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.

Enough is enough, Rio Tinto!

The delegation was stopped when attempting to deliver the message to Rio Tinto at their offices in Zurich. A representative from the mining giant made it clear that “the concerns must be addressed to the Rio Tinto Global Communications office in Montreal”.

IndustriALL Global Union Director for mining said:

“We are here to deliver a message to Rio Tinto on the occasion of the World Day for Decent Work. We object to Rio Tinto’s use of precarious work."

Thousands of Rio Tinto employees across the world are demonstrating in defiance of this modern day slavery practice of employing precarious workers. We are here to tell Rio Tinto that enough is enough.

IndustriALL's campaign against Rio Tinto aims to build union power at Rio Tinto plants around the world, uniting workers in the struggle for decent work.

More information on global actions on the Rio Tinto campaign page next week.

Bangladesh: Garment workers in human chain to mark 7 October

Bangladeshi garment workers formed a human chain in the country's capital, demanding a stop to precarious work. Instead garment workers should enjoy regular, permanent and direct employment. Speakers also called for safe workplaces and freedom of association.

The manifestation was organized by IndustriALL Global Union affiliates the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), United Federation of garment Workers ( UFGW ), Bangladesh Revolutionary Garment Workers Federation ( BRGWF), Bangladesh Garment and industrial workers federation (BGIWF) and Bangladesh Independent garment workers union federation ( BIGUF). Shadin Bangla garment Workers, Karmochari Federation (SBGWKF) and the Bangladesh Chemical workers Federation (BCWF) also express their solidarity with the human chain.

Stop Precarious Work in Sri Lanka

Organized within the framework of the FNV Mondiaal supported IndustriALL South Asia Precarious Work project, the meeting participants discussed a series of amendments to the labour law of Sri Lanka. These amendments, brought forward by the Sri Lankan trade unions, primarily aim to address the omnipresent problem of contract labour in the country. Employers’ and government representatives took part in the meeting as well.

The main idea of the suggested changes is to create mechanisms preventing use of contract labour as a way to avoid real employment contracts. The unions want to make it so that all precariously “self-“ employed contract workers in Sri Lanka become regular employees with decent labour contracts.

The proposed legislation, which has been agreed on by both trade unions and employers, states that any contract of any person who “enters into a contract or work arrangement for trade or commercial purposes” with any other person who employs the worker “to perform work on a regular basis which is an integral part of the business activities” is to be seen as a disguised employment relationship.

As things currently stand, the Sri Lankan labour legislation has a long way to go. It may refer to a few precarious work situations, but certainly does not extend to all precarious workers. For example, there is neither regulation on the length of temporary work contracts, nor on how many times these can be renewed. Besides, there are no limitations of temporary agency labour, which can be used anywhere and anytime, without any responsibility being taken by the user-enterprise. In terms of a concrete example, workers who have been working less than 6 months are not covered by the standard dismissal rules.

The explanations above illustrate why more than half of all employees in Sri Lanka are labelled temporary or casual workers (54 per cent). 92 per cent of those are to be found in the private sector. Between 2006 and 2012, temporary and casual workers in the private sector increased by 21 per cent, while permanent employees increased only by 5 per cent.

The IndustriALL affiliates in Sri Lanka are planning a series of activities to deal with precarious work related problems. One step is to attract attention to the problem on and around October 7, the day that IndustriALL calls on all its affiliates to highlight the fact that precarious work is not a sustainable option.

Rio Tinto faces day of defiance by thousands of workers

The global protests come on the heels of a spate of fatalities at a worksite in Indonesia where Rio Tinto has a major investment.

Workers from Rio Tinto sites in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America will be demanding safer workplaces, secure jobs and respect for workers’ rights in a campaign organized by Industriall Global Union.

Events will include rallies, stop work meetings and other worksite actions.

Australian union CFMEU will launch a report into Rio Tinto's insecure work practices – which the company disguises under the banner of "Direct Engagement". The report exposes the company’s strategy to lock out unions.

IndustriALL, which represents 50 million workers in 140 countries, has a global network of mining affiliates with members at Rio Tinto. Assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, states:

“For far too long, Rio Tinto has systematically put profits before people, sometimes with fatal consequences. Workers are saying enough is enough. The protests on 7 October are part of IndustriALL’s on-going campaign to demand a new era at Rio Tinto.”

Rio Tinto, which has a market value of US$ 100 billion, is increasingly turning to contract and subcontracted workers to cut costs. At its Madagascar Minerals operation, there are double the numbers of contract workers as permanent staff. In Australia, Rio Tinto has been attacked for sacking fulltime workers on mass but keeping on casual or contract workers at the Hail Creek mine in Queensland.

Last month, five miners were killed in two separate fatal incidents at the Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia where Rio Tinto has the rights to 40% of production above a certain level. Three out of the four miners who died in the second incident were subcontracted workers. The deaths follow the loss of 35 lives at the mine last year alone.

The 7 October action against Rio Tinto is taking place to coincide with the World Day for Decent Work, when unions around the globe mobilize against precarious work – jobs that are temporary, casual, contracted-out and often low-wage, low-benefit, unsafe and insecure.

Ends

For more information, please contact:

Leonie Guguen, Communications Officer, IndustriALL Global Union

Tel: +41 (0)22 308 50 23

Mobile: +41 (0)79 137 54 36

[email protected]