which is key to effective trade unionism. In addition, for unions to stand for fair and just societies, they must be inclusive of young workers in all spheres of union life,”

said Vanessa Nakedi, BFTU youth secretary.

Tumelo Awee, Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) added that  

“The activist school challenges us to evaluate and play effective roles as young workers. With the new learning from the activist school, we are now better prepared to engage employers.”

Thilo Schöne, FES Botswana resident representative says: “The youth activist school is an important revival of interactive, union-related and justice-motivated training for young Batswana. I am impressed by the solidarity, dynamism, and motivation of young trade unionists to become more involved in their unions in the future and to work for better working conditions.”

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa explained that,

“The youth activist schools are a strategy to create a vibrant trade union youth network in Africa that is innovative in using digital tools in union organizing. This network aims to build an activist and learning community that will advocate for social transformation. Additionally, we want the youth network to be a space where young workers will become organisers, negotiators, and gender champions through capacity development and networking.”

The Botswana Diamond Workers Union (BDWU), BMWU, and the Botswana Power Corporation Workers Union (BPCWU) who are affiliated to IndustriALL and the BFTU also participated in the activist school.

Fighting the dismantlement of Belarus’ independent trade unions

On 18 July, the Supreme Court decided to liquidate and dissolve the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), and its four members, three of them affiliated to IndustriALL – the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU or BNP), the Union of Radio and Electronics Workers (REP), the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB), and the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM).

IndustriALL  considers the decision null and void and continues to support its affiliates BITU, SPM and REP. 

In its letter to the ILO Director General for urgent intervention,

"IndustriALL condemns in the strongest possible terms the court decision, which we do not recognize. We will continue to assist and fully support the independent trade unions in Belarus to guarantee their organizational continuity.”

The repression of independent trade unions in Belarus is politically motivated and constitutes an assault on democracy and its institutions. The arrest of trade union leaders for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of association constitutes a grave violation of their fundamental human rights.

IndustriALL is demanding that the 15 trade union leaders and activists remaining in prison are released immediately:

1. Aliaksandr Yarashuk – Chairperson of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic trade unions, BKDP. 2. Siarhei Antusevich – Vice-Chairperson of BKDP.
3. Hennadz Fiadynich – Vice-chairperson of the Radio and Electronic workers’ union, REP.
4. Vatslau Areshka – activist of REP.
5. Mikhail Hromau – Member and Secretary of SPM Council.
6. Iryna But-Husaim – BKDP media team officer, book-keeper of BKDP.
7. Miraslau Sabchuk – Activist of SPM.
8. Yanina Malash – Deputy Chairperson of SPM, officer for organizing.
9. Vitali Chychmarou – Member of SPM Council, labour inspector.
10. Vasil Berasneu – Acting Chairperson of REP.
11. Zinaida Mikhniuk – Deputy chairperson of REP.
12. Aliaksandr Mishuk – Vice-Chairperson of BITU, Chairperson of BITU at JSC Belaruskali.
13. Ihar Povarau – activist of BITU at Belarusian Metallurgical Plant, BMZ.
14. Yauhen Hovar – activist of BITU at Belarusian Metallurgical Plant, BMZ.
15. Artsiom Zhernak – Chairperson of SPM at Minsk Automobile plant.

IndustriALL also demands that

“as a matter of urgency, the government of Belarus must give access to visitors, including an ILO mission to the country, IndustriALL, ITUC and other global trade union organizations, to ascertain the conditions of arrest and detention and the welfare of the detained trade unionists.”

In addition, IndustriALL demands that access be given to these organizations to observe the ongoing trials against trade unionists and trade union organizations.

“IndustriALL Global Union is committed to continue to support and assist Belorussian independent unions in their struggle to exercise under any circumstances, without fear of persecution or detention, their right to peaceful assembly and association, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of the press, the right to a fair trial, and the right to organize and collective bargaining,”

says IndustriALL assistant general secetary Kemal Ōzkan.

“The government of Belarus must change course and commit to global democratic standards.”

Badly made and unconvincing fake news are part the relentless attacks by the regime in Belarus. The state propaganda machinery has escalated its attacks on IndustriALL, the ILO, as well as national unions. Belarusian state TV showed a film, containing illegal recordings from union offices, as well as illegally obtained IndustriALL footage, attempting to portray a corrupt union leadership.

Taking full account of these egregious violations of human and fundamental trade union rights, IndustriALL is calling on affiliates to contact the embassy of Belarus in their country and send a model letter.
 
Please sign and share the LabourStart campaign, supported by the global labour movement.

Malaysia’s new bill risks crippling unions

The Malaysian government has been working on a labour law reform since 2018. The Industrial Relations Bill and the Employment Bill were passed in the parliament in 2019 and 2022, respectively.

However, the latest proposed amendment of the Trade Union Bill, called the fourth schedule, links offences to Penal Code provisions, like declaration of war against the king, it is detrimental for parliamentary democracy, acts of terrorism and organized crimes.

“While LLRC supports implementation of freedom of association in the bill, it is insane to insinuate that unionists are war criminals or terrorists. The penal code applies to everyone, regardless of whether they are union members or not, so there is no need to link it to the trade union bill. The government should not see unions as a threat to national security,”

says N. Gopal Kishnam, LLRC chairperson and general secretary of IndustriALL affiliate the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW).

This means that if a union commits any offence in the fourth schedule, the Director-General could cancel or withdraw the certificate of the union or withdraw the permission for affiliation to global unions.

Handing over the memorandum on 15 July

The proposed amendments could be used to intimidate trade unions and cripple union activities. The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Human Resources on 15 July, calling the government to drop the fourth schedule immediately.

“IndustriALL Global Union is urging the Malaysian government to reverse its proposed amendments related to the fourth schedule. Trade unions must be treated as a social partner, rather than a security threat,”

says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL

The LLRC, which consists of 58 trade unions affiliated to IndustriALL, BWI, PSI, IDWF, EI and NGOs, has engaged the Ministry of Human Resources to reform the Employment Act, Trade Union Act and Industrial Relations Act since 2019.

Sri Lankan unions demand constitutional reforms

Workers in Sri Lanka have been struggling to find food, fuel, and essential items necessary for survival since the beginning of the year. The shortages have been exacerbated by the Ukrainian war. According to reports, around 13 people have died waiting for fuel in queues. Shortages have disrupted all kinds of services including public transportation, making it difficult for workers to report to work on time.

Power cuts and shortage of fuel have also led to a considerable decline in export production. Medium-scale production firms have failed to complete their orders. Global brands that place orders in the country have been showing reluctance towards placing new orders.

Despite all these difficulties, the Sri Lankan people have shown enormous courage in demonstrating against the repressive and corrupt government. They have faced teargas shells and police violence in these months.

Sri Lankan affiliates are demanding the abolishment of the executive presidency in the country. Other demands include that the police department is made an independent civil department and is brought under the Ministry of Home Affairs, that changes are made to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities law, that fuel, gas, and other essential commodities are provided at concessionary rates for workers, that the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund is made public before an official endorsement, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act is repealed.

After the previous President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned and fled the country, Ranil Wikramasinghe was elected President in the election on 20 July. The formation of an interim government is still pending.

Anton Marcus, general secretary of IndustriALL affiliate Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union, says:

“The establishment of a stable democratic government is crucial to attract investors and maintain the production process, without which the country will continue to be in the throes.”

Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary, says:

“We support the demands of our Sri Lankan affiliates for constitutional reforms and extend the solidarity of our worldwide membership. We stand with the Sri Lankan workers in this difficult time.”

IndustriALL celebrates ten years of youth work

"This event is an occasion to speak with colleagues who have been involved in IndustriALL Global Union’s youth training projects over the past ten years. Our main projects have been with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) foundation and IG Metall. We have also run youth projects SASK, Union to Union and DGB,”

said IndustriALL’s regional secretary Marino Vani.

Young people were in the meeting in Buenos Aires and several former project participants joined remotely. They spoke about their involvement in IndustriALL's youth projects and how their careers have since then.

Javiera from Chile said:

"In 2012, Industrial Chile-Constramet asked me to take part in the project run by IndustriALL and FES. I’m working in politics now and am still involved in union causes. Much of what I learned during the project and at the union still serves me today.”

Like Javiera, Leticia from the Dominican Republic also took part in IndustriALL's youth projects and is now involved in politics. She works in the Women’s Ministry alongside Minister Mayra Jiménez (former member of IndustriALL Executive Committee) on gender-related policies.

Others said they had continued working in unions, reaching leadership positions. Leandro from Brazil said:

"In 2012 I was the CUT’s youth secretary. Today, I’m president of the metalworkers' unions for Soracaba and the surrounding region. We worked hard to get young people to join and now our members’ average age is 28 years. I’m still involved in the struggle and am now running as a potential candidate to be a state senator for Sao Paulo. It’s really great that IndustriALL will continue with the project for many more years to come."

Like Leandro, Belén from Argentina took part in IndustriALL projects with FES and DGB and now holds a leadership position in her union. She became the first woman leader in the Zárate branch of the metalworkers’ union UOM.

Participants also applauded Perla, a young woman from Nicaragua: she felt empowered by her involvement in youth projects and is now a substitute on IndustriALL's Executive Committee.

Angelica Jimenez-Romo, from the transnational trade union policy department at IG Metall Vorstand, spoke on behalf of the German participants. She said that, despite the pandemic and other crises, the youth projects have been a real success, as many young people continue to work together, laying the foundation for the next generation to continue their work.

IndustriALL's global project coordinator, Sarah Flores, said that the youth projects cultivate future leaders, enabling participants to grow professionally and to take up positions of power in many unions. This had convinced IndustriALL of the importance of investing in youth.

In a video message, IndustriALL President Jörg Hoffman said:

"I would like to send my sincere congratulations on this joyful anniversary. Ten years ago, Latin American trade unions did not have youth policies and did not represent the interests of young people. Much has changed since then, partly thanks to the training projects – most unions now have youth and gender equality policies. I want to thank you all for all your hard work, and I wish you all the best."

Massive job losses reverse union gains in Ethiopia’s Hawassa Industrial Park

The closures began after the announcement by the United States government that Ethiopia would no longer benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)’s duty-free access to US markets from 1 January this year. The reasons given for the termination of the preferential trade benefits are “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights by the government of Ethiopia and other parties” in the war in the northern part of the country.

Most of the factories in Hawassa that were exporting to the US had their orders cancelled leaving them stranded. However, with the on-going peace talks in the country, the union hopes for a peaceful breakthrough that will bring back trade and a new lease of life to the Hawassa Industrial Park which at its peak employed over 35,000 workers.

The IFTLGWTU says Best International Garments, an Indian owned company, with a factory in the park, has retrenched over 3000 workers. Further, the closure of one of the largest factories in the park by Phillip Van Heusen (PVH) in November 2021, is having a ripple effect as over 15 companies in the park received orders from PVH under third party manufacturing contracts.
 
The union says currently, there are plans to scale down production by other garment factories that include Sumbiri Hela Intimates which has put 260 workers on a month paid leave after which there is uncertainty. The factory is jointly owned by Sri Lanka based Hela Indochine Apparel and Sumbiri Intimate Apparel. Quadrant Apparel Group has also put 300 on paid leave while Epic Apparel Plc, a Hong Kong-based Epic Group subsidiary, has retrenched workers after paying six months’ wages. In June, Chargeurs Fashion Technologies, a French company, also retrenched 22 workers.

“In this job losses crisis, workers are anxious because job security is no longer guaranteed in the factories that are still operational. We are trying our best to ensure that workers are paid their terminal benefits according to the labour laws and hope that the end of the conflict will bring back AGOA benefits to ease the plight of the suffering workers,”

says Angesome Gebre Yohannes, the president of the (IFTLGWTU) which is affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union.
 
Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa says:

“The Ethiopian industrial parks industrialization strategy remains one of the most effective models in creating jobs in the garment and textile sector in Africa. We were hoping for more jobs and not the retrenchments that we are witnessing. However, IndustriALL continues to support the IFTLGWTU in ensuring that employers respect workers’ rights and international labour standards during the retrenchments.”