Moving towards sustainable shipbreaking in South Asia

Two workers were killed and thirteen more were injured at a shipbreaking yard in Sitakund, Bangladesh on 31 August, providing a stark reminder of the need to implement basic safety measures in shipbreaking in the South Asia region.

Sixteen union activists from unions in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan took part in a training the trainers workshop on occupational health and safety (OHS) from 26-28 August, conducted by Joop van Oord and Martjin van de Beurcht from Dutch affiliate, FNV.

The training covered various aspects of OHS including communication, observation, organization, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, safety from noise pollution, accident prevention, and the safe use of wire rope, tools and shackles.

Participants were able to share good practices, speak frankly on safety issues, and discuss how to best train colleagues on ways to improve safety.

At the subsequent regional project meeting on 29-30 August, participants assessed the shipbreaking industry in the wider global context, took stock of ongoing union organizing activities and discussed means to build sustainable unions with an appropriate membership fee collection system.

IndustriALL South Asia affiliates in shipbreaking meet in Nepal.

The trade unionists underlined the need for a renewed focus on safety and to increase campaigning for countries to ratify the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

The International Maritime Organization’s Hong Kong Convention requires ratification by 15 States, representing 40 per cent of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage, to come into force. So far 13 states have ratified the Convention, representing 29.42 per cent of gross tonnage.

Kan Matsuzaki, IndustriALL director for Shipbuilding and Shipbreaking, stressed:

“Getting India and Bangladesh or Pakistan to ratify the Convention will take us a long way towards putting it into force.”

The meeting also organizing downstream workers engaged in activities including plastic recycling and steel re-rolling mills.

A SEWA member discusses the poor conditions for women working in downstream shipbreaking industries

Participants resolved to set up a Shipbreaking South Asia platform enabling workers and like-minded organizations to work together to improve the working conditions in the shipbreaking industry in the region.

Atle Høie, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, said:

“Shipbreaking continues to be one of the most dangerous industries in the world. We cannot allow shipbreaking workers to risk their lives doing the dirty work of billionaire ship owners. IndustriALL and FNV’s solidarity efforts will strengthen workers’ capacity to improve safety in the yards.”

Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary said:

“Our affiliates are working towards strengthening union structures to respond to the critical safety issues in shipbreaking and its downstream industries.”

IndustriALL affiliates Bangladesh Metalworkers’ Federation (BMF), Bangladesh Metal, Chemical, Garments and Tailors Workers Federation (BMCGTWF), National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) from Pakistan and the Steel, Metal and Engineering Workers' Federation of India (SMEFI) and Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) took part in the meetings that were organized by IndustriALL with solidarity support from FNV.

South African unions shocked by xenophobia and looting

The violence is a repeat of what has happened in previous xenophobic attacks in the country, and the police say they made several arrests.

Louise Modikwe from IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Union, who is also the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) provincial secretary for Gauteng province said:

“COSATU is shocked by the violence against foreign nationals, in particular Nigerians, that started last week after a taxi driver was killed in Pretoria. This violence is perpetuated by the economic challenges in South Africa and in Africa as well, and results from failures by governments to develop economic policies that grow economies and create jobs. Government interventions in job creation, management of undocumented foreign nationals, and drug control in communities are often poor.”

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) to which IndustriALL affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is also affiliated said:

“SAFTU reiterates that foreign migrants have nothing to do with the expanded unemployment rate of 38 per cent. They have nothing to do with the fact that two thirds of South Africans live in poverty. The inequalities faced by South Africans are not created by poor African and Asian migrants but are manifesting from the capitalist system that divides and exploits the black working class.”

The unions said safety and security is poor as the South African Police Service is failing in its duties to maintain law and order. They said this could be one the reasons why crime is rampant in the country.

The unions also condemned the practice by some employers of preferring undocumented over South African workers. The undocumented workers were paid wages below the minimum wage of ZAR 3,500 (US $230). They said this created conflict between workers.

With sluggish economic growth of 2.8 per cent per annum in Sub Saharan Africa, jobs are hard to come by, with South Africa seen as providing better opportunities than other countries. Efforts currently being made to create jobs on the continent include the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, among other initiatives.

Photo: © Ihsaan Haffejee, New Frame: 2 September – People run away from the police who tried to disperse a mob attempting to loot migrant owned businesses

Indian coal unions call for immediate ratification of ILO C176

India’s mining industry has seen frequent accidents, some with fatal outcomes. According to a report published by Coal India Limited, from 2010 to March 2019, a total of 498 coal miners were killed at work. A staggering 1,660 coal miners were seriously injured.

Rajendra Prasad Singha of HKMF said:

“The deteriorating safety in mines is a serious concern. Unplanned mining, increase in production targets, coal extraction by third parties, a high number of untrained precarious workers, negligence of safety measures by Coal India Limited, and glaring short comings by the government’s safety supervisory agency are some of the reasons behind these avoidable accidents.
“Unions need to work together to improve safety, and we need IndustriALL’s continued support in creating awareness on safety issues and best practices globally.”

On 26 August, 700 union activists rallied at Talcher and submitted a memorandum to the chairperson of the of Mahanadi Coalfields, demanding improved safety measures and that the government immediately ratify ILO C176.

On 28 August, union activists of Eastern Coalfields gathered at Asansol and discussed safety issues.

Participants in both the events decided to:
•   intensify campaigns at every mine to address unsafe working conditions
•   stop use of sub-standard safety equipment
•   ensure availability of safety equipment for all workers, including precarious workers
•   take steps to ensure appropriate training for precarious workers
•   extend solidarity when precarious workers face safety-related problems
•   increase awareness on right to reject the unsafe work

Moving a step further, activists at Eastern Coalfields decided to form a joint union safety team to inspect and monitor safety standards. Unions will also continue to support the campaign for the ratification of ILO C176.

Apporva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary said:

“IndustriALL affiliates’ efforts to address safety issues are crucial. Building unity around safety issues and the campaign to ratify ILO C176 will contribute to the wellbeing of coal miners in India.”

Mass protest in Myanmar calling for enforced labour law

4,000 workers in the Hlaing Thar Yar district and 600 workers in the Kyauk Tan district voiced their protests over the lack of implementation of the amended law, which was passed in June this year. Many of the demonstrators wore red, the colour of their union, IndustriALL affiliate Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).

Two union leaders, Kyi Thi Win and Shane Thu, were fired from Prosperity Knitting factory in June, as they were setting up of a basic labour organization in the factory.

The IWFM is demanding the immediate reinstatement of the two union leaders and effective implementation of the new law.

“This is a violation of workers’ rights,” says Khaing Zar, IWFM president and IndustriALL Executive Committee member. “We have exhausted all institutional channels like the labour department, the township conciliation body and Ministry of Labour, but the government is turning a deaf ear to this serious violation of workers’ right.”

According to Article 23 of the revised law on settling labour disputes, a dispute between an employer and a worker will be handled by the labour department or the court. In the previous dispute settlement mechanism a township conciliation body acted as the mediator.

“The case of the union leaders fired in June clearly shows that the authorities are not upholding the law and reinstating unfairly dismissed workers. We are calling on the government to enforce the amendment of the law and recognise workers’ right to organize and form a union,” Khaing Zar added.

IndustriALL affiliates in Asia-Pacific to mobilize for fairer trade

Trade unions are demanding that free trade agreements should benefit all and that unions are consulted in the negotiations. The action is timed to coincide with the L20 or Labour 20 – a meeting of trade union leaders from the G20 nations, that is taking place in Tokyo, Japan on 29 and 30 August.

The new generation of comprehensive free trade agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which demands deeper liberalization in the Asia-Pacific region, go beyond mere tariff reductions, affecting almost every aspect of a nation’s economy. They have serious implications for governments’ ability to use policy tools according to their developmental needs, and in many ways, represent a corporate trade agenda that can negatively affect workers’ rights.

The RCEP negotiations, which involve 16 countries and half of the world’s population, are at an advanced stage and due to be concluded by the end of the year.

Actions of IndustriALL’s affiliates in the Asia-Pacific region are guided by the ten guiding principles for trade union intervention in policy forums and processes, which was adopted by the IndustriALL Executive Committee.

Governments must return to multilateralism, instead of pursuing bilateral or regional trade agreements
Trade agreements must include enforceable labour rights and reference ILO conventions
Trade negotiations must be transparent and inclusive
Governments must retain control and be able to set industrial policy
Say no to Investor State Dispute Settlement provisions, which allow companies to sue countries if they pass laws that restrict their profits
Governments must be able to regulate the digital economy and play a role in policy-making for digital infrastructure
Intellectual property rights must not hinder governments’ efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Limitations on medicines must be removed from trade agreements
Countries must able to use rule-based trade remedies to defend local industries against unfair trade
Public procurement must remain as a government industrial policy tool
Public services must be excluded from legally-binding commitments under trade agreements

IndustriALL affiliates will hold rallies, demonstrations and workshops to highlight their demands on 30 August.

The L20, which is convened by the International Trade Union Confederation and the OECD, is taking place ahead of the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting in Matsuyama, Japan on 1 and 2 September.

Bangladesh: 701 garment workers fired after Eid

As workers returned to the factory after Eid vacation on 18 August, SF Denim Apparels cited ‘work order shortage’ and announced one of the largest terminations in Bangladeshi garment factories in recent times.

At least half of the 701 workers just fired wanted to form a trade union under the leadership of IndustriALL affiliate Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF).

According to unions, SF Denim Apparels has consistently been obstructing efforts to organize and form a union.

In response to efforts to form a union in 2018 the company fired more than a hundred workers. 38 of the workers launched court cases against the employer, which are still ongoing.

The practice is continuing; in early August, days before the Eid vacation, five workers involved in union organizing were laid off.

Nazma Akter, IndustriALL Executive Committee member and SGSF president says:

“We are deeply concerned over the mass layoffs; the workers are obviously targeted over their involvement in union activities. To make matters worse, more than 30 of the terminated workers are pregnant and will now not receive any maternity benefits. We demand that SF Denim Apparels reinstate all the fired workers.”

The union is in contact with the brands that source from SF Denim, like C&A, H&M and Benetton, and they are working together to resolve the situation.

Calls to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining in Africa

ASM provides livelihoods to over 10 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and yet is inherently dangerous claiming an incalculable number of lives every year. In June, more than 40 artisanal miners were killed at a mine collapse at Glencore’s cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Formalization will not only improve safety and allow for decriminalization of the activity, but also open the door to opportunities provided by ASM, including new forms of organizing for trade unions.

Speaking at the meeting of trade unions from DRC, Ghana, Mali, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, IndustriALL’s director for mining, Glen Mpufane, said:

“Recognition of the role of the sector in the mainstream economy by the authorities can lead to a relationship where ASM or informal mining can co-exist with large scale industrial mining. A process of certification that legalizes and integrates ASM into the economy can bring certainty, order and stability to the industry and help remedy the ills of the sector.”

He added that the multi-stakeholder Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) recommends cooperation between mining companies and ASM. IRMA promotes the exercise of due diligence to stop child and forced labour in the mining supply chain and aims to minimize social and environmental risks.

IndustriALL director for mining, Glen Mpufane

ASM covers informal, subsistence mining by families and individuals, as well as small formal commercial mining operations. While it makes a significant contribution to the economies of the countries where it operates, mostly in the global south, it lacks policy recognition by governments, the mining industry and even trade unions. ASM is consequently pushed to the margins of economic activity, and often considered illegal and criminalized.

The meeting acknowledged that formalization is a complex process which needs enabling laws and financial support from governments and the mining industry. Further, artisanal and small-scale miners should be given permits, while the rights of women to work in mining should be protected and cultural stigma reduced.

Artisanal mining must be formalized say unions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Legal and policy frameworks ensure the inclusion of health and safety standards, women’s rights and community participation. For instance, community participation helps to prevent conflicts when mining encroaches on agricultural land.

The meeting heard that formalization also means improving miners’ knowledge on health and safety and environmental issues. The use of mercury in small scale gold mining and its adverse health effects was highlighted.

Trade unions were urged to organize artisanal miners and, as per the International Labour Organization Recommendation 204, can help transition workers from the informal to the formal economy.

A starting point could be through creating forums that include ASM workers. Union constitutions could also be amended to allow for membership. On becoming members, the miners are then integrated into union activities on education, social dialogue and collective bargaining.

Dr Hibist Kassa presents at the meeting.

Dr Hibist Kassa, ASM researcher from the University of the Witwatersrand, indicated that although artisanal mining is legal in some countries, workers are not given adequate protections:

“The apparent contradictory interventions by the state are underscored by an overriding interest in preserving the dominance of large-scale mining operations.”

She emphasized that formalization is important to ending the criminalization of ASM.

The meeting was supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Trade Union Competence Centre.

Agreement to end harassment at Nien Hsing factories, Lesotho

IDUL has been fighting gender-based violence and harassment at Nien Hsing Textile company factories in Maseru for many years. The company, which employs over 10,000 workers, even cancelled a memorandum of understanding in retaliation for being asked about the violations when IDUL wanted to access the factories to organize.

The agreements to address the pattern of abuse and harassment come after a report by US based Workers Rights Consortium (WRC), revealing that managers and supervisors at Nien Hsing forced workers into sexual relationships by “conditioning the maintenance of employment contracts/or provision of more favourable working conditions on a female worker’s willingness to engage in such a relationship.”

Management was complicit as it did not take disciplinary action against the offenders, creating a tolerance of the abuse and a fear of reporting the violations.

After extensive negotiations following on the report, IDUL together with four other unions in Lesotho, IndustriALL US affiliate Workers United, WRC and Solidarity Center signed agreements with Nien Hsing, Levi Strauss & Co, The Children’s Place and Kontoor Brands to address gender-based violence at five factories in the country.

May Rathakane, IDUL deputy general secretary says:

“We are committed to protecting workers’ rights and well-being at factories, and to ensure that female workers feel safe, valued and empowered. We are pleased to be working on a comprehensive programme to combat and prevent gender-based violence and harassment. This is a breakthrough to better working conditions and will protect workers from retaliation by employers.”

A complaint and fact-finding body will be set up to investigate the abuses, education and training on sexual harassment for factory workers, supervisors and managers will also be carried out.

The Lesotho organizations also have an agreement with each brand, to which the Solidarity Center, Workers United and WRC are also signatories, that commits the brand to cut orders with the employer if the employer fails to fulfill its obligations.

Edgar Romney, secretary-treasurer of Workers United, who assisted in the negotiations for the pact, says:

“Brands have a responsibility to ensure that their suppliers respect workers’ rights and prevent gender-based violence and harassment. These agreements reflect a shared commitment to protect the rights of the workers and is a good example of what we can achieve when joining forces globally.”

Philippine President vetoes bill to end contract work

The President states that notwithstanding the veto, he will continue to stand by his “firm commitment to protect the workers’ right to security of tenure by eradicating all forms of abusive employment practices”. However, unions are wary and waiting to see what will be the President’s next steps to keep his campaign promise to end all forms of short-term employment.

“This bill would provide a legislative arena for working towards eradicating contract work, which the President had promised to end, but then vetoed,” says Eva Arcos, IndustriALL executive committee member. “And his reason was the bill was not fair, as it did not respect capital’s right to earn a profit.”

IndustriALL affiliates in the Philippines are continuing the campaign to end contract work on company level, raising awareness and increasing support for a law that will put a stop to the current abusive practice of short-term employment.

“The Philippine trade union movement has been fighting an uphill battle to eliminate all forms of precarious work including short-term employment. It is a practice that must end, as precarious work undermines workers’ rights to decent pay, benefits, just work terms and conditions, right to organize and bargain collectively,”

says Annie Adviento, regional secretary of IndustriALL South East Asia office.

Workers discuss future of the mobility sector and employment in Latin America

At the meeting, which was attended by union representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay, the education coordinator at Brazil's Inter-union Department of Statistics and Socio-economic Studies (DIEESE), Fausto Augusto Junior, gave an overview of the current and future situation of the mobility sector in the region. He also looked at how further free trade agreements and the rise of new technologies might affect the sector.

IndustriALL's deputy regional secretary, Cristian Alejandro Valerio said:

"One of the things we agreed on was that, the global economic power is interested for Latin America to continue extracting and producing raw materials rather than be a manufacturing region. Participants also pointed out that governments in the region invest very little in R&D and technology, which makes it difficult to develop the manufacturing industry."

The head of IndustriALL's automotive and aerospace sector, Georg Leutert, moderated a discussion on new mobility concepts, electric vehicles, digitalization and Industry 4.0, with leaders providing details about the extent to which these technologies are used in the region.

IndustriALL's general secretary, Valter Sanches, joined the meeting via video call. He talked about IndustriALL's strategies and the action it was taking to prepare for the future world of work. He also highlighted the need for unions to help ensure a fair transition, given how much employment practices are changing worldwide.

Later on, IndustriALL's regional secretary, Marino Vani, set out IndustriALL's action plan for Latin American and the Caribbean, as well as its strategy and priorities. Finally, workers from the macro sector drew up a number of action plans, which they committed to developing further within their unions and sectors back in their home countries. The action plans had four main priority areas:

Strengthening union power at the national and regional levels
Building union networks and fostering dialogue with companies in Latin America
Promoting and safeguarding sector-related policies at the national and regional levels
Pressing ahead with the union agenda and priorities for the sector through joint actions and campaigns.

To sum up the meeting, Marino Vani said:

"Participants have come out of the meeting stronger and more confident. We have held in-depth discussions on the challenges facing the working class, and especially workers in the mobility sector in our region. We have also committed to being more united in our actions, further empowering unions and strengthening union representation. We are going to fight for a fair transition, for sustainable industrial policies and for decent and dignified jobs.”