South African unions sign five-year collective agreement with Harmony Gold

The agreement gives workers’ wage increases that are above the rate of inflation. The cushion for workers’ wages is that for the next five years the inflation agreement is above the South African Reserve Bank inflation target zone of six per cent or less. Further, they have secured increases in housing allowances, employee share option scheme, and other benefits. 

Harmony Gold, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, is the country’s largest gold producer with underground, open pit, and surface mining operations, and employs about 36 000 workers. 

The agreement signed by IndustriALL affiliates namely the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), and UASA together with two other unions, AMCU, and Solidarity, is effective from 1 July.

The agreement which covers the gold sector was reached three months before the expiry of the current collective agreement. Unions said the signing of the agreement before a deadlock or dispute being declared is unprecedented and a positive step towards industrial peace.

Mpho Phakedi, NUM acting general secretary, said:

“This agreement is a milestone in that it protects mineworkers’ wages from high inflation and the increasing cost of living. Further, workers got increases in the living out allowances that they use to pay rentals for accommodation, and in housing allowances, which are for buying homes. However, we will continue to monitor the agreement to ensure that workers benefits are not compromised or eroded over time.”

Irvin Jim, NUMSA general secretary said:

“NUMSA wishes to thank its union officials and the regional leadership for their hard work in securing this deal. We continue to lead the way as a union which is fighting for improved conditions and benefits for workers and their families.” 

Jacques Hugo, UASA chief executive officer added:

"Fair and reasonable adjustments are essential to collective bargaining. Five unions collaborated and negotiated on a united front for the first time,”

Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining said:

“We welcome the good faith that is evident in these negotiations. This collective agreement is a win for workers and for trade union unity. It is important to stress that negotiations shouldn’t always be about long-drawn-out disputes as seen in the past; they can also be done amicably.”

Exploring energy transition and Industry 4.0 in the Western Balkans

The focus was to look at the challenges and opportunities associated with the energy transition in the region. The workshop served as a platform for an in-depth examination of the nuances surrounding the transition towards knowledge-based economies, a journey full of challenges and opportunities.

One of the dominant themes that emerged from the discussions was the pressing need for skilled labour, a critical component in navigating the complexities of economic transformation. Affiliates talked about the landscape of transitioning economies, highlighting the need to invest in research and development, cultivating a proficient workforce, and establishing incentives to drive decarbonization efforts forward.

In the context of the green transition and the arrival of Industry 4.0, unions stressed the significance of collaboration among stakeholders, particularly within the automotive sector and the broader innovation ecosystem. Such collaborative actions, they argued, are instrumental in reinforcing competitiveness amidst soaring energy prices and stiff competition from global counterparts.

Another common challenge in the region is the lack of trade union participation in decision-making bodies on Just Transition due to political constraints. There is a need to strengthen the regional union cooperation to promote social dialogue.

Isidora Beraha, representing the Institute of Economic Sciences, provided insight into the regional dynamics and the transformative potential in the Western Balkans countries' industrial value chains. Emphasizing the pivotal role of regional cooperation, Beraha explained how the pathways can empower companies in the region to climb the ladder of global value chains, thereby enhancing their competitiveness on the international stage.

“The challenges and investment needs of the Western Balkan countries are significant also in the context of the EU enlargement process. We must ensure that the transformation process is ruled by the principles of a Just Transition promoting crucial workers’ and trade union rights. In a context of the needs to decarbonise, we must move away from profit-driven strategy making towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns with an active participation of trade unions. The transition is not possible without the workers, so we must strengthen social dialogue and give them a seat at the table. Nothing about us, without us!”,

Judith Kirton-Darling, General Secretary of industriAll Europe.

The workshop not only served as a forum for dialogue but also as an opportunity to create actionable strategies aimed at navigating the complexities of the energy transition. By fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective action, IndustriALL Global and IndustriAll Europe and their affiliates are at the forefront of driving positive change and moving towards a sustainable future for the Western Balkans region.

"This workshop underscores the commitment of IndustriALL and its partners to tackle pressing issues head-on, steering the course towards a future that is not only sustainable but also equitable, inclusive and just for all",

said Kan Matsuzaki, Assistant General Secretary at IndustriALL Global Union.

Indian unions fight for workers’ rights

In a strategic discussion on occupational safety and health on 3 April, Indian affiliates stated that industrial safety in the country is in shambles. According to the Directorate General Factory Advice and Labour Insitutes, since 2021, every year, there have been at least 1,029 accidents, resulting in the death of over 1,000 workers and causing serious injuries to more than 3,000 others. Work-related injuries and illnesses remain largely undocumented, particularly as victims are predominantly precarious workers.

Unions in India are raising their voices against the rise in contractual or precarious work forms, which entail greater health and safety risks. There is a pressing need to organize precarious workers.

Gautam Mody, IndustriALL executive committee member and convenor of Unions United, said:

“85 per cent of workers in India’s manufacturing are in precarious employment. Bringing precarious workers into the union fold is the centre piece of building power and our greatest challenge. Unity of strategy and purpose is central to defending workers right."

Affiliates also highlighted the constant neglect of occupational diseases and hazards; amendments to labour laws have further jeopardized workplace safety.

S Q Zama, IndustriALL executive committee member and secretary general of Indian National Mineworker’s federation (INMF-INTUC), said:

“IndustriALL and its Indian affiliates have persistently voiced concerns regarding health and safety since the Covid-19 pandemic. The government of India mustn’t compromise on safety and should immediately ratifiy ILO conventions on health and safety, including C155, C183 and C176, and ensure that India complies with ILO C81 on labour inspection.”

But amid the horrors of rising workplace incidents, there are also examples of significant union wins. As a result of the relentless struggle by IndustriALL and affiliates, the Hong Kong Convention is set to enter into force in 2025.

In the IndustriALL’s India council meeting on 4 April, affiliates highlighted their struggles to build union power. Some of the actions shared include attempts to organize white-collar workers in a Siemens’ factory, 2,700 workers regularized in Tata Motors, the struggle against using precarious workers and trainees in public sector coal mines, the mapping of how climate change affects women workers in the downstream shipbreaking industry, and a significant win for precarious workers in the steel industry.

Union leaders stressed that going forward, issues related to Just Transition, due diligence, occupational safety and health including gender-based violence and harassment, precarious work, and core labour standards must be prioritized.

Said Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary:

“Ahead of IndustriALL’s Congress in 2025, we need to review our action plan and make sure that our priorities are clear. It’s clear from the discussion that we need to advance our struggle for the inclusion of precarious workers in our unions, along with more women and youth. We must truly make our unions more inclusive. We also need to treat workplace accidents with absolute zero tolerance. It’s shameful that workers’ lives are treated as worthless.”

During a workshop on gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the workplace, women leaders discussed risk factors that contribute to GBVH, as well as measures to prevent GBVH, both at the workplace and within union spaces. An action plan, including raising awareness, assessing the effectiveness of internal complaints’ committee in factories, organizing health camps with a focus on GBVH, developing gender policy within unions, and increasing women’s representation in various committees, was drawn up. They also decided to revive the India women’s committee and develop its Terms of Reference.

Strengthening union organization in Iraq’s oil and gas sector

The 150 congress delegates elected nine officials to lead the work of the GFOGPUI Basra branch for the next four years. Ghazi Mohammed Abdul Sada was elected president, Qasim Watan Abdullah vice president, and Suhad Hassan was elected women's affairs officer. 
 
Hassan Juma, GFOGPUI president, emphasized that the most important challenges for oil workers are the absence of the law on trade union freedoms which limits the unions’ capacity to defend their members’ rights; a lack of occupational health and safety measures; a lack of social dialogue and collective bargaining; and a failure to respect international conventions, including ILO Conventions, signed by Iraq.  

Hassan Juma adds: 

“The founding congress of the Basra branch is part of a process to expand GFOGPUI across Iraq. We held a founding congress for the sector in Baghdad a few weeks ago, and after Ramadan we will continue the work on organizing founding congress for branches in Mosul and Dhi Qar, followed by a national congress for GFOGPUI. All the congresses are held in accordance with Iraqi law.”

IndustriALL energy director, Diana Junqurea Curiel, says:


“The oil and gas sector is key to the Iraqi economy and employs a large number of workers. We congratulate the leadership and members of GFOGPUI for their success in strengthening and expanding the union work across Iraq.”
 
 

Meeting of MENA Automotive Union network on Just Transition

Leaders of IndustriALL metal and automotive affiliates in the region, Khaled Taher, general secretary of Fédération Nationale de la Métallurgie et des Industries Synthétiques Métallurgiques et Electroniques – FNMISME – UMT, Mohamed Moufid, general secretary of Syndicat National des Industries Métallurgiques et Electromécaniques – SNIME – CDT and Abdelaziz Arfaoui, general secretary of Fédération Générale de la Métallurgie et de l'Electronique – FGME-UGTT focused on the forms of transition in the sector.  Although it is a gradual process, it is necessary to have a proactive approach to address future transformations, especially as the sector today is witnessing important investments in both Morocco and Tunisa. Participants highlighted developments in the sector related to the introduction of new technology, the situation of working women, wage policies, the introduction of robotics and its threat to jobs.

Ahmed Kamel and Georg Leutert from IndustriALL presented the latest developments in union work and the context of the automotive sector at the regional and global level, with a special focus on transformation and due diligence along supply chains. Both stressed that the shift from fossil energy to electric energy responds to a global trend towards decarbonization and global warming. The development of new technologies (digitization, automation and autonomous vehicles) and the consequent changes in the world of work make companies need to change their structures and adopt an approach where social dialogue is based on a genuine partnership with unions.

The meeting also focused on real-life examples from Renault and Stellantis, which have large supply chains in the region. Affiliates presented their action plans on Just Transition and due diligence, to develop a viable programme based on analysis, identifying objectives, strategies, and evaluation.

Action plans will focus on maintaining jobs and decent work, keeping up with the pace of transformation, creating new jobs to compensate for lost ones, preserving workers’ benefits, forming a united national, regional and global front and opening bridges of communication between IndustriALL affiliates to exchange experiences and expertise for advocacy on Just Transition, calling on governments and employers’ organizations for dialogue and creating policy to manage transformation, and providing stability for workers during the transition periods. 

Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary, said: 

“Just transition is a very important topic, as the world is witnessing developments and changes reflected in the world of work. One of the most important is the energy transition towards electric cars, which will create new structures in the automotive sector and will have an impact on workers and their professional stability. Unions have a key role to play in this transition by bringing up and supporting workers' demands. We must be prepared for this transformation through social dialogue with employers.”
 


 

Day of action on 19 April in solidarity with Belarusian unionists

On 18 July 2022, the Supreme Court decided to liquidate and dissolve the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), and its four members, three of them affiliated to IndustriALL – the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU or BNP), the Union of Radio and Electronics Workers (REP), the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB), and the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM).

Convicting trade union leaders for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of association constitutes a violation of the principles of freedom of association. Trade union rights lose all meaning in the absence of full respect for those civil liberties enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly concerning the right to freedom and security of the individual, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly, the right to a fair trial and the right to protection of trade union property.

Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:

"We demand that the Belarusian authorities immediately and unconditionally, including dropping all charges related to participation in peaceful protests and industrial actions, release the arrested trade unionists and all the human rights defenders and political prisoners, and cease the repression of independent trade unions and individuals demanding respect of their human rights."

IndustriALL will continue to publicly support the movement for independent unions and democracy in Belarus and will use our global voice to condemn the heavy oppression they face. 

Join the campaign through some of the following actions:

Join the online meeting, organized by the ITUC and ETUC, on 19 April, 9.30 – 11.00 CEST, as part of the Day of Action for Trade Union Rights and Democracy in Belarus. The meeting will be in English and Russian and you can register here.

Workers’ right under attack at Nexperia Philippines

Prior to the layoffs, Nexperia closed its sensors department, extending voluntary separation packages to the impacted workforce. The company announced plans to relocate the production line to Thailand, citing low production volumes as the justification for its actions. However, this reasoning doesn’t reflect the reality on the factory floor, where workers are mandated to work on holidays and struggle to get leave approvals, while production outputs rise.

The crackdown on the workforce began in September 2023, with the termination of eight workers, including three union officials. As of April 2024, an additional 54 workers were temporarily laid off for six months, and another 72 face upcoming layoffs.

In response, the Nexperia Philippines Workers’ Union filed a complaint accusing the company of unfair labour practices and engaging in union-busting tactics. IndustriALL affiliate, the Metalworkers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP) expressed concerns, highlighting that the dismissals violate both the CBA and established seniority practices.

“MWAP strongly opposes the mass layoffs and union busting at Nexperia. The company must immediately reinstate the  workers, and stop these series of layoffs that are affecting the jobs and the lives of 400 workers,”

said a MWAP representative.

IndustriALL general secretary , Atle Høie, has formally addressed Nexperia Philippines Vice-President Gareth Hughes. In his letter, expressing that the dismissal of union officials is a direct assault on the workers' rights, pressing the company to adopt immediate remedial measures. 

“We call on you to consider the impact these layoffs have on the lives of individuals, who have dedicated years of service to Nexperia. Our demand is for fair treatment, respect for the terms of our CBA, and the cessation of actions that undermine job security.

said Høie.

Nexperia, headquartered in the Netherlands and founded by Philips in 1981, was acquired by Wingtech Technology, a company with partial Chinese state ownership, in 2018. Its product ranges from diodes, transistors, ESD protection devices, as well as analog and logic ICs, positioning it as a key figure in the semiconductor industry.

Promoting social dialogue and industrial relations in Moroccan TGSL sector

Al-Arabi Hamouk and Ahmed Hassoun, general secretaries of textile unions from Morocco, affiliated to IndustriALL, highlighted the difficult conditions experienced by workers in the sector, attacks on freedom of association, blatant defiance of international and national laws, low wages, the absence of occupational health and safety conditions, and non-compliance with international framework agreements.

They stressed their readiness to cooperate with all parties to improve the working conditions and productivity of the sector. 
 
Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary, said: 

 “In order to develop a practical program to overcome the constraints facing this sector, there needs to be genuine social dialogue between all stakeholders to ensure success. This can be achieved by creating mutual trust that makes us work seriously and responsibly. We want social justice and fairness for the benefit of workers, and employers must engage with us.

IndustriALL has framework agreements with the brands, ACT and the ACCORD where there is a clear commitment from the brands to respect the labour law and apply international standards for work and occupational health and safety. We must listen to the voices of the unions, so that workers don’t become victims due to the lack of occupational health and safety conditions. We will be happy if Morocco joins the ACCORD.”

At the end of the meeting, all parties agreed on The Moroccan Multilateral Working Group for the TGSL Sector to improve cooperation and coordination among stakeholders to enhance social dialogue and identify priorities for joint actions in the sector, especially occupational safety and health.

Fighting for living wage in Malaysia and Philippines

During a visit to the South East Asia regional office in Kuala Lumpur, IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie attended two separate meetings, on 29 March and 1 April, with Malaysian and Philippine affiliates and discussed the conclusion of ILO meeting of experts on wage policies including living wages.

Atle Høie said the meeting provides an authoritative definition of a living wage, that it must afford a decent standard of living to workers and their families. He said it is now for national tripartite partners to determine the national definition and value.
 

“The conclusion emphasizes the importance of collective bargaining and social dialogue, which is underpinned by good faith and well-informed collective bargaining, the principle of equitable distribution of economic growth and freedom of association.”

Added Atle Høie.

In the South East Asia region, governments are deliberating different wage policies to address the phenomenon of the decoupling of labour productivity and wage growth.

The Malaysian government will implement a voluntary and productivity linked progressive wage policy in June. The pilot project will set wage scales for selected sectors and cover workers earning between RM1,500 (US$317) to RM4,999 (US$1,058). Eligible employers will receive a government subsidy of RM200 to RM300 (US$42.3-63.4) per month for a period of 12 months.

Gopal Kishnam Nadesan, IndustriALL executive committee member and Malaysia council secretary said:

“IndustriALL Malaysia council fully supports the progressive wage policy. Our manufacturing workers have been suffering stagnant wage growth. Those working for more than 20 years, their income is only slightly higher than the entry-level minimum wage earners. But we stress that the policy must be made mandatory.”

On the other hand, pro-labour Philippine legislators are pushing for the Wage Recovery Act of 2023, as the current wage-setting policy has deeply disappointed Philippine workers. Many are living in poverty after skyrocketing living costs. Philippine unions rally behind the initiative to increase the daily wage of PHP150 (US$2.7) for all private sector workers across the country. 
 

“We welcome the conclusion of the ILO meeting of experts on wage policies including living wages. It is important that trade unions launch wage campaigns anchored on data and evidence-based approaches, analyzing the needs of workers and family members. It is trade unions’ responsibility to lift workers out of poverty and fight for a decent living wage.”

Said Eva Arcos, IndustriALL executive committee member and Associated Labor Union (ALU) national vice president.
 
Ramon Certeza, IndustriALL regional secretary of South East Asia said:

“It is evident that the global economic system is a failure that only favours few owners of capital resulting in inequality to the detriment of the working class and society. Workers demand a fair distribution of income out of their value creation. The ILO’s timely response to bring back the living wage in the debate in this period of spiraling price inflation requires building workers’ and unions capacity to engage meaningfully in wage determination structures at different levels. The IndustriALL South East Asia office ensures support on this process.”

Nigerian textile union conference focuses on industry revival

Over 200 delegates from the private sector unions forum, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Nigerian Textile Garment and Tailoring Employers Association, and IndustriALL affiliates from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe participated at the conference.
 
The conference took place on the backdrop of a declining textile and garment sector. According to the NUTGTWN, which has over 18 000 members including self-employed tailors, this decline has been worsened by the counterfeiting of local Nigerian products, smuggling, and cheap imports textile imports.

These cheap goods flooded the market and made locally manufactured goods more expensive. The union said that the decline has also contributed to increasing inequality, poverty, and crime. However, the union identified industrialization and the transformation of the textile and garment industry in Nigeria as some of the solutions. 

The conference also reflected on reviving a labour-intensive cotton, textile, and garment industry, and protecting current jobs. There were also discussions on what the union expected from the future of work in this sector.

The NUTGTWN said the effective implementation of national policies that included the Cotton, Textile, and Garment policy and the Executive Order 003, which supported local procurement by the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the Made-in-Nigeria initiative, were important in stimulating domestic industries, creating jobs, and reducing reliance on imports.

“The key to real transformation and economic recovery lies in manufacturing. The textile industry has potential to create over two million jobs and bridge the huge unemployment gap in the country,”

said John Adaji, NUTGTWN former president and co-chair for IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa region. 
 
The participants argued that the enforcement of policies would also save the economy resources by reducing the import bill on textiles and garments. Discussions pointed out that intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area was key and trade agreements that included the US African Growth and Opportunity Act were pivotal to the revival of the textile and garment industry in Nigeria.
 
The union identified the following as key factors that will shape the future of work in the textile and garment industry: globalization, digitalization, information and communication technologies, demographic shifts, especially the youthful population, and climate change. 
 
IndustriALL’s Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary, Paule France Ndessomin, said:

“We applaud the strategies by NUTGTWN to organize self-employed tailors in the informal sector. Confronted with a huge informal economy, unions should explore ways to organize these workers as per International Labour Organization Recommendation 204 (Transition from the informal to the formal economy). The union must also organize workers in non-standard forms of employment to build union power and to also protect their rights at work.”