International Development Matters - Issue 193 July/August 2019

TUC NEWS

Zimbabwe: Stop death threats to ZCTU leadership!

TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady writes with urgency, a letter to the Ambassador of Zimbabwe in London, demanding the Zimbabwean government publicly denounces immediately the death threats and bullets sent recently to the leadership of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

Government progress on Sustainable Development Goals falls short

In June, the UK government published a report on its progress towards meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at home and abroad. The TUC is concerned that the review reveals that the government lacks an understanding of what decent work entails, the motivation to achieve it and its failure to acknowledge the central role that trade unions must play to reduce labour market inequalities and precarious employment to meet the SDGs.

Read more on why the international trade union movement is saying its #TimeFor8.

TUC signs joint letter calling for Colombian government to curb anti-union violence

The TUC along with British and Irish politicians and trade unionists signed this JFC-composed letter to denounce the shocking rise in killings of trade unionists and activists in #Colombia. They also call for full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement.

Read about the death threats received by Colombian trade union leaders Igor Díaz and Dibeth Quintana.

OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Trade Union Leader Faces Prison Time in Kazakhstan

As pressure built against Kazakhstan in June at the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) conference in Geneva to address the country’s poor record on trade union rights, authorities’ back home are seeking to jail an independent trade union leader. This action has been condemned by the ITUC.

Read the full article here

Djibouti: ITUC demands an end to repression against teachers and railway workers

The ITUC is demanding an end to the detention and suspension of workers in Djibouti, in the education and railway sectors, following the arrest and imprisonment of six teachers and the suspension of 37 railway workers. Djibouti has a score of 4 in the ITUC Global Rights Index because of its systematic violations of rights.

Brazil: Vale S.A. is ordered to pay for damages caused by Brumadinho Dam disaster

The mining company, Vale S.A, has been ordered to pay compensation for the environmental and economic damages caused by the rupture of the Feijão dam, which operated under its responsibility, in Brazil. The dam collapsed on 25 January, killing 242 people and another 22 are missing. Read how the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) has been working with their affiliates in Brazil and using international fora and mechanisms to put pressuring on the company.

Revamping Myanmar’s garment industry

Read how trade unions in Myanmar are working at factory level in the garment industry to find common agreements with employers to creating more inclusive and safe workplaces for workers and overall productivity, developing sound workplace practices. Trade unions from IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in seven countries in South East Asia are building networks to increase organising in the textile and garment sector despite threats and harassment.

2021 will be the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour

The UN has declared 2021 as the Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. The decision was taken to encourage states to step up their efforts to eradicate all forms of forced labour and child labour, as set in SDG 8’s target 8.7. Read this new ILO report, “Tackling child labour, 100 years of action” authored by former TUC colleague, Patrick Quinn of the ILO.

IFI NEWS

The IMF Takeover of Pakistan hit by strikes

Efforts by Prime Minister Imran Khan to bolster Pakistan’s faltering economy have suffered blows after his approved $6 billion IMF-led austerity plans sparked a national strike. Many people in Pakistan see the terms of the $6 billion bailout package as a hostile takeover of their economy and government.

Read more here

Doubling down on a failed approach: Argentina’s IMF programme, one year later

One year since its start, it has become clear that the IMF programme in Argentina has failed to deliver on its promises to fix the economy while protecting the most vulnerable. Despite the worsening economy, large human costs, and a significant downwards adjustment of growth projections, the IMF is doubling down on its austerity approach and requiring additional spending cuts to meet budget targets.

Read more here

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Philippines: Holcim workers demand justice

For years contractual workers at the Holcim cement plant in Davao have demanded regular employment, in line with Philippine law. Last year they filed a complaint with the Department of Labor and Employment, but in March 140 contract workers were laid off, while non-union workers were offered new employment contracts. Since then the workers have been picketing the factory.

Read more and sign the LabourStart petition here

ACT NOW! Cambodia: Solidarity with workers at the West Mebun temple

126 skilled workers restoring the West Mebun temple in Cambodia have been out of work for a year. They were previously employed by the French archaeological agency EFEO, with a collective agreement and good working conditions. But early last year, they were transferred to the Cambodian Government agency APSARA, which has a history of union-busting. They have since been suspended and told that there's no longer money to employ them.

Please show your support for these workers and their union by signing up to the Labour Start online campaign here.

ACT NOW! Pakistan: Reinstate the Karachi 8

Eight union leaders in Karachi have been sacked by Hutchison Ports for leading their union’s fight for dignity and fairness for their members.

Read more and sign the Labour Start petition here

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

Nepal: Women workers in construction sector continue to face exploitation on several fronts

Read the Kathmandu Post interview with women workers in the Nepalese construction sector, where they are formally organising against unequal pay, workplace safety, and workplace harassment, which is helping them protect their rights.

Iran: Release Four Women Detained at Labour Day Protest

Read the article by The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) about four women, including journalists and activists, who were arrested on May 1, 2019, after attending a Labour Day rally in Tehran, should be allowed unrestricted access to counsel and released. Among the women are Anisha Asadollahi, who taught English to members of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company.

Read more here

BWI interview with Secil Coban of TARIM-ORMAN IS

Secil Coban, a 24-year old public servant with the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry and member of TARIM ORMAN-IS in Turkey talks about her story of being a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace and how she was able to win her case with the support of the union.

Read the interview here

EVENTS

Sankofa Day - Honouring the victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Saturday 17 August

1pm onwards

Trafalgar Square, London

The 23 August as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, to remember this history and its victims. The Sankofa Day memorial event, held on the Saturday before 23 August, provides a space for all who wish to come together and remember the victims of the African Holocaust, their resilience and their resistance.

Read more here

Unions for Cuba Conference

Saturday 2 November

10am -5pm

NEU Hamilton House, London, WC1H 9BD

This major conference - the biggest solidarity with Cuba conference in 15 years - features an impressive high-level line up of up to 20 Cuban general secretaries and leaders from the Cuban trade union movement plus leading British trade unionists. Places are limited and priority will be given to trade union delegates. Tickets are just £15 waged (£10 unwaged) including lunch. Click here for tickets and information