Sindicatos marroquíes abordan los problemas de salud y seguridad en el sector textil

En las últimas semanas, diversos accidentes laborales en el sector textil y de la confección se han cobrado vidas humanas y han dejado a trabajadores heridos. Los incendios en fábricas de Fez, Casablanca y Tánger provocados por prácticas inseguras, como el uso de calderas de gas, causaron la muerte de un trabajador y la hospitalización de otras personas que sufrieron quemaduras graves.

Estos incidentes ponen de relieve un problema creciente en el sector textil, de la confección, el calzado y el cuero (TGSL) de Marruecos, que se ha expandido rápidamente para satisfacer las demandas de las marcas mundiales. A pesar de este crecimiento, las condiciones de salud y seguridad siguen siendo claramente inadecuadas, lo que supone un gran riesgo para los trabajadores.

Como respuesta, el Syndicat National de Textile Habillements et Cuirs (SNTHC-CDT), afiliado de IndustriALL, lanzó una campaña para abordar el deterioro de las condiciones de trabajo y la falta de medidas de seguridad. El 15 de noviembre, el sindicato pidió un debate nacional para reunir a las partes interesadas con el fin de elaborar una estrategia para mejorar la salud y la seguridad en el sector TGSL.

Los esfuerzos del sindicato condujeron a una reunión con el Ministerio de Trabajo, en Rabat, el 29 de noviembre. El encuentro, al que asistió Hicham Sabri, secretario de Estado, así como dirigentes sindicales, entre ellos el secretario general del SNTHC-CDT, Ahmed Hassoun, se centró en abordar la urgente necesidad de mejorar la salud y la seguridad.

“La reunión fue positiva: el ministerio tomó nota de la solicitud del SNTHC-CDT de celebrar un debate nacional que reúna a todas las partes interesadas en el sector”,

declaró Hassoun.

“También informamos al ministro sobre el acuerdo ACCORD y subrayamos la importancia de su implementación en Marruecos. Como resultado, el Ministerio se comprometió a organizar una reunión con representantes del ACCORD, IndustriALL y el SNTHC-CDT para seguir discutiendo las posibilidades de implementar este acuerdo en Marruecos”.

La delegación destacó la responsabilidad de los empleadores en el incumplimiento de las leyes de salud y seguridad y expresó su preocupación por las condiciones de trabajo inhumanas en los centros de trabajo subterráneos. Urgieron al ministerio a poner fin a estas prácticas y a desarrollar una estrategia nacional para aplicar medidas eficaces de salud y seguridad.

El secretario general de IndustriALL, Atle Høie, enfatizó la importancia de actuar con rapidez:

“Nos entristece profundamente la noticia sobre la frecuencia de estos accidentes en el sector en Marruecos. Acogemos con satisfacción los resultados de la reunión entre el Ministro y el SNTHC-CDT, que forma parte de los esfuerzos e iniciativas en curso del sindicato para hacer frente a una situación tan grave. El tiempo no está de nuestro lado. Necesitamos acciones más contundentes. Un consenso para llevar el acuerdo internacional ACCORD a Marruecos sería un gran paso en la dirección correcta”.

Con el compromiso del ministerio de dialogar con los representantes del ACCORD, IndustriALL y el SNTHC-CDT, hay esperanzas de lograr un cambio significativo. La atención seguirá centrada en la creación de mecanismos sólidos de salud y seguridad y en garantizar la rendición de cuentas en el creciente sector textil y de la confección de Marruecos.

Call for tender – development of grievance and remedy mechanisms in Türkiye's automotive supply chain

Please download the specification for the call for tender below.

To submit a tender or for further information, please contact Georg Leutert 

In solidarity with South Korean unions, IndustriALL condemns attack on democracy

President Yoon Suk Yeol's drastic move to introduce martial law was a dangerous overstep of democratic boundaries and undermines the principles of governance. The union movement plays a pivotal role in safeguarding democracy, protecting workers' rights and ensuring justice for all. Attempts to curtail these rights threaten not only the unions but the very foundation of democracy in South Korea.

IndustriALL supports the union mobilization, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Union’s call for a general strike today and tomorrow, as well as the call from all affiliates for President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down.

The illegal suspension of democratic rights and imposition of military rule, even for one night, represent a blatant attack on democracy. In a world where democratic space is increasingly under threat, such actions cannot be ignored or left unchallenged. We must send a clear message that any assault on democratic principles will face strong resistance.

IndustriALL calls on the next President of South Korea to uphold democratic principles, respect the rule of law, and engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders, including the union movement.

Democracy is non-negotiable, and any deviation from it cannot and will not be tolerated.

Photo credit: Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

En solidaridad con los sindicatos surcoreanos, IndustriALL condena el ataque a la democracia

La drástica medida del presidente Yoon Suk Yeol de imponer la ley marcial fue una peligrosa extralimitación de los límites democráticos y un atentado contra los principios de la gobernanza. El movimiento sindical desempeña un papel fundamental para garantizar la democracia, proteger los derechos laborales y asegurar la justicia para todas las personas. Los intentos de restringir estos derechos amenazan no solo a los sindicatos, sino también los cimientos mismos de la democracia en Corea del Sur.

IndustriALL apoya la movilización sindical, incluido el llamado de la Confederación Coreana de Sindicatos a realizar una huelga general hoy y mañana, así como el pedido de dimisión del presidente Yoon Suk Yeol por parte de todos los afiliados.

La suspensión ilícita de los derechos democráticos y la imposición del gobierno militar, aunque solo sea por una noche, representan un ataque flagrante a la democracia. En un mundo en el que el espacio democrático está cada vez más amenazado, este tipo de acciones no pueden ignorarse ni dejarse sin respuesta. Debemos enviar un mensaje claro de que cualquier ataque a los principios democráticos se enfrentará a una fuerte resistencia.

IndustriALL pide al próximo presidente de Corea del Sur que defienda los principios democráticos, respete el Estado de derecho y entable un diálogo significativo con todas las partes interesadas, incluido el movimiento sindical.

La democracia no es negociable, y cualquier desviación de ella no puede ser ni será tolerada.

Fotografía: Confederación Coreana de Sindicatos

Call to action: Stop union busting at YPC Precision in Thailand!

In December 2022, Thailand Autoparts and Metal Workers Union (TAM), affiliated with IndustriALL through the Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT), organized 400 YPC workers into union.

In February 2023, the employer, YPC, retaliated against the union by suspending three union leaders, Panicha Kanyana, Anucha Chaipha and Suphatsorn Sakaew, and transferring 38 union members to other departments. They were denied overtime work, given unreasonable key performance indicators and threatened of being replaced by outsourced workers.

In a letter to YPC in March 2023, IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie urged the company not to undermine the legitimate labour rights of the YPC workers, requesting YPC to strictly comply with international labour standards.

While Suphatsorn Sakaew has left the company, Panicha Kanyana is still fighting for her reinstatement. Anucha Chaipha was reinstated in June last year, but is facing discrimination in the workplace every day, not allowed to work overtime and is assigned unimportant tasks.

CILT president Prasit Prasopsuk says:

“The union busting by YPC management is in clear violation of Thai workers’ fundamental rights guaranteed by the Labour Relations Act of Thailand. We demand immediate reinstatement of Panicha Kanyana and an end to the discriminating against Anucha Chaipha.”

Atle Høie says: 

“We will fight against the union busting side by side with CILT and TAM. We urge everyone to support the call to action initiated by the IndustriALL youth working group in South East Asia, East Asia and Pacific (SEA2PAC-Y) and sign the petition. Union busting is unacceptable and violates the workers’ rights according to Thai law.”

Please sign and share the petition initiated by SEA2PAC-Y.

Llamado a la acción: basta de represión sindical en la empresa tailandesa YPC Precision

En diciembre de 2022, el Sindicato de Trabajadores Metalúrgicos y de Autopartes de Tailandia (TAM), afiliado a IndustriALL a través de la Confederación de Trabajadores Industriales de Tailandia (CILT), organizó a 400 trabajadores de YPC en un sindicato.

En febrero de 2023, YPC tomó represalias contra el sindicato al suspender a tres dirigentes sindicales, Panicha Kanyana, Anucha Chaipha y Suphatsorn Sakaew, y transferir a 38 miembros del sindicato a otros departamentos. Se les negó la posibilidad de hacer horas extra, se les asignaron indicadores clave de rendimiento poco razonables y recibieron amenazas de ser sustituidos por trabajadores subcontratados.

En una carta enviada a YPC en marzo de 2023, el secretario general de IndustriALL, Atle Høie, instó a la empresa a dejar de socavar los legítimos derechos laborales de sus trabajadores y le pidió que cumpliera estrictamente las normas internacionales del trabajo.

Aunque Suphatsorn Sakaew ha dejado la empresa, Panicha Kanyana sigue luchando por su reincorporación. Anucha Chaipha se reincorporó en junio del año pasado, pero todos los días sufre discriminación laboral, no le dejan hacer horas extra y le asignan tareas sin importancia.

Prasit Prasopsuk, presidente de la CILT, expresó:

“La represión sindical por parte de la dirección de YPC constituye una violación evidente de los derechos fundamentales de los trabajadores tailandeses consagrados en la Ley de Relaciones Laborales de Tailandia. Exigimos la reincorporación inmediata de Panicha Kanyana y el fin de la discriminación contra Anucha Chaipha”.

Atle Høie declaró:  

“Lucharemos contra la represión sindical codo a codo con la CILT y el TAM. Instamos a todos a apoyar el llamado a la acción iniciado por el grupo de trabajo de jóvenes de IndustriALL en el Sudeste Asiático, Asia Oriental y el Pacífico (SEA2PAC-Y) y a firmar la petición. La represión sindical es inaceptable y constituye una violación de los derechos de los trabajadores de acuerdo con la legislación tailandesa”.

Firme y comparta la petición iniciada por SEA2PAC-Y.

Make Conventions 87 and 98 core agenda in EU-Thailand free trade talks

On 27 November, the ILO 8798 Convention Driving Network submitted a memorandum to EU representatives in Bangkok, joined by over 300 unionists to highlight the urgency of incorporating the Conventions on the right to organize and the right to collective bargaining. Sia Jampathong, member of the House of Representatives from the People’s Party and former president of Textile Garment and Leather Workers' Federation of Thailand (TWFT), also joined the submission of memorandum.

Prasit Prasopsuk, president of the Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT) and network coordinator, said that workers in Thailand have been denied the right to organize and collective bargaining for decades, which led to exploitation of labour and injustice at workplaces.

“The inconsistency between the Labour Relations Act and ILO Conventions 87 and 98, combined with restrictive laws and practices, has weakened workers’ bargaining power and has resulted in unfair wages, inadequate benefits and poor working conditions.”

This has resulted in unfair wages, inadequate benefits and poor working conditions, with employers exploiting the legal loopholes, frequently resorting to lawsuits to intimidate unionists. Between 2015 and the present, 1,371 unionists have faced court action by employers.

“If workers in Thailand are still unable to organize and collectively bargain, the resulting trade and investments will inevitably become mechanisms for perpetuating oppression, exploitation, and violations of labour rights in Thailand,”

said Prasit Prasopsuk.

Ramon Certeza, IndustriALL’s regional secretary for South East Asia, underscored the precarious state of unionization in Thailand, where only 1.3 per cent of the 40.5 million-strong workforce is unionized. The vast majority of both local and migrant workers lack adequate protection.

“Thailand’s unionization rate is not only low compared to other Southeast Asian nations but also falls far short of European standards. The Thai government must take meaningful steps, including ratifying ILO Conventions 87 and 98, to address the situation,”

Ramon Certeza said.

In a joint letter to the EU Commission in April, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll Europe called on the EU to ensure that labour clauses stipulating the right to organize, and collective bargaining are part of the trade negotiations between the Government of Thailand and EU, particularly seeking a pledge from the government to ratify ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

“The European Union must use the leverage of its trade negotiations with Thailand to improve the fundamental working rights of workers in Thailand. It would be wholly unacceptable to conclude a free trade agreement without a strong Trade and Sustainable Development chapter, including the core ILO conventions. But based of experience with other ASEAN countries, even this would not be enough. We need to see concrete changes on the ground to ensure that these are not just paper commitments but really deliver of the values the European Union claims to espouse,”

said industriAll Europe general secretary Judith Kirton-Darling.

Los Convenios 87 y 98 deben estar en el centro de las negociaciones sobre libre comercio entre la UE y Tailandia

El 27 de noviembre, la Red Sindical de Promoción de los Convenios 87 y 98 de la OIT presentó un memorándum a los representantes de la UE en Bangkok, en el que participaron más de 300 sindicalistas, para insistir en la urgencia de incorporar los Convenios sobre los derechos de sindicación y negociación colectiva. Sia Jampathong, miembro de la Cámara de Representantes del Partido Popular y expresidente de la Federación de Trabajadores del Sector Textil, de la Confección y el Cuero de Tailandia (TWFT), también se sumó a la presentación del memorándum.

Prasit Prasopsuk, presidente de la Confederación de Trabajadores Industriales de Tailandia (CILT) y coordinador de la red, afirmó que durante décadas se ha negado a los trabajadores tailandeses el derecho de sindicación y negociación colectiva, lo que ha conducido a la explotación laboral y a la injusticia en los lugares de trabajo.

“La incoherencia entre la Ley de Relaciones Laborales y los Convenios 87 y 98 de la OIT, junto con las leyes y prácticas restrictivas, ha debilitado el poder de negociación de los trabajadores y ha dado lugar a salarios injustos, prestaciones inadecuadas y malas condiciones de trabajo”.

Esto se ha traducido en salarios injustos, prestaciones inadecuadas y malas condiciones de trabajo, con empresarios que explotan las lagunas jurídicas y recurren con frecuencia a demandas judiciales para intimidar a los sindicalistas. Entre 2015 y la actualidad, 1371 sindicalistas se han enfrentado a acciones judiciales por parte de los empleadores.

“Si los trabajadores tailandeses siguen sin poder sindicalizarse y negociar colectivamente, el comercio y las inversiones resultantes se convertirán de forma inevitable en mecanismos para perpetuar la opresión, la explotación y las violaciones de los derechos laborales en Tailandia”,

expresó Prasit Prasopsuk.

Ramón Certeza, secretario regional de IndustriALL para el Sudeste Asiático, hizo hincapié en la precaria situación de la sindicalización en Tailandia, donde solo el 1,3 por ciento de los 40,5 millones de trabajadores está sindicalizado. La gran mayoría de los trabajadores locales y migrantes carecen de la protección adecuada.

“La tasa de sindicalización de Tailandia no solo es baja en comparación con otras naciones del Sudeste Asiático, sino que también está muy por debajo de los estándares europeos. El gobierno tailandés debe tomar medidas significativas, que incluyen ratificar los Convenios 87 y 98 de la OIT, para hacer frente a esta situación”,

declaró Ramón Certeza.

En abril, en una carta conjunta dirigida a la Comisión de la UE, IndustriALL Global Union e industriAll Europe instaron a la UE a garantizar que las cláusulas laborales que estipulan el derecho de sindicación y negociación colectiva formen parte de las negociaciones comerciales entre el gobierno de Tailandia y la UE, en particular con el fin de que el Gobierno se comprometa a ratificar los Convenios 87 y 98 de la OIT.

“La Unión Europea debe utilizar la influencia de sus negociaciones comerciales con Tailandia para mejorar los derechos laborales fundamentales de los trabajadores tailandeses. Sería totalmente inaceptable concluir un acuerdo de libre comercio sin un capítulo sólido sobre comercio y desarrollo sostenible, que incluya los convenios fundamentales de la OIT. Sin embargo, teniendo en cuenta la experiencia con otros países de la ASEAN, incluso esto no sería suficiente. Necesitamos ver cambios concretos sobre el terreno para garantizar que esto no se trata de meros compromisos sobre el papel, sino que realmente se cumplen los valores que la Unión Europea afirma defender”,

afirmó Judith Kirton-Darling, subsecretaria general de industriAll Europe.

Heidelberg materials workers call for a Just Transition and decent work

Global trade union leaders, activists, and experts met on 18–19 October to develop a comprehensive action plan advocating for social dialogue with Heidelberg Materials. The event, organised by IndustriALL Global Union, Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI), and the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW), took place in response to ongoing challenges faced by workers at the company.

The meeting followed the recent adoption of conclusions by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote decent work and a just transition within the building materials sector, including cement production.

While many multinational enterprises participated in the ILO's tripartite technical meeting in Geneva, Heidelberg Materials notably did not engage. The ILO’s recommendations call for collaboration between employers and workers to ensure just transition plans are integrated at both sectoral and company levels.

Research by Gerard Rijk of Profundo highlighted concerning trends at Heidelberg Materials. The company's labour costs have decreased as a percentage of revenues, while shareholder payments have increased. Between 2020 and 2023, profits rose by 2.1 per cent largely benefiting shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Meanwhile, full-time employment opportunities have declined, with a growing reliance on subcontracting and process automation.

Dr Sigurt Vitols, a research associate at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), emphasised the legal and ethical obligations facing Heidelberg Materials under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), effective from 2024. He pointed out gaps in the company’s sustainability reporting, particularly around collective bargaining coverage, living wages, and occupational health and safety (OHS). These omissions could expose the company to legal risks as auditors begin scrutinising its disclosures.Worker concerns and organizational failures

Delegates at the meeting outlined pressing issues at Heidelberg Materials, including:

Workers also criticized the company’s approach to climate initiatives, which they argue prioritises shareholder value over workforce wellbeing.

Heidelberg Materials’ low-carbon transition plans lack input from trade unions and fail to provide adequate protections or reskilling opportunities for employees.

“The challenges of the green and digital transition need a strong and serious social dialogue. Workers will be faced with critical changes and they have to be involved in the transformation process from the beginning. A just and fair transition is key to establish a sustainable cement industry,”

said Tom Deleu, EFBWW general secretary.

Union representatives reiterated the need for participatory approaches to technological changes, grounded in social dialogue and employment protections.

"Heidelberg Materials is introducing new technologies to address CO2 emissions without consulting unions, creating health and safety risks,"

said Ambet Yuson, general secretary of BWI.

"We will make sure that the shareholders of Heidelberg Materials hear the story of the workers and the number of unresolved issues. Since the management is not willing to listen to us, we must take this campaign for social dialogue to the next level."

The network plans to escalate its campaign, calling for:

As the company faces mounting pressure to align with global sustainability and labour standards, union leaders are determined to hold Heidelberg Materials accountable. Their demands will be formally presented to the company's CEO and shareholders in the coming months.

The campaign underscores a critical message: the transition to sustainability in the building materials sector must include workers, ensuring they are protected, reskilled, and valued in the process of industry transformation.

Atle Høie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, said:

“While progress at the recent ILO technical meeting is commendable, companies face mounting challenges with CO2 targets and technological shifts. Industry 4.0 and AI add pressure, with closures looming where investments lag, as seen in Europe and India. Workers are put at risk and must have a place at the table.

“Stronger engagement from national and local unions is crucial and must be combined with international solidarity . By acting together and securing timely information, we can effectively pressure companies and secure a better future for workers.”

POSCO’s double standard: union-busting behind ESG claims

In 2017, approximately 80 workers at POSCO’s facility in Turkey were dismissed amid efforts to organize under the Birleşik Metal İş union, an IndustriALL Global and industriAll European Trade Union affiliate. Turkish courts later ruled unequivocally that these dismissals were due to the workers' union activities—a violation of both Turkish labour laws and international labour conventions. The courts awarded union indemnity to the dismissed workers, highlighting the injustice.

Despite this, POSCO misrepresents the situation in its ESG narrative. The company asserts that dismissed workers declined reinstatement, yet evidence shows the opposite. After winning their court cases, workers applied for reinstatement, only to have their requests denied by the company.

In 2022, the Supreme Court confirmed Birleşik Metal İş as the official union for POSCO’s workers, a decision reinforced by the ministry of labour, which issued an Authorization Certificate compelling the company to engage in collective bargaining. On November 4, 2022, the union formally called on POSCO to begin negotiations, but the company remained unresponsive. 

When the ministry of labour stepped in, organizing a meeting on November 24, 2022, POSCO again failed to attend. Under Turkish law, such noncompliance triggers mandatory mediation. Yet even this process was stonewalled by the company. The appointed mediator,  Yusuf Bayraktutan, confirmed POSCO’s refusal to participate in any meetings, leaving the collective bargaining process in limbo. 
 
After the court proceedings were finalized, Birleşik Metal İş started the collective bargaining process but company never repliedwhich  resulted in the union losing its certificate in the workplace in 2023.  
 
POSCO’s ESG report claims a commitment to engaging with labour unions, yet its actions tell a different story. The report states that "employee representatives" have replaced unions, a move that directly contravenes Turkish labour laws and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, which affirm that genuine union representation cannot be substituted.
 
Further, POSCO falsely asserts that it could not engage with a union due to the absence of an official body. This claim is contradicted by the recognition of Birleşik Metal İş as the legitimate union following the court rulings. Despite calls from the union, Turkish authorities, and legal mandates, the company has persistently refused to acknowledge the union or initiate dialogue.

Last year IndustriALL and industriAll Europe called on the board of directors to effectively implement the Human Rights Management Guidelines to recognize Birleşik Metal İş as the collective bargaining agent and engage in good faith negotiations as required by the court ruiling. 
 
Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary says:

“POSCO has a global track record of union busting which contradicts its own due diligence principles. The dishonesty shown in the company’s response to the case in Turkey should alarm investors: this is a company that is prepared to break the law to undermine trade unions, and then lie about it. POSCO should come to the table and engage in good faith.”

Judith Kirton-Darling industriAll Europe’s general secretary said,

“The level of truth-twisting and union busting displayed by POSCO’s management is disgraceful. Birleşik Metal İş and POSCO’s workers have been forced to jump through every legal hoop to ensure the most basic of human rights: to organize and collectively bargain. It’s time for POSCO to behave responsibly in Turkey. industriAll Europe will continue to scrutinize and challenge any attacks on our members, using all levers at our disposal.”

POSCO’s claims of worker engagement and ethical labour practices ring hollow against the backdrop of its actions in Turkey. This case is not just a local issue but a test of the company’s global commitment to ESG principles. For POSCO, the path forward is clear: genuine dialogue, respect for labor rights, and a commitment to transparency. Anything less is a betrayal of the values it purports to uphold.