International Centre for Trade Union Rights

worldwideSource: International Union Rights, Vol. 9, No. 2, 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2002), pp. 30-31Published by: International Centre for Trade Union RightsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41936038 .

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Colombia REPRESENTATIVES of the international trade union organisations ICEM (chemical, energy and mines) and the ICFTU federation joined Belgian unions FGTB, SETCA FGTB, CNE and CSC in a demonstration outside of the Colombian embassy in Brussels in May. The trade unionists gathered outside of the embassy, and delivered a letter to the Ambassador detailing 'systematic and persistent' persecution of trade unionists, and calling for renewed efforts on behalf of the Colombian government to end the violations and to secure a lasting peace process in the country.

Burma SHAREHOLDER activists, lead by officials from US federation AFL-CIO, tackled Unocal Corporation's policy on Burma at the company's AGM on 20 May. The activists pointed to increasing investor support for a worker's rights resolution, and challenged Unocal proposals to increase investment in Burma. The shareholder resolution on employment practices in Burma won over 31 per cent of the vote, with a further 10 per cent abstention rate. Burma is currently under intense scrutiny from the ILO that, under the 'Article 33' procedure, recently invited its members to reconsider trade relations with Burma because of the possible impact of that investment upon forced labour and other serious rights violations in the country.

Germany FOLLOWING votes of up to 90 per cent in favour the 2.7 million-strong IG Metall commenced strike action in May in protest at the minimal wage increases being offered during bargaining rounds. IG Metall's 'flexi-strike' patterns call out all members within a region for one-day strikes, the next day moving to a different region as a tactic to dissuade employers from instigating lockouts.

Global UNIONS affiliated to the ICEM have established a network within International Paper, the

world's largest paper company. The purpose of the network is to share information on pay and conditions and to establish formal relations with senior IP management for discussions on implementation of labour standards in IP's operations worldwide.

Global THE SERVEMPLOI project sponsored by Union Network International has identified what UNI describes as 'a new bargaining agenda to represent women members more effectively'. The report encourages unions to get involved with promoting women's skills and designing women's jobs, as well as emphasising the importance of protecting women in 'front line positions' from harassment and to ensure that working patterns do not place impossible demands up women workers. More information www. union- network, org

Health and

safety EVERY YEAR millions of workers die from work-related accidents, and the ILO has recently put that figure at 5,000 deaths per day. "Accidents do not just occur, they are caused", says Jukka Takala, Director of the ILO Health, Safety and Environment Programme, and ILO experts believe that at least half of the deaths could be prevented. The issue of workplace safety was highlighted by a ceremony at ILO Headquarters to mark Workers' Memorial Day, 28 April.

India AROUND 10 million Indian workers observed 16 April as a day of protest against labour law reforms and privatisation of state industries. Many public sector enterprises were brought to a standstill as workers resisted legislative proposals for a 'flexible' workforce.

Indonesia THE National Commission on Human Rights has uncovered new information and intends to re-open the 1993 case of Marsinah, a labour rights activist who was murdered after leading a strike at PT Catur

Putra Surya, a watch factory in . East Java. It is believed that Marsinah was raped and tortured before she was killed, but none of the eight defendants brought to the original trial were convicted. The Commission reports that President Megawati is supporting their efforts to reopen the case.

Indonesia THE reinstatement of the Shangri-La Hotel workers (/ UR 9.1, p21) has been a short-lived victory indeed. The Hotel has refused to take the workers back, and has lodged an appeal against the reinstatement order. The order of US$2.2 million in damages that was made against seven union officers is also on appeal, by the union. The Shangri-La workers were locked-out of the hotel in December 2000 following a wages dispute.

ILO THE 90th Session of the International Labour Conference takes place in June. The major policy debate is 'Decent work and the informal economy' and discussions will resume further to a proposal to adopt a Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation. A special sitting of the Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations will consider the Government of Myanmar's response to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. The Global Report, issued further to the Declaration on Fundamental Principles Follow-up procedures, is already available A future without child labour (ILO, Geneva 2002. Contact: Publications, ILO, CH1211, Geneva 22, Switzerland).

Jamaica THE government will pay a total of US$9 million compensation to prison officers who were dismissed after a three day strike two years ago. The compensation package includes reinstatement for more than 600 officers, and represents 85 per cent of pay lost over two years for all 800 workers. The compensation was accepted by union representatives following a two-year long standoff between the two sides.

INTERNATIONAL union rights Page 30 Volume 9 Issue 2 2002

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Kenya PSI reports a welcome improvement in labour rights in Kenya with the lifting of the government ban on civil servants' right to form trade unions. The leader of the civil service union that existed prior to the ban has expressed hopes for enhanced working conditions for the country's 200,000 civil servants.

Kenya A GOVERNMENT report supported by the ILO's IPEC programme has found 1.9 million child labourers in Kenya, with 15,000 of these children engaged in risky and hazardous work such as mining, construction and commercial agriculture. IPEC's George Okutho welcomed the report as a tool to spread awareness and help to move society beyond a state of denial.

Korea THE KCTU union federation has issued a statement explaining why it will continue to lead nation wide strike action during the World Cup, following a request from the Korean World Cup Organising Committee to suspend the strike action. "Many Korean workers", replies KCTU, "will not be able to share in the excitement and festivities in a wholehearted manner. This is especially true of the trade unionists held in prison. KCTU President Dan Byung-ho, sentenced to two year imprisonment for leading the activities of the KCTU, is one member of the World Cup Organising Committee who will not be able to attend any of the matches". KCTU says that the Committee should be working to secure the release of its member from prison, and to raise the profile of the issue of child labour in football production.

Mexico THE ICFTU's trade policies report and labour rights survey for the WTO identifies restrictions on worker's rights despite Mexico's ratification of six out of eight ILO core conventions. The missing' two conventions are Convention 98 on Collective Bargaining and Convention 138 on Child Labour. The ratification of C87 on Freedom of Association, however, has not ensured that these rights are observed, and although labour legislation provides for legal strikes and

forbids the practice of 'replacement labour', the Report finds evidence of interference by the local labour authorities in union registration and dispute resolution. Laws on anti-union discrimination are inadequately enforced, and the law on public sector association rights is described as 'restrictive'. Several serious cases of violence against trade unionists are also documented in the Report.

The law on equal pay at work for men and women does not take into account work 'of equal value' but only like work, and gender segregation with women in lower paid employments continues to be widespread. Sexual harassment at work is widespread' and recruitment discrimination 'does not seem to be addressed' in law. The law provides for 'relatively extensive' maternity protection, but discrimination against pregnant women is 'well-documented', and pregnancy tests for job applicants are common. Child labour in Mexico is 'very prevalent', and access to education is very poor. The Report finds that recent estimates categorise between two and five million as working children'. Forced labour generally 'does not occur', but there are concerns for some women and children who are victims of forced prostitution.

Slovenia THE ICFTU's trade policies report for the WTO General Council Review is positive, finding that Slovenia has ratified all eight of the ILO Core Labour Standards and that the standards are generally well respected. In particular workers may form and join unions, anti-union discrimination is prohibited and does not normally occur, collective bargaining is 'relatively widespread', and the provisions of the labour law extend into the country's Export Processing Zones.

Provisions prohibiting discrimination against Roma people and women are not so effective, and the Report finds that these practices persist despite Constitutional prohibition. Following the closure of large factories post- 1991 unemployment for the Roma people has soared (in some areas to levels as high as 90 per cent). The Report identifies a higher proportion of men in senior positions and continuing pay inequality between men and women. Child and Forced Labour

do not generally occur (education is free and compulsory until 15 years of age, and free thereafter) but there are reports of child labour on some family-owned farms, and the trafficking of women for prostitution into and through Solvenia is a problem.

Saudi Arabia FOLLOWING an ILO expert team's visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this year the Labour Minister Dr Ali Al-Namlah has signed new laws that permit the establishment of Workers' Committees in workplaces employing 100 or more workers. Juan Somavia, Director General of the ILO has described the move as "a milestone in the labour history of Saudi Arabia ". A comprehensive new labour law is expected to be submitted to the Saudi Assembly (Shora) in coming months, and ILO technical programmes will be operating in the Gulf States following a cooperation agreement singed in October 2001. ILO technical assistance in Bahrain has already helped the Workers' Committees of that country move towards full trade union status.

Zimbabwe THE ZFTU union federation has become involved in running battles with police as the dispute at the Triangle sugar mill escalated. ZFTU (a controversial federation associated with the War Veterans) has entered into competition with the existing ZCTU affiliated unions at various locations including the Triangle site. In several cases this competition has turned violent. ZCTU argues that ZFTU is not a real trade union federation and that it has promised workers unattainable 35 per cent increases and incited dangerous confrontations.

USA/Colombia THE International Labor Rights Fund's campaign against violence and intimidation in Coca-cola's Colombian bottling plants continued with a protest rally outside the Coca-cola AGM on 17 April. The rally was addressed by union officials and ILRF counsel, and follows other rallies outside Coca-cola's sites and events aimed at spreading awareness of the violence against Colombian trade unionists.

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