Deadly factory fire in Pakistan

The only entrance and exit to BM Industry’s illegal factory was locked, as was the a door to the roof which could have been used as an escape route, and iron bars covered the windows. Attempts to fight the fire only started two hours after it had broken out.

Three brothers were among the 17 workers who died in the fire: 37-year-old Irfan, Farman, 33 and Farhan, 30. Two more brothers from the same family narrowly escaped death.

The father of the three brothers who perished in the fire holds their identity cards.

Afzal, one of the surviving brothers, says:

“I escaped the fire only because I had gone downstairs to fetch our tea order when I heard screaming for help from upstairs. I dropped everything to rush back upstairs, but I couldn’t go. There was a fire which had spread within seconds. It had engulfed the stairs.”

Afzal says that the Chief minister’s adviser and Karachi administrator barrister Murtaza Wahab has promised the families of the deceased Rs1 million (US$6,000) as compensation, along with food rations and free education for their orphaned children.

Nasir Mansoor, general secretary of the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan, says that the fire reminds him of the Baldia factory fire in 2012, where 259 workers died.

“If lessons had been learned from the fire in 2012, maybe this incident would never have happened. The authorities handled the Baldia factory case politically and deliberately overlooked the corruption and incompetence of government departments.

“We demand compensation from the owners, as well as the government. There must also be a judicial inquiry into the cause of the fire.”

According to Mansoor, Pakistan is signatory to 32 global conventions on decent work and occupational health and safety. But implementation is zero, due to corruption among the government and employers.

“This is another horrific example of workers paying the ultimate price and this deadly pursuit of profit must end. Immediate steps to improve workers’ health and safety in Pakistan must be taken in consultation with the unions,”

says Valter Sanches, IndustriALL general secretary.

Union blames employer negligence for worker’s death at Liberian rubber factory

Joe, a mechanic in his thirties, and an active union member for over ten years, was crushed to death on 21 August at Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) rubber processing factory in Grand Bassa County. LAC is owned and managed by Socfin SA – a Belgian based company that is involved in commercial rubber.

According to the union, he died when the machine he was fixing was accidentally switched on.

Emmanuel Joe, the Liberian rubber factory worker who died in the accident.

AAIWUL and other unions say the LAC management’s negligence and poor health and safety standards are largely to blame for the accident that resulted in the “gruesome death.”

“The accident has caused a sense of fear and distrust among the workers. The company’s lack of safety protocols, procedures and regulations is a serious impediment to workers’ health and safety. We are calling on the ministry of labour to conduct a speedy investigation in consultation with the unions to ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the horrific accident. The union will not relent but do all it can to ensure a just, fair and immediate investigation is conducted, and those held responsible be made accountable,”

says Edwin Cisco, AAIWUL secretary general.

The unions say the recent accident is not an isolated case as four workers from LAC were killed in 2017 when a condensation tank exploded again due to negligence as confirmed by ministry of labour investigations.

“We received the news of the accident with shock, and urgently call for urgent meetings between the LAC, unions and government to save the lives of workers at the company. Health and safety protocols must always be followed to protect workers from injuries and death. Liberian labour laws and international labour standards state that employers have a duty to create safer workplaces,”

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

However, to improve health and safety in the rubber industry, AAIWUL is carrying out joint activities with the national federation, the Liberia Labour Congress, with support from IndustriALL. The activities include training in health and safety protocols and regulations.

Employing over 4 200 workers, and with a planted area more than 12 800 hectares, LAC’s Grand Bassa plantation is one of the oldest and largest rubber plantations. LAC operations include rubber tree tapping, latex collection and processing, and packaging of 25 000 tonnes of raw rubber which is exported. Rubber is Liberia’s main export product.

International Accord: tentative agreement on expanded worker safety programmes

The renewed agreement preserves and advances the fundamental elements that made the Accord successful, including: respect for freedom of association; shared governance between labour and brands; a high level of transparency; safety committee training and worker awareness program; and a credible, independent complaints mechanism.

Key new features of the International Accord include:

Valter Sanches, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary, says:

“This International Accord is an important victory towards making the textile and garment industry safe and sustainable. The agreement maintains the legally binding provision for companies and most importantly the scope has been expanded to other countries and other provisions, encompassing general health and safety .

“Now, the textile and garment companies must show their commitment and sign the renewed International Accord. We congratulate our affiliates in the sector, especially those from Bangladesh, that have campaigned for binding commitments for health and safety in the industry.”

The new agreement, called the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (International Accord), takes effect on 1 September 2021. The current agreement, a three-month extension of the Transition Accord, expires 31 August.

The Accord was first signed in 2013 following the industrial homicide that killed over 1’100 workers with the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Covid-19 spreads in Myanmar’s factories

Since the military coup, many garment manufacturers have ignored the health protocols implemented by the previous democratically-elected government. When Covid-19 cases skyrocketed in July this year, the lack of implementation of the health protocols have led to an increasing number lot of workplace infections.

Until today, 14,499 Myanmar people have died from Covid-19 and 375,871 have been infected.

Khaing Zar, the president of IWFM, says:

“There is no concrete action to remedy the worsening situation, and we have raised this with employers and brands several times. Some employers have even collaborated with the military to identify and persecute local union leaders.

“There are no workers’ rights, no justice and no remedy. That’s why we are calling all investors to isolate the regime, cut off their resources and drive them out.”

According to the unions, Myanmar’s labour office has been largely dysfunctional since the coup in February. Many garment employers have unilaterally dismissed workers who have been absent from work over safety concerns.

There are reports of employers violating labour laws and collective agreement, with reports of workers not receiving severance pay after dismissal, and employers closing down factories without properly consulting unions and workers.

Valter Sanches, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary, says:

“We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of the two IWFM members who died from Covid-19 and condemn the junta and employers for mismanaging workers’ health and safety. We support IWFM’s call for comprehensive economic sanctions against the military junta.”

At 11.30 CET on 27 August, IndustriALL is hosting a webinar on the campaign to call for comprehensive economic sanction against the military junta in Myanmar. You can watch it on Facebook live.

Factory fire in Tunisia shows lack of safety measures

Although there were no casualties, the fire highlights the lack of safety measures and security at the worksite. The fire quickly escalated and spread to the whole factory, indicating an absence of a firefighting system and protective equipment, as well as a lack of early warning devices.

Since the fire, the factory has resumed partial activity at another site and around 700 workers have been able to go back to work.

Tahar Berberi, general secretary of IndustriALL affiliate Fédération Générale de la Métallurgie et de l'Electronique, FGME-UGTT, says:

“The Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) played an important role in the process as the general secretary Noureddine Taboubi met with a delegation representing Valeo’s mother company. During the meeting, management committed to pay wages and transfer workers to a temporary worksite until the factory has been rebuilt. UGTT committed to support the resumed activity and accelerate some of the procedures.”

The fire is believed to have started in an adjacent factory and spread to the Valeo after a palm tree caught fire.

Workers at General Motors' Silao plant secure historic win

A total of 6,480 workers cast their ballot. There were 2,623 votes in favour of the agreement, 3,214 against, and 39 spoiled ballots. As a result, the current collective agreement will be scrapped.

Workers will not lose any of their rights, and their benefits and working conditions will remain the same until new representatives are elected.

"The union should now get to sign a new collective employment agreement,”

explained Héctor de la Cueva, general coordinator for Mexico’s centre for employment and labour relations research (CILAS), at a press conference.

The victory is unprecedented for the workers at the GM plant, which employs close to 7,000 people. The workers had reported serious irregularities in the voting process during the initial ballot in April this year and lodged the first-ever complaint under the rapid response mechanism, provided for in the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

To ensure a free, safe and transparent voting process, free from harassment and intimidation, the Mexican and US governments agreed to repeat the vote in the presence of independent observers from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Mexico's National Electoral Institute (INE), alongside federal work inspectors from the country's labour ministry.

Many of Mexico's democratically run unions – including the federation of independent unions in the automobile, automotive parts, aerospace and tyre industries (FESIIAAAN), the “Generando Movimiento” union, the new central union of workers (NCT) and the Los Mineros union – set up camp outside the plant to show their support for the GM workers during the voting process.

At the international level, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in the United States and Canada, as well as the regional network of GM workers, followed this key vote closely and were very happy with the outcome.  

IndustriALL Global Union's general secretary, Valter Sanches, says:

"We congratulate the brave workers at GM's Silao plant for their determination and for their victorious struggle for freedom of association. It's clear that we still have much work to do, but the workers can count on IndustriALL Global Union and our affiliates around the world. We will be by their side, helping them to secure full union freedom and dignified working conditions. The outcome of this ballot brings great hope and new prospects for workers in Mexico."

South African union demands reversal of retrenchment notice for 200 miners

According to NUM, when the company took over the mine in 2012, they promised to improve the maintenance of the mine shaft and the pumping of water from underground. CAPM also promised to create 10 000 jobs and had said it would start by hiring 2,000 workers.

Instead of the retrenchments, the union is proposing that workers be put on rotational layoffs at 50 per cent wages to allow the company to fix the winders at the mine. Workers will then return to work when the mine is fully operational.

Further, the union wants CAPM to apply for the employee temporary relief scheme. The Unemployment Insurance Fund Covid-19 Temporary Employee/employer Relief Fund falls under the department of labour and employment and was created to assist companies in distress because of the pandemic.

“The retrenchment is a double blow for us after being passed from Aurora to CAPM as the mine changed hands. We have not been paid by Aurora and the case is being finalised in court. And now we are being retrenched,”

says Mguga Mava. He has worked at the mine’s engineering department for 12 years and says workers are still owed money by Aurora which went under liquidation.

The Pamodzi Gold mine has a troubled history. CAPM took over the mine in 2011 and was reported to have demanded that workers in South Africa waive their labour rights in its new agreement with Pamodzi Gold. The controversy was resolved with the National Union of Mineworkers with CAPM reportedly committing to “ constructive engagement in the future, based on mutual trust and goodwill”.

"The NUM disagrees with CAPM on cutting jobs by 66 per cent. We are disappointed that it is the same former Aurora workers who will be affected by these retrenchments. The NUM hoped that when the mine re-opened, the unemployment in the region would be reduced, and that the conditions of workers in this mine would be aligned to those of the industry as undertaken by the company.

"We are very much disappointed to find ourselves back paddling as the mine faces closure and is going into care and maintenance,"

says Masibulele Naki, NUM regional secretary for Matlosana.

The union says Chinese owned companies like CAPM are exploiting workers “without showing the slightest respect for the basic labour laws.”
 
The NUM went on strike at the mine in 2018 for better health and safety conditions to avoid situations in which workers would be forced to work under dangerous conditions. At the time there were no risk assessments being carried out as per mining regulations. The strike forced the department of mineral resources and energy to inspect the mine and ask the employer to comply.

However, workers say some issues related to winder engines, cables and communication bell recorders for operators are yet to be resolved.

“Jobs should be preserved, especially under the harsh conditions of Covid-19. CAPM should have a dialogue with NUM and the government to find ways to save jobs. It is important to always remember that workers have families to look after and their welfare should be seriously considered before deciding on retrenchments,”

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

KMWU concludes first industry-level transformation agreement with Korean employers

The marathon negotiating session, concluded at dawn on 11 August, also agreed on a 5.11 per cent increase from last year of the metal-industry floor-wage. As of 1 Jan to 31 December 2022, this means Won9,250/hour (US$7.9) or Won2,090,500/month (US$1,787) and is a voluntary floor above the statutory minimum wage of Won9,160/hour (US$7.8).

In the transformation agreement, KMWU and the employers agree to design and implement plans responding to digitalization, automation, electrification and climate crisis-related industrial transformation. The plans will include ensuring employment security and decent work; providing job training for new technology; protecting health/safety/human rights; responding to climate crisis; and fair treatment along the supply chain.

 

KIM Ho Gyu, KMWU chairperson, says:

"KMWU and the Korean Metal Industry Employers' Association have negotiated as true industry-level organizations. Both the agreement and the declaration will be as important as last year's Protection from infectious disease agreement. It is meaningful that we have agreed with the employers' association on the goals, ideals and future pursued by the KMWU."

A union-management body shall be formed at each work-site to jointly draw up and implement the specific industrial transformation plans.
An joint declaration on metal industry response to climate crisis confirmed the commitment to rapidly and consistently lower carbon emissions together, that companies will secure the funds and build the structure for whole supply-chains to reduce carbon emissions, and that any investment or transformation plans must not aggravate the climate crisis.

Annie Adviento, South East Asia regional secretary, says:

“We congratulate KMWU on signing the industrial transformation agreement. It is more important than ever to negotiate for a Just Transition with employers as digitalization threatens job security and the Korean government is pushing for a tech-centric economy.”

The ratification of the industrial transformation agreement by KMWU branches is expected to take place in October 2021.
 

South African unions and civil society march for democracy in Eswatini

The march to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Pretoria on 13 August was followed by the handing over of a memorandum, demanding that the United National Human Rights Council (UNHRC) convenes an urgent meeting to respond to continuing human rights violations including the right to life, and the rule of law. Further, the UNHRC must emphasize on Eswatini’s responsibility to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as specified in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 
According to a memorandum by the United Eswatini Diaspora to which NUMSA and other civil society organizations signed, the UNHRC must investigate and act upon stopping:

“The human rights violations by the government  and the absolute monarchy which have assumed a number of forms  including the killing of 72 civilians, severe injuries to more than 200 people, harassment, arbitrary detention, persecution of pro-democracy Members of Parliament, censorship of the media, state intimidation and threats, the promulgation and use of laws that violate fundamental rights to freedom of expression and association, and unlawful state efforts to undermine bar or crack down on peaceful protests.”

 

 
The memorandum states that over 600 people, including children, have been arrested. Speakers during the march said the whereabouts of several hundreds of people remains unknown.

“For a longtime the people of Eswatini have been fighting for freedom against the repression. As trade unions we support the struggle to end their suffering and call upon the UN and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene,”

says Jerry Morulane, the NUMSA regional secretary for Hlanganani which includes Pretoria.
 
Recently, IndustriALL affiliates in Eswatini, The Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) and Swaziland Electricity Supply Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (SESMAWU), took part in a workers’ march to parliament in Lobamba to demand democratic reforms and a constitutional monarchy. The march was organized by the Swaziland Congress of Trade Unions and coincided with the global day of action by IndustriALL and the ITUC.

“IndustriALL continues to call on the government of Eswatini to facilitate social and political dialogue that will lead to democratic reforms. The country must respect human rights and adhere to the UN Charter and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that it has signed,”

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

Eswatini is Africa’s last absolute monarchy and political parties were banned in 1973. The country has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 and he appoints the prime minister and other key officials. Mswati, whose net worth is over $50 million according to reports, is infamous for an opulent lifestyle that includes buying a fleet of Rolls-Royces for his family of 15 wives and 23 children while most of the population lives in poverty and faces high unemployment especially amongst the youth. The country also faces a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS.

Need for youth policy, say young unionists

The 59 participants at the Bangladesh national youth forum listed job insecurity among the major challenges. A large number of young workers are on precarious contracts with low wages and no social securities, with women workers being more exposed than their male colleagues.

A youth committee was formed in February 2020. Young unionists decided to implement the action plan to organize young workers and address youth issues in their unions. During the virtual meeting, it was also decided that young activists will work to establish sustainable union structures, union capacity building and create awareness of young workers’ rights and effective union communication.

After intense debate, the young trade unionists committed to work with senior union leaders to pursue the following action plans during 2021:

Developing effective youth communication networks to support youth organizing campaigns, sharing experiences and knowledge to young members, organizing communication and other technological trainings for young union members will be prioritized. Developing intervention strategies and trainings on ILO convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work will also be prioritized.

 

At the Sri Lanka youth forum, participants decided to form a youth working group. They decided to reorganize the youth committees of their respective unions and youth policies with a gender perspective. Developing capacities of young workers to ensure that young leaders, including women, are able to take on leadership positions will be prioritized.

Developing effective communication networks to support organizing young workers and creative use of social media platforms to attract more young and women workers will be a key priority for Sri Lankan affiliates.

Apoorva Kaiwar, South Asia regional secretary, said:

“It is encouraging to see the active participation of young unionists in the youth forums. It is essential to organize and integrate more young and women workers in the day-to-day union activities. We have a democratic trade union history in South Asia, and the voices of young workers need to be well integrated in union activities.”