PHILIPPINES

Some 14 IndustriALL affiliates in the Philippines mobilized in Manila in front of the Department of Labour and Employment on 7 October to demand a STOP to Precarious Work and contractualization.

Some 13 trade unions and trade union federations, affiliated to IndustriALL showed force mobilizing to raise a unified call urging government to address the problem of precarious work in the country. Outside the premises of the Department of Labour and Employment, union leaders handed over a letter with clear demands calling:

for a stakeholders’ sectoral dialogue involving trade unions in the manufacturing sector;
to review existing llegislationto ensure security of tenure of workers;
to review existing government regulations on contracting and subcontracting;
to clearly distinguish and define core and non-core business functions, and for the government to come up with an administrative issuance to address the issue within the context of existing laws and jurisprudence, and to;
monitor the use of agency outsourcing of core business functions.

This was one of the biggest demonstrations by IndustriALL affiliates in the Phillippines.

“Leaders strongly send the message to the minister that precarious work in all its forms must stop as it undermines workers’ rights, their pay, their working and living conditions. Workers who are trapped under these conditions often have little or no chance at all to join a union and no chance to bargain collectively on their terms and conditions of employment”

Was the call of union leaders on the day of action to STOP Precrious Work.

This message prompted the government to engage with IndustriALL in the coming sectoral specific consultation process in framing up a clear policy to arrest the spread of precarious and vulnerable employment.

In Laguna province the Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP) organized a number of activities highlighting the issue of precarious work.

Around 70 motorcycles participated in a motorcade that started in Paseo, Sta. Rosa and ended in Balibago Complex. Other protesters in later joined the motorcyclists.

Balibago Complex is one of the busiest sections in Laguna, thus holding a program there made a maximum impact in informing the general public about the issue of precarious work and its effects on the workers and the society in general.

The MWAP distributed flyers calling for an end to the spread of contract labour and unsafe workplaces, and the right to organize.

In a statement, MWAP urged workers to “fight contractualization” they continued and emphasised that “it is the right of every worker to have a regular job with decent wages that is enough to sustain him/her and his/her family’s needs as well as ensure that s/he can continue to work and contribute in society’s development. “

The struggle against contractualization and the desire to live a decent and humane life is a struggle for social justice,

said MWAP President Reden Alcantara.

MWAP also said that workers should celebrate the victories they have achieved in their struggle for workers’ rights.

Let us celebrate our victories in organizing unions that genuinely serve the interests of workers, our victories in forging collective bargaining agreements that improve workers’ wages and benefits, and our victories in fighting for regularization of contractual workers,

Alcantara added.

From these victories, let us get inspiration and important lessons to further strengthen our rank and intensify our struggle in creating a society that puts premium to the workers,

he concluded.

MWAP urged the Philippine government to end precarious work and to ensure that all workers benefit from decent working conditions. These include the granting of substantial wage increases, regular jobs, secure employment, safe working conditions and respect for the fundamental rights of workers.

All 14 IndustriALL affiliates in the Philippines participated in a social dialogue session initiated by the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) on the WDDW.

When commenting on this collective effort the Trade Federation of Garments, Textile, Footwear, Plastic, Leather and Allied Industries (TF2-FFW) said the unions are very positive about the outcome and both parties manifested an intent to continue with social dialogue in the near future.

CONGO (DRC)

IndustriALL affiliates in the DRC, the Travailleurs Unis des Mines, Métallurgies,Energie, Chimie et Industries Connexes (TUMEC), the Organisation des Travailleurs Unis du Congo (OTUC) and the Conseil des Syndicats Congolaisde la Métallurgie (CSC) delivered a clear message to their provincial government official in Katanga.

The memorandum was a clear call on the local government to make meaningful changes to legislation that encourages the spread of precarious work. The main points stated in the memorandum were are following:

Comply with international standards, (ILO conventions 87 and 98);
Allow labour inspectors to monitor conditions;
Make changes to labour legislation allowing for better social conditions for workers and also determining a fair minimum wage.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

On the eve of the global day of action to STOP Precarious work, the Confederation of trade unions of Republika Srpska, BIH, shared the related IndustriALL information on their Facebook page and issued a press release regarding STOP Precarious Work action day.

The two IndustriALL affiliates, also members of BIH, the Trade Union of Metalworkers and Miners of Republika Srpska (SMIRRS) and the Trade Union of Workers in the Energy Sector of Republika Srpska (SURERS) published a blog on “buka” portal, presenting IndustriALL’s activities on 7 October. They also invited their readers to join the Thunderclap campaign and share it with their members. The blog is available on the following link http://www.6yka.com/blogovi/blog/20243/stop-nesigurnom-radu.

MAURITIUS

IndustriALL affiliate, the Chemical Manufacturing and Connected Trades Employees Union (CMCTEU) and its National confederation (CTSP) held a demonstration for a national minimum wage. A candle light vigil also took place at the Workers Memorial.

Another IndustriALL affiliate the Government Services Employees Association (GSEA) has successfully organized a workshop on 07 October 2014 to mark the WDDW. More than 100 delegates attended the event, which took place at the municipality of Port Louis on the theme: "Decent Work = A workers’ right".

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

On 7 October, IndustriALL affiliates marched first to the offices of the employers' association, then to the Ministry of Labour, and finally to the Congress, where the draft bill was submitted.

At a recent living wage workshop in the Dominican Republic, IndustriALL affiliates agreed to push for the overhaul of the ineffective existing wage setting mechanism, with the aim of introducing a new legal framework and securing an increase which would recuperate lost purchasing power and introduce indexation.

According to the Central Bank, the very low level of wages in the formal sector has contributed to the growth of the informal sector.

NORWAY

To mark this important day, where affiliates around the world call on employers and governments to STOP Precarious Work, Nordic-IN’s Executive Committee made a statement in support of this global effort.

The Statement by Nordic-IN executive Committee made it clear that they “call on employers all over the Nordic countries to recognize their responsibility for the Nordic model. “

Employers who are circumventing agreed rules through forms of employment, which only serve to depress conditions for everybody, must cease this activity. Social dumping and precarious forms of employment has no place in the Nordic countries, nor do they have a place anywhere else.

INDIA

In India, demonstrations and seminars were held in different industrial cities such as Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Talcher, Paradip, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Rourkela.

In the state of Odisha, the STOP Precarous Work activities were organized jointly by IndustriALL affiliates, the Steel, Metal and Engineering Workers Federation of India (SMEFI), Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (HKMF) and also participants from the National Centre (HMS).

The Indian National Mineworkers' Federation (INTUC) participated in the Stop precarious work rally organized in the city of Khammam, Telangana state, India.

The Steel, Metal & Engineering Workers' Federation of India (SMEFI) marked the global day of action to STOP Precarious Work by organizing an action at the Mumbai Darukhana Shipbreaking Yard. Over 350 shipbreaking workers took part in the action.

In the state of Odisha on 7 October 2014 IndustriALL affiliates the Steel, Metal & Engineering Workers' Federation of India and Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation – National Federation of Mine Worker Unions (HKMF) members of the national trade union centre (HMS) held numerous rallies, public meetings, demonstrations and seminars in different industrial cities such as Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Talcher, Paradip, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Rourkela.

The Working People Trade Union Council organized many different protest actions against precarious work including actions at Ashok Leyland (Chennai anf Hosur), Simpson and Group Companies, Alstom, L&T Valves, Amalgamations Valeo, Amrutanjan, Rane Groups, Ucal Groups (Chennai and Puducherry) and LMW Groups, Coimbatore.

Alang Sosiya Ship Recycling and General Workers' Association organized a workshop on the issues that precarious workers are facing and the spread of precarious work.

The Cement Workers of Maihar Cement, ACC (Holcim) Kymore, Prism Cement, Jaypee Cement, Satna Cement, Reliance Cement, KJS Cement and Maihar Cement Mines participated in a rally as well as a conference. During the rally protesters shouted "Stop precarious work!"and "Equal pay for equal work!" while holding up the campaign banners.

PAKISTAN

A National Seminar was held in Lahore by IndustriALL affiliate, the Pakistan Graphic Art & General Workers Union (PGA&GWU) with the participation of hundreds of Trade Union representatives and workers belonging to the various affiliated Trade Unions in the pubic and the private sectors.

The seminar highlighted the need to provide productive employment to each worker ensuring the respect of fundamental trade union rights as enshrined in ILO Core Labour Conventions ratified by the Government of Pakistan as well as the UN Charter on Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights that have been adopted by Government of Pakistan.

IndustriALL affiliate All Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions (APFUTU) organized a rally in Gujrat.

The National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and the Home Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan (HBWWF) organized the following demonstrations and rallies in a number of cities in Pakistan.

In Gadani NTUF held a rally of ship breaking workers also joined by workers from other sectors from the union office at Gadani Ship Breaking Yard.

In Multan NTUF held a demonstration of general workers in Aljahn Floor Mills Industrial Area and a rally of textile and garments workers at Chowk Allah Wasaya.

In Faisalabad NTUF together with Labour Qomi Movement (LQM) held a rally of power looms textile and garments workers.

In Hyderabad Home Based Women Worker Federation Pakistan (HBWWF) held a demo of glass bangle home based women workers.

In Karachi the Home Based Women Worker Federation Pakistan (HBWWF) organized a demo of garments, embroidery and sacks stitching home based women workers.

On 8 October a protest rally was organized jointly by the Pakistan Metal Workers' Federation (PMF) and Pakistan Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers Union (PCEM).

France: planned actions 2014

On 08 October as part of the actions IndustriALL French affiliate Fédération des Travailleurs de la Métallurgie – FTM-CGT is organizing the day of study related to the problem of migrants in France entitled "Travailler ici, aux conditions sociales d’ici" (Working here on the basis of fair local social conditions).

On 16 October FTM-CGT is planning to hold a big national day of action with the majour focus on fight against precarious work, the planned actions include mobilizations at company level, national demonstration in Paris and gatherings at local level.

JAPAN

Together with the Japanese national centre for labour, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO-JTUC), RENGO-TOKYO, IndustriALL-JAF and UA Zensen, as well as Japanese affiliates of other Global Union Federation’s (GUF’s), the joint action aimed to make a public announcement in front of Tamachi railway station in Tokyo.

JCM President, Yaunobu Aihara, delivered a message on the issue of precarious work in front of the rally of demonstrators.