Unionists demand all charges against jailed Belarusian trade union leaders be dropped

Delegates at the demonstration demanded that all charges against the imprisoned leaders be dropped and that international organizations are given access to visit the country. 
 
Maksim Pazniakou, acting president of the the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) said: 

“We thank you for being here and supporting our Belarusian colleagues. Your support is very important for those in jail; they know that they have support from the outside and that they are not alone. I hope that the adoption of Article 33 will push the authorities to respect workers’ rights and it will help to release our comrades from jail and to restore the independent trade union movement in the country.”

Earlier this week, the ILC adopted a resolution under Article 33 of the ILO constitution, challenging Belarus’ continued disregard for workers’ rights and the arrest of countless trade unionists. Article 33 tackles non-compliance with a report of an ILO commission of inquiry. This commission was established in 2003 regarding violations of ILO Conventions 87 and 98. This adoption means that member states will take all the possible steps to ensure that Belarus implements the recommendations of that enquiry. This could involve sanctions but also support for those persecuted by the regime and their struggle for international workers’ rights. 

This is the first time in the more than 100-year history of the ILO that delegates to the International Labour Conference, representing governments, employers and trade unions, have taken such a step to stop violations of freedom of association. Until now, this procedure had only been used once—in 2000, against Myanmar, over its use of forced labour.

IndustriALL assistant Kemal Özkan said: 

“We are fighting against a dictator and are united with the workers in Belarus. We will not give up until the political hostages are freed. This is a fight for democracy and for fundamental workers’ rights. We have an important step forward with the ILC decision on Article 33 and we will continue until we get justice for Belarus. Our struggle continues and we will win.”

Military breaks strike in Myanmar garment factory

Earlier in June, seven workers at the Hosheng Myanmar Garment Factory in Yangon were dismissed for demanding a wage increase from US$1.68 to US$1.96. 600 workers at the factory who produce for one of the world’s biggest brands, Zara, went on strike, abruptly halted as the employer brought in the military to threaten the workforce.

Yesterday, 14 June, the seven workers who led the demand for a pay rise, Ma Aye Thandar HTay, MA Thandar Htay, Ma May Thu Min, Ko Aung Aung, Ko Ye Naing, Ko Ye Thwe Hlaing, were fired and a female worker leader, Ma Thu Thu San, was arrested. There has been no contact with Ma Thu Thu San since her arrest and concerns for her safety are increasing.

More than 300 union members and activists have been arrested in the two years since the military coup. The military junta in Myanmar has banned nearly all unions, effectively wiping out the fundamental right of freedom of association.

However, to counter that image, the junta has registered some labour organizations as unions, a process supported by the EU MADE in Myanmar project.

The project, funded by the EU and European-based garment brands, claims to establish social dialogue at factory level in the garment industry but has been condemned as a whitewash by independent trade unions and labour organisations in Myanmar.

“The military getting involved in a strike and workers being arrested yet again show that freedom of association is impossible in Myanmar. The EU should without hesitation put an end to the MADE in Myanmar project, which only serves to legitimize the country’s illegitimate government,”

says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.

“The fired workers must immediately be reinstated and not be subjected to threats or attacks by the employer, the police or military troops. Ma Thu Thu San must be safely returned home with immediate effect.”

Union protests in Casablanca disrupted by security forces

Khalid al-Huwair al-Alami, Deputy general secretary of CDT, said

“the march is legitimate due to the reality of the situation in Morocco. The march is legal because the right to demonstrate, protest is guaranteed by international conventions and the constitution.”

Members and leaders of the CDT refused to stop the march, as it is a violation of the constitution. They stated that the demonstration is peaceful, and it is the workers' right to reject government policies and the worsening socio-economic environment in the country. 

Workers expressed their categorical rejection of layoffs, deprivation of their rights, and accumulation of wealth at the expense of the poor. They stressed that the ban would not prevent them from defending the rights of workers and a decent life for the working class. 

In a statement issued on 5 June,  the CDT’s Executive Bureau expressed that this repression is a serious violation of rights and freedoms and a violation of international conventions, not to mention the constitution. They are calling for respect for trade union rights and for the state to intervene and put an end to the wave of increasing prices of basic materials and fuel, and to protect the purchasing power of citizens. 

They also call for increased employment and an end to corruption. They support the implementation of the agreements signed with the government in April 2022. They will continue to mobilise in the face of these challenges.

 

“We call on the government of Morocco to engage with unions in genuine social dialogue that must result in practical solutions for the shrinking purchasing power of citizens and workers in the country,”

said Atle Høie, IndustriALL general Secreatry.

Iraqi government withdraws fuel increase proposal after workers protest

Protests were organized by an initiative from workers and unions. Workers demand the cancellation of a government proposal to increase the price of a barrel of crude oil. 

The Finance Committee in the Iraqi parliament proposed raising the price of a barrel of oil and approving taxes on petroleum products within the country's general financial budget for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. Protesting workers called on the government to reverse the proposal to increase prices, and not to prejudice their wages and entitlements.

They also called on government to support refinery companies’ development which will allow a reduction in fuel supply. The protesters warned the government against being drawn into the policies of international financial institutions because of their negative repercussions. 

The Iraqi Federation of Oil and Petrochemical (IFOU) said in a statement that the increase represents an implementation of the International Monetary Fund’s dominance in order to address the budget imbalance. IFOU criticized the proposal to raise oil prices and adopt taxes on petroleum products. It said that it will lead to corporate losses and to job losses. It will also impact workers’ purchasing power and the increase will lead to an increase production costs.

This will affect companies’ competitiveness, which threatens their sustainability and ability to operate. IFOU also expressed its rejection of all intentions to refer members and trade unionists to investigative committees and to the judiciary to silence their voice.

Hassan Juma, president of IFOU said: 

“The workers fought for a national issue of concern to all Iraqis.The protest demonstrations were successful and preoccupied the government as this led them to withdraw the proposal and abolish respective article from the budget on increasing the price of crude oil.”

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said: 

“IndustriALL Global Union commends workers in Iraq. They took a stand and fought for something that would have an enormous impact on your daily living. We commend you for your courage and determination in this fight.”

Human rights due diligence is key to protecting workers

Trade unions have an important role to play in due diligence, as workers are often vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in various industries and regions.

For global brands and suppliers to practice due diligence there needs to be meaningful mutual engagement and it needs to be conducted in good faith. 

In early June, the European Parliament adopted its position on a future EU Directive on human rights and environmental due diligence. The vote of the Parliament’s report on the proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is an important step in putting people and planet before the profits and making all businesses accountable. 

Global Framework Agreements (GFAs) are another way to protect the interests of workers across a multinational company’s operations. GFAs are negotiated on a global level between trade unions and a multinational company. They put in place the very best standards of trade union rights, health, safety and environmental practices, and quality of work principles across a company's global operations, regardless of whether those standards exist in an individual country. 

By signing a GFA, a multinational company accepts the responsibility to protect and respect fundamental workers’ rights, in particular the right to organize and bargain collectively, and to exercise due diligence concerning the impact of its operations on human rights in its production facilities and along its supply chain. IndustriALL has several existing GFAs with many multinational corporations. 

The Japan Council of Metalworkers (JCM) published a guide called Trade unions’ role and responses to human rights due diligence for its affiliates. The union submitted its comment on the guideline to the parliamentary vice-minister of economy, trade and industry (METI), Kazuchika Iwata in June 2022. In a meeting with IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan in September 2022, IndustriALL vice president and JLC president Akira Takakura, said that Japanese unions play a vital role in ensuring that multinational companies respect human rights in its supply chains. 

IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie said:

“human rights due diligence must always be an integral part of our work. We need to hold companies accountable for violations, but we also need to put measures in place to make sure that there are no violations. The time when companies could make profit out of the exploitation of the environment and on the back of their and their suppliers’ workers’ fundamental rights all over the world, has to come to an end.” 

6 workers killed in Casablanca factory collapse

The accident occurred during ongoing construction work aimed to expand the building by adding four floors. Three of the victims worked for the building contractor and three were from the textile factory.

According to the Syndicat National des Travailleurs du Textile et du Cuir – SNTTC-UMT, the construction did not respect legal standards. SNTTC-UMT insist that the construction company should be held responsible for the accident due to lack of oversight. It is also the responsibility of the officials who granted authorization.

The Syndicat National de Textile Habillements et Cuirs – SNTHC-CDT stated that the factory lacks the minimum conditions of health and safety. The workers had to work despite the presence of a construction barn above the factory. SNTHC-CDT hold the authorities responsible for what happened. They allowed the factory owner to build additional floors in a building containing a factory without taking protective measures. 

The SNTHC-CDT calls for the prosecution and accountability of those responsible for the tragedy. The union denounced the absence of oversight on the factory that did not respect health and safety conditions. The SNTHC-CDT has called for a national debate on occupational health and safety that brings together all stakeholders. 

“Such a tragic accident was not the first of its kind. It was expected that there would be a reaction from the governments since the incident of the workers who drowned in Tangiers, but things remained the same. Frequent accidents require strict control,” said  Al-Arabi Hamouk, the general secretary of SNTTC-UMT

Ahmed Hassoun, general secretary of SNTHC-CDT expressed

“that it has become necessary to structure the sector and insure workers against hazards. Work must be done to review the reality of workers within the textile sector and to guarantee their rights. We call on the government to implement the global Accord agreement ACCORD”. 

“This is an unacceptable tragedy that should never have happened. The garment industry must be made safe for the people who contribute to its enormous output. If government, factory owners and brands are really serious about stopping these accidents, we need an Accord program for Morocco. IndustriALL stands in solidarity with the victims and their families,”

said Atle Høie IndustriALL general secretary.

Korean Metal Workers’ Union stands up to anti-union government

Since January, the Korean government has launched serious attacks against Korean trade unions and violent police interventions in labour disputes have increased. Police have forcibly dispersed assemblies and arrested participants, curtailing democratic rights to demonstrate. 

KMWU and its national center Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) have protested against the stonewalling of labour law reform in ensuing the ratification of ILO Convention 87 and 98 by the previous Korean president Moon Jae-In. Both unions demand that the provisions on criminalization of strike action and enabling precarious work must be amended.

Even though the Labour Ministry Anyang Office visited plants on 26 May to threaten unionists that they would face criminal charges if they went on strike, on 31 May, KMWU staged demonstrations in twelve cities and provinces. 

In Seoul, KMWU members demonstrated in front of the National Police Agency then marched to Gwanghwamun to join a cross-sectoral KCTU national struggle as construction workers marched up from Yongsan district and Seoul labour office. Some 13,500 unionists in Seoul shouted the slogan “Smash through retrogressive revision of labour laws and union repression! Down with the Yoon Suk-yeol government!”.

In solidarity with the warning strikes, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates across the world have taken solidarity actions. On 30 May, the Malaysian Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC), consisting of IndustriALL and BWI Malaysia affiliates and NGOs, submitted a protest letter to the Embassy of Korea in Kuala Lumpur, calling on the Korean government to immediately stop the attacks on Korean unions. 

In a solidarity letter, the Cambodian Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW) says:

“CUMW condemn in the strongest possible terms the government's unjust intervention into unions, the abusive use of coercive power of the state against unions, using police, public prosecutors, and invoking national security to attack unions, push for retrogressive legal changes to undermine unions and their independence from the state.” 

said Pav Sina, the CUMW president.

UAW’s solidarity letter noted the violent raid of the KWB factory owned by Denso and the large numbers of trade unionists summoned by the police for questioning, including KMWU President YOON Jang hyeok, KMWU VP for Auto SON, Deok Heon and KMWU Ulsan Branch Chair. 

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said: 

“Union activity is a right and not a crime. We urge the Korean government to stop criminalization against trade union leaders and members and ensure a stable environment exists so workers can enjoy their fundamental rights. We stand in solidarity with our South Korean comrades in their rightful fight for their rights.”

Youth forum in Kyrgyzstan discuss organizing and communication

Affiliates are following IndustriALL's recommendations in the field of youth policy.  Youth committees have been established in all national trade unions and the youth are represented in all elected bodies. 70 per cent of the participants are women and this is a testament to the effective implementation of gender policies at IndustriALL events and activities. 
 
Chairman of the Trade Union of Textile and Light Industry Workers of Kyrgyzstan, Almabubu Zharkynbayeva, said: 

“Many of our seamstresses work from home, and this makes their life unbearable. They are obligated to fulfill the order from the employer and at the same time do all the work at home, including caring for elderly parents. Most times they are registered as individual entrepreneurs, and the employer does everything to get away from regulating relations with the help of the Labour Code, saying that these are relations of a civil nature. We see our task in bringing work out of the shadow economy into the legal field. From this point of view, the union welcomes the government's plans to create a large technopark, where big enterprises will work, and the hiring of workers will take place without the use of illegal gray, and black schemes.”

These schemes make room for employers to avoid social responsibilities towards workers and to avoid taxation. 
 
Chairman of the Mining and Metallurgical Workers’ Trade Union of Kyrgyzstan (MMWTUC), Eldar Tadjibaev said: 

“Thanks to IndustriALL’s continuous work in the region, we see that trade union ideas have taken root in the working environment and are starting to spread actively. Workers/members of the trade union of the gold mining enterprise Altynken started working at Jerooy and became the initiators of the creation of a new trade union organization at this enterprise.”

Participants also shared their experience of communication work, an important element in strengthening trade unions. The chairman of the MMWTUC continues his profile on Tik-Tok with daily legal consultations on labour issues and answers questions that are asked in the comments section. Such engagement has led to an increased number of subscribers on Tik-Tok exceeding 11 000.  For many publications, the number of views is almost 100 000. The Mobile Trade Union application created provides daily trade union news and gives solid discounts in many retail chains, restaurants, foreign language learning centers, etc. 
 
Vadim Borisov said: 

“A nice feature of affiliates in Kyrgyzstan is that after each seminar they try to put into practice the ideas that were voiced at the forum and then they decide what works and what doesn’t. The Mining and Metallurgical Trade Union of Kyrgyzstan has been an experimental platform on which many trade union initiatives are being tested. For example, MMWTUC specialists conducted classes on labour relations for students at the Mining Institute to give future workers knowledge about their labour rights and about the protective functions of the trade union. This is serious work for the future.”

Violent attack against Korean unionists must stop

While visiting a sit-in protest of FKMTU members working at POSCO steel mill in Gwangyang on 31 May, FKMTU president Kim Man-jae was manhandled. Six plain-clothes police officers pressed Kim on to the ground and kneeled on his neck before handcuffing him.
 
The following day, FKMTU secretary-general Kim Jun-yeong joined the sit-in protest on a makeshift scaffolding, seven metres above ground. At dawn, four police officers approached Kim with a mobile crane, striking Kim Jun-yeong with a long stick until he fell down from the scaffolding. Kim suffered severe injuries to his forehead and head, a fractured knee and bruises all over his body. He was taken into police custody.
 
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) has condemned the police for their excessive use of force against the two FKMTU leaders, calling for the immediate resignation of the Chief of the National Police Agency.

“This bloody incident tarnishes the international image of Korea. We demand that the Korean government respect workers’ freedom of expression and cease the violent attack against Korean labour unions. IndustriALL stands in solidarity with FKMTU,”

says Shinya Iwai, IndustriALL Global Union regional secretary for South East Asia.
 

Gender equality must be a priority

In April participants from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India came together to practically plan how to strengthen their unions and make them more inclusive for women and young workers. Much of the discussion focused on contract workers because those most affected are women and youth. This meeting also focused on gender-based violence and harassment and building capacity and strong awareness using valuable resources like ILO C190 Toolkit on violence and harassment in the world of work. 

Nigeria ratified ILO Convention 190 which aims to eliminate violence and harassment from the world of work, in September last year. The ratification came after sustained campaigns and concerted efforts, which included social dialogue involving trade unions, civil societies and labour support organizations. Unions said that the ratification of the ILO C190 will strengthen the development of workplace policies to address gender discrimination, gender inequality, improve reporting mechanisms and confidentiality, and make perpetrators accountable and be prosecuted under appropriate laws.

Last year on International Women’s Day, trade unions in Turkey highlighted the situation of women in the country, supporting women workers fighting for their rights. Women are bearing the brunt of Turkey’s increasing inflation – poverty, discrimination and a gender pay gap are daily realities for an increasing number of women workers. On 8 March, Petrol-is organized an activity to support the women workers picketing outside the PAS South East Europe Factory in Çerkezköy. The workers protested after management forced them to resign from their union membership. 

Armelle Seby, IndustriALL director for gender said:

“As trade unions, we must break the cycle of gender inequality because it happens on a continuum and is caused by unequal power relations between men and women. Gender inequality is rooted in patriarchy, harmful social and cultural norms, and discrimination. We must address these root causes, carry out risk management, and stop the abuse of power.”