SOMALIA

The World Day for Decent Work was a great opportunity for the tripartite partners (trade unions, employers and government) to stress their cooperation to achieve a decent work agenda. Success comes through partnership, participation and negotiation, and this joint position of tripartite partners is a strong cooperation.

MOLSA, SCCI and FESTU believe that the notion of decent work is based on the belief that work is not merely a source of income but is essentially a source of personal dignity, family stability, peace in the community, and economic growth for the entire nation that expands opportunities for productive jobs and employment.

For the first time on this occasion of the WDDW, MOLSA, SCCI and FESTU have come together in a spirit of social dialogue and consultation so that the goal of decent work for all becomes a reality in the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Somalia needs rights-based and people-centred development. Workplaces and working people are the essence of the social pillar. It is through opportunities for decent work that many of those today trapped in poverty can have access to sustainable livelihoods. It is also by making workplaces safe and healthy that Somali people can meet their needs in acceptable conditions.

MOLSA, SCCI and FESTU collectively call for an end to precarious work and reform of labour code of Somalia in compliance with international labour standards.

The tripartite partners sent a strong message that decent work is the foundation of a decent life and a strong and equitable Somalia.

CZECH REPUBLIC

All the documents are available on: http://www.oskovo.cz/specializace-mezinarodni-cinnost-industriall-glogal/globalni-kampan-stop-rizikove-praci

To mark the World Day for Decent Work, OS KOVO participated in a Demonstration organised in Budapest by their Hungarian Colleagues in the framework of the IndustriAll European Trade Union's Eastern Regional Meeting, which took place on 7 October 2014.

Some members of OS KOVO also took part in the activity organized by IndustriALL affilaite OZ KOVO union in Zilina, Slovakia.

OS KOVO Presidium will also include the issue of Precarious Work into the agenda of its meeting which will take place on Ceske Budejovice in mid October.

CROATIA

During the press conference the union brought to the public knowledge the fact that most of the newly employed in Croatia in the last year have been employed on short term contracts.

GEORGIA

Trade Union of Metallurgy, Mining and Chemical Industry Workers of Georgia (TUMMCIWG) organized a human chain near Zestafoni ferroalloy plant. Some 100 metallurgists and miners from Zestafoni, Tkibuli and Chiatura cities participated in the rally aimed to attract public attention to the problem of precarious work in Georgia.

The Trade Union of Energy Workers of Georgia (GTUEW) held a community action at a hydropower station to mark the World Day for Decent Work. IndustriALL affiliate the GTUEW held a community action with their members to mark the World Day for Decent work in front of Chitakhechesi hydropower station where litter at the plant was cleaned and thrown away.

Successful Thunderclap campaign to STOP Precarious Work

A total of 1,592 supporters signed up to Thunderclap, reaching a massive 1,194,792 people. At the same time, unions all over the world are taking action today to demand secure jobs. Take a look at our STOP Precarious Work page to see what went on during the World Day for Decent Work, 7 October.

BELARUS

On 7 October activists of the IndustriALL affiliate Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry Workers' Union, REP held actions on the World Day for Decent Work.

The protesters handed out leaflets and union newsletters in different cities of the Belarus including Minsk, Gomel, Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno, Mogilev, Bobruisk, Baranovichi, Zhodino, Smalyavichy and Borisov.

To raise the public awareness on the issue of precarious work and the Global Day of action against it union activists distributed leaflets and other materials near the factories, in the markets, at bus stops and other public places.

IndustriALL affiliate Free Trade Union of Metalworkers, SPM tried to organize pickets in five cities of the country. Unfortunately despite their declared peaceful nature the authorities denied them all. Notwithstanding the obstruction of the authorities SPM together with other independent trade unions held a number of actions dedicated to the World Day for Decent Work.

SPM activists in Minsk distributed a special edition of the newspaper ‘Rabochee slovo’ (Worker’s word) describing the situation of workers at Belarusian enterprises where administrative arbitrariness rules and where stranglehold of short-term contracts almost turns workers into semi-slaves, limiting their rights, freedoms and seeding fear everywhere.

At the gates to the Minsk Automobile Factory (one of the biggest in the country) the entire edition of the newspaper ‘Rabochee slovo’ has been distributed among workers in 15-20 minutes. Some of them while picking up the newspaper regretted that these actions are not often taking place. Others made quite strong statements against the management of the factory.

Another Belarusian affiliate of IndustriALL, the Independent trade union of Miners at JSC Belaruskali, held a meeting of the Council of Representatives on the World Day for Decent Work. Valery Kiryenka, General Director of the potash producing company Belaruskali took part in the meeting focused on discussion of the working conditions and wages at Belaruskali. The enterprise is one of the biggest producers and exporters of potash fertilizers in the world.

For more details, follow the link on the union website.

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".