Climate Change and the importance of social protection

People in developing countries—particularly the agricultural poor—face a host of risks to their lives and livelihoods, including those stemming from globalization, climate change, and weather shocks. These experiences highlight the importance of social protection, which can have a potentially significant impact on reducing poverty and vulnerability when implemented with the optimal design, targets, and resources. ‪ Social protection could address the short-term consequences of negative shocks to agriculture, employment, or health, and in doing so could also help to address the medium-term impacts on productivity and income growth.

In light of today being the start of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris #‎COP21, to reach a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, discover more on the topic from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) here.

Increase minimum wage to 177USD in Cambodia: start of online campaign!

 Is 177$ for Cambodian garment workers really too much to ask for?
Standing in solidarity with Cambodian workers today who make clothes.

Tweet it: Cambodian workers need $177 a month. @hm @ca_europe @levis #weneed177

Put it on their facebook pages:
- http://www.facebook.com/ca.belgium
- https://www.facebook.com/#!/hm/timeline
- https://www.facebook.com/#!/Levis.benelux
- https://www.facebook.com/Zara/?fref=ts

Take a picture with the sticker and post it online, and send it to wouke.oprel@wsm.be

Place of elderly in Belgium and Bangladesh: look and learn visit between OKRA and GK

With population growing ever grayer, both the north and the south are faced with realities and challenges of how to care for these elderly, integrate  them and offer them a dignified retirement. Clearly, social protection plays a major role in this. To share practices, a look and learn visit from OKRA, a Belgian member organisation of the Belgian Christian workers movement which caters for the specific needs of the 55+, to GK in Bangladesh. 12 volunteers from OKRA, including Jef Van Hecken, who was previously based in Dhaka for WSM, and two colleagues from WSM are participating for two weeks. 

You can follow their blog (in Dutch) here.

MoU to assist Nepali migrant workers in Qatar

In a bid to protect the rights of Nepali migrant workers in Qatar, which numbers to over 450,000 workers in varied sectors, the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal and the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and activation plan.

National Human Rights Commission Nepal Chair Anup Raj Sharma and National Human Rights Committee Qatar Chair Dr Ali Bin Al Marri signed this agreement to provide mutual assistance for the protection of migrant workers. The Nepalese delegation consisted of Mr Kamal Thapa Chettri and Ms Kalpana Jha as commission officers. Mr Laxman Basnet, SARTUC General Secretary, also accompanied the Nepalese delegation. SARTUC played a crucial role in bringing the two Human Rights Commissions together for facilitating the signing of this MoU. Solidarity Centre provided assistance for this accomplishment. Mr Laxman Basnet hailed the signing of MOU as a great step towards protecting Nepali migrant workers’ rights, and also stressed that such agreements shall be facilitated between NHRC Nepal and other countries of destination for Nepali migrant workers.

During the Qatar visit, SARTUC organised meetings and held discussions with Qatar-based Nepali organizations and groups regarding their conditions. The NHRC Nepal team and SARTUC General Secretary visited labour camps and the Nepalese Embassy in Qatar.

WSM Asia partners support the Social Protection 4 All campaign

All WSM Asia partners expressed their support to the Social Protection Campaign 4 All during the Continental Planning Workshop in Indonesia...

Youth and social protection

One of the challenges, not only in Asia but also in Europe and around the world, is how to get youth involved in social movements and prioritized by policies and social protection. At the beginning of 2012, the world population surpassed 7 billion with people under the age of 30 accounting for more than half of this number (50.5%). According to a UNESCO survey, 89.7% of people under 30 lived in emerging and developing economies. But to which extent are they involved in the political choices of the societies they live in, have access to decent jobs and decent wages, and how much of a priority are youth for politicians? Most youth and especially young workers are excluded and ignored, very often working in the informal sector or leaving the country as migrant workers, and so they fall outside of the regulations and labour laws.

This is the topic some of the WSM partners discuss currently in Hong Kong, during a seminar conducted by the Young Christian Workers movement, where both the national YCW movements, meet with some of WSM trade union partners.

It is organized by the regional secretariat from YCW Asia and Pacific, and had input and facilitation from WSM, the International YCW, IMA and AMRC. One of the suggestion that came out of the workshop was to consider youth as a crosscutting issue, same as gender and environment, an angle that should be examined for each topic discussed. When we look at social protection, migration but also aspects from the organisations, like leadership or capacity strengthening, we should each time ask ourselves the question to which extent youth are affected and involved.

The meeting also offered the opportunity to explore some of the labour issues in Hong Kong, and field visits were done, first to KUCE place, in which IMA functions and where there was an interaction with some of the migrant workers. Participants also posed for a picture for online protest against the forest fires in Indonesia and the subsequent haze, which is causing air pollution and victims in the region. Sunday, Victoria Park in central Hong Kong was visited, where Indonesian migrant workers, mostly domestic workers, gather to share meals, perform dances and cultural events, and in general have fun and organize.

CFTUI from India gets full membership with ITUC

After many years of associated membership, CFTUI, a WSM trade union partner in India, was finally granted full membership during the 15th Meeting of the ITUC General Council in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is an important achievement, as it will serve to increase the recognition of CFTUI as a social partner in India, alongside the three other affiliates to ITUC from India: INTUC, HMS and SEWA.

In India, there are 13 Central Trade Unions, almost all with links to different political parties, and which are included in social dialogue and tripartite structures. CFTUI still has to go through a verification process in which the Indian central government audits its membership. There seems to be little doubt however that CFTUI meets the formal criteria (minimal 800.000 members and presence in at least eight states and eight industries). It is hence a main priority for CFTUI to lobby for, meticulously prepare and participate in any upcoming verification process by the Indian authorities, hopefully within the next five years. These General Verifications do not take place very often: in 1980, 1989, 2002 and the latest in 2013. Results of the verification are published by the Ministry of Labour (link).

CFTUI is an Indian Confederation of Trade Unions, Trade Federations, Associations, Societies and other organizations of India, dedicated towards welfare and development of the society in general and workers in particular. CFTUI is absolutely free from any control or attachment with the political parties or groups. It relies solely on the workers unity to fulfill its objectives. It believes that there cannot be a true labour movement unless the Trade Unions are independent in thinking and free to decide their strategies.As of 2014, CFTUI has 277 affiliated trade unions across 21 states representing 12 sectors in India with a total membership of 1.313.747.

CFTUI looks forward, though a full membership status with ITUC and ITUC-AP to increase its credibility and increase our fight to promote workers’ rights, in India, Asia and the world.

Cambodia: garment minimum salary from 128USD to 140USD, still below demanded 160USD

The Pnomh Penh Post reported today that, following an at-times turbulent process, Cambodia yesterday set the 2016 minimum wage for garment workers at $140 per month, a $12 increase from the current rate of $128 but well below union demands for $160.

Labour Minister Ith Samheng announced yesterday that the government’s wage-setting group, the Labour Advisory Committee, first voted on increasing the wage to $135, after which Prime Minister Hun Sen mandated an additional $5, as he did last year.

Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian
Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union,
places his vote at the Ministry of Labour yesterday
for the garment industries 2016 minimum wage. Heng Chivoan

The 28-member LAC, 14 from the government and the other 14 equally split between unions and employers, overwhelmingly voted for the government figure of $135 submitted by a tripartite working group on Wednesday night.

The announcement of the final $140 rate, far less than union demands, angered some. Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union, said he would begin talks with other unions to potentially hold mass strikes after the Pchum Ben holiday. “I cannot accept this figure. I need $160. I expect that there are between 50 to 60 per cent of workers who will not accept this figure,” he said.

Full article here.

7 Oct - Decent Work Day globally supported, and in Asia!

Trade unions around the world are once again mobilising on October 7, the World Day for Decent Work, under the banner “End Corporate Greed”, with activities stretching from Japan to Ecuador and South Africa to Russia. Also WSM and ACV-CSC mobilized in Belgium, while many of our partners organized activities in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia or Cambodia.


According to the ITUC website, activities in 33 countries have already been registered on the special website http://2015.wddw.org, and many more are uploaded to the site  here.

Brussels, the “Capital of Europe”, came to a standstill with a huge demonstration organised by the Belgian trade unions against austerity, while unions from the manufacturing sector will hold events across the globe to demand an end to precarious work, organised by Global Union Federation IndustriALL. In India, domestic workers raised their hands and voices to demand decent work.

“Once again the voice of working people will be heard around the globe on the World Day for Decent Work. The global focus this year is on ending corporate greed, eliminating precarious work and formalising informal jobs, as well as living minimum wages. We need to transform the exploitative supply chain model which robs workers while filling the coffers of multinational companies, many of which are culpable of the most egregious exploitation including the use of modern slavery. The trade union movement stands with the most exploited and vulnerable in the global economy, and on this day, the World Day for Decent Work, we will show our determination to build a better world for working families and for the generations to come,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

Labour migration and informal economy on SAARC agenda....

Currently, an exciting opportunity has come up on the South Asia level to tackle labour migration and the informal economy. Since the SAARC Declaration of November 2014, South Asian leaders had agreed to come up with policy papers on certain issues: labour migration (which would be developed by Nepal), minimum wage (Bangladesh), social security (Pakistan) etc. For more on SAARC and its relevance, see this post.

To influence this process, SARTUC organized a conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka 28-29 September 2015 with delegates from the trade unions from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and India. ITUC-AP, some TUSSOs (trade unions support and solidarity Organisation, like the Danish LO/FTF or WSM and Global Union Federations, like UNI, as well as Migrant Forum Asia (MFA) also attended and provided input.

The meeting led to a couple of important documents to be used for advocacy: recommendations on labour migration and informal economy, draft minimum standards for bilateral agreements for labour migration to Gulf Countries and a draft standard contract which all SAARC countries could start using and which would provide better workers’ protection.

Since the WSM partners from SAARC also had a position paper regarding labour migration, WSM and its partners which were present convinced the other participants of three key issues to be included:

• Reference to minimum wages in accordance to ILO Convention art. 3 on Minimum Wages, though the proposal of a common minimum amount of 500USD per month was not kept;
• Ensuring access to social protection by hosting countries, the request for Welfare funds in sending countries was not retained however;
• To avoid abuses by recruitment agencies: “All costs linked to recruitment and travel should be employer based and made transparent and publicly available”

All affiliates will now lobby for these agendas in their respective countries, since SAARC doesn’t interact directly with civil society but only functions as a multilateral institution. For one of the first times however, SARTUC itself will also be attending the meeting of the focal points beginning of December in Pokhara, Nepal.  Let’s hope some of these recommendations make it through…

Amin from NGWF honored Nuremberg International Human Rights Award

Amirul Haque Amin, President of the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) today received the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award for his more than 3 decades long fight for the rights of garment workers in Bangladesh, for the improvement of their living conditions.

Does the new Nepali Constitution work for the workers?

After five years, six months and 26 days of work as well as two elections, two major earthquakes and close to 500 aftershocks, a new dawn supposedly rises on Nepal: the new Constitution is proclaimed today. But who supported and opposed, and what kind of provisions does this new Constitution reserve for the workers and the right to social protection?

Policy Paper regarding Labour Migration: SAARC

Labour migration is a crucial issue for the SAARC region and it directly and indirectly affects rights of workers and rights to social protection, so the SAARC Network on the Right to Social Protection, supported by WSM, jointly drafted this policy paper in Kathmandu on 18th of September 2015.

Migrant workers from Nepal to Gulf States
(c) AWO

SAARC is due to launch a policy paper on labour migration by beginning of 2016, and has mandated the Nepali government to draft this. SARTUC, which gathers trade unions from the SAARC region, had already initiated a process where per country, all affiliated trade unions drafted a joint position paper on migration. The network based these positions on the common position paper drafted on migration by the Nepali affiliated trade unions as facilitated by SARTUC. During the SARTUC meeting in Sri Lanka 28-29 Sept 2015, this and papers from the other SARTUC countries will be discussed. For Nepal, two members of the network, NTUC and GEFONT, will be attending as well as ANTUF. Seeing the objective is to reach a common position paper for SAARC regarding labour migration, the Network advocates for the following items to be included:

a) Decent living Wages

SAARC invites its member states to include a common decent living income as minimum wage standard, taking into consideration, cf. art. 3 ILO Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131):

• the needs of workers and their families, taking into account the general level of wages in the country, the cost of living, social security benefits, and the relative living standards of other social groups;
• economic factors, including the requirements of economic development, levels of productivity and the desirability of attaining and maintaining a high level of employment.

Seeing these factors, the network endorses 500 USD/month for all workers, while it can be increased regarding the hosting or sending country, specific skills or sectors.

 

b) Social Security

SAARC invites its member states to include in bilateral labour migration agreements that:

• Hosting countries are to ensure access to Social Protection services in accordance with ILO R202, so that all migrant workers as residents have the same access and quality of social protection services in the hosting countries as nationals;
• Sending countries are to set up and manage Migrant Welfare Funds with contributions for the specific migration related costs, such as repatriation of workers after death or sickness. Both hosting and sending countries shall contribute to the Migrant Welfare Fund, which will be administered by the sending countries’ governments. The management of these national Migrant Welfare Funds will be ensured with the inclusion of social dialogue partners, from the trade unions or organisations which are representative of migrant workers’ interests.

c) Voting rights

SAARC invites its member states to grant and organize voting rights for migrant workers through the diplomatic representations of the sending countries in the hosting countries.

 

d) Recruitment Agencies

SAARC invites its member states to promote government to government recruiting. Any private agencies or agents have to be registered and meet national regulations and criteria.

 

The Network on Right to Social Protection is composed out of trade unions, organisations and social movements in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, and is supported by World Solidarity (WSM). Other issues the network focuses on are Decent Living Income, access to social protection for the informal Economy and Access to Health.

From Fear to Freedom: WSM Asia partners look at gender violence

During the Asia workshop which gathered all partner organisations from Asia to Kathmandu, Nepal, a moment was also dedicated to the gender aspect, by showing a movie on gender violence.



Participants highlighted afterwards that some empowerment has taken place, despite cultural barriers and legal discrimination. Violence against women does not have as a single victim the women, but the entire society suffers from this. Participants felt culture allows or facilitates this but is made by people, who can change. The role of religion is also underlined. One felt that there was too much focus on southern countries in the movie, while there is also still a lot of discrimination in the West. Conventions and laws are adopted, but mentalities and practices change only slowly.

Does more freedom lead to less violence, questions one participant? One participant felt that since watching the movie, he better understood the size of the issue and how present it is worldwide, and how he was shocked by some men proudly stating how many women they had raped.

Some good messages and actions were shown or suggested, which we can use as inspiration. However, while the movie focused on physical and emotional violence, what was less shown was the burden placed on women, workwise, taking care of the family, to provide etc. These are structural injustices that need to be addressed. There are many political aspects behind each conflict, of which women are those first victims.

Bruno concluded by stating that in 2014, 56% of the beneficiaries of the SAARC WSM programme were women, which might seem like a good result, but taking into consideration the partners which are strongly or exclusively focusing on women (domestic workers, informal economy, garment and health workers), it could and should be a lot higher. As it is one of the five areas which is dealt with in the capacity strengthening tools of WSM, which some have prioritized, but too often, it is limited to attempts at increasing women presence or quotas, but not really mainstreaming gender inside the organisation.

Halfway through the 2014-2016 WSM programme in Asia

During the Kathmandu meeting, a 10 min video showcased some of the results halfway through the programme, as another way to show some of the issues and achievements from the partners and what kind of support is provided by WSM.



Besides the synergies and issues shown in the video above, partner organisations also worked with their own beneficiaries with the support from WSM.
SAARC: the PO’s in the SAARC region delivered 411.823 services (legal aid, vocational training, organising, etc.) in 2014, which is already 65% of what is to be achieved throughout the whole programme.
ASEAN:
• Cambodia: the campaign for a higher minimum wage mobilised over 100.000 garment workers from 139 factories, leading finally to an increase from 100 to 128 USD. It is a substantial increase, but not yet what CLC and C.CAWDU aspired, i.e. 177 USD. That’s of course due to the fact that minimum wages are set in dialogue with the employers. 1.400 Cambodian employees went from short term contracts to contracts of indefinite duration. CLC organised over 1.000 workers in 3 new sector (plantations, transport and private services).
• Indonesia: the PO’s have undertaken surveys among their membership to get a clear idea of what the needs are of the workers. This research constitutes the basis for their proposals which they defend in social dialogue. A CBA led to improved working conditions for 2.000 garment workers. The collaboration between KSBSI and SBMI centers on migrant workers. 6 centers to assist migrant workers were created, with training in labour rights for at least 100 migrant workers.
• Philippines: 400 health workers were trained regarding short-term contract workers and the consequences of privatization, which was taken up in at least 2 CBA procedures. During 14 medical missions over 320 marginalised patients were treated.

All the WSM Asia partners gather in Kathmandu to discuss the right to social protection

All participants, spelling out SP, standing for Social Protection.
Participants from ASEAN form the S,
participants from SAARC the P.

After having to postpone twice, due to a blocked runway and the Nepal earthquake in April 2015, all WSM partners from Asia finally met in Kathmandu where they went from their national political action to regional and international political agendas. 

In one of the evaluation forms, a participant wrote at the bottom:"Met, learned and planned to do." This possibly captures best what was done during the workshop. During five days, participants exchanged regarding their strategies and ideologies. They divided into ASEAN and SAARC groups and prioritized certain issues to work on, such as labour migration, informal economy, decent living income and access to health for all. 

Some sessions were dedicated to capacity strengthening: for gender, the financial tools used by WSM and to take better pictures. This last session rounded off with an invitation where participants could practice the techniques or the rule of thirds using the band-aids which are part of the ongoing campaign on social protection for all in Belgium (link). This led to quite some funny pictures which are now uploaded on the website, showing how important social protection is worldwide.

Stop child labour in India - from NDWM

NDWM, the WSM partner in India, is launching an online film campaign against the amendment in India of the child labour Law to allow children below 14 to work in the family based work. Kindly sign the petition and pass it on to your friends and colleagues and support our cause.

Role of Trade Unions after Nepal earthquake

The 8.3 earthquake and the 400 aftershocks that shook Nepal since April 2015 have killed over 9.000 people, injured over 23.000, and destroyed or damaged over 750.000 homes. 60.895 trade union members and depends were affected. The sectors most affected were the labour intensive sectors, like real estate (4 % drop), tourism (2.6%), construction (2.3%) and manufacturing (2.2%). In agriculture, much of the livestock sector, which accounts for over 23% of value added was destroyed: loss of over 17,000 cattle and 40,000 domesticated animals. Many arable lands were lost due to landslides. Tourism has been adversely affected with nine out of every ten planned foreign arrivals cancelled. While many jobs have been lost, to reconstruct the houses, an annual requirement of 500.000 workers would be necessary. In order to have this labour force, vocational skill training and decent jobs are necessary. This is what trade unions should ensure during the reconstruction process.

\What did GEFONT and NTUC do?

Confronted with the damages and with solidarity from many corners of the earth, both Nepali trade unions provided relief in the days and weeks after the quake. NTUC leadership visited all 14 affected districts and their affiliates (Health, Teacher, finances, Transport etc.) supplied tents, food, clean water and medicine etc. An NTUC Relief Fund for rehabilitation was created and support provided to members. GEFONT mobilized more than 300 volunteers who helped build 181 transitional shelters and nine schools, distributed food packages for 10.000 families. 22 seriously injured members and 22 families of members who died in the quake were also provided with support.

Support from other WSM partners

GK team gathering donations and equipment

Also the WSM partners in Asia have expressed their solidarity and support. The Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC), and C.CWADU, also WSM partners, gathered donations for GEFONT and NTUC. Another partner in Bangladesh, GK, which runs a Medical College and hospital, has several Nepali students, who, with the help from staff, gathered funds and equipment and drove a team of Nepali doctors and students to Kathmandu for medical support. Facilitated by NTUC, they organized two medical camps in and around Laliptur for construction, commercial and carpet workers. During their mission and various camps, 971 (398 male and 573 female) patients were treated. The trade unions jointly also dedicated the 1st of May celebration to the victims of the earthquake. With SARTUC, they handed over 1 million rupees (8.500EUR) to the Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund to support but also be involved in and hold the government accountable for the use of the funds.

How do trade unions see the reconstruction phase?

Reconstruction: By Creating Decent jobs, meeting 3-4 September 2015 in Kathmandu

During emergency situations, often decent work is not respected and people work for little money in unsafe conditions. To keep Nepali workers in the country, stimulate the Nepali economy and properly use all the international support given, trade unions are promoting decent work during the reconstruction. Beginning of September 2015, Nepali trade unions under the umbrella of ITUC-NAC, organized an international solidarity meeting with the theme “Reconstruction: By creating decent jobs”. Delegates from government, international trade union community and Nepali trade union movement participated in the meeting. They appealed the Government of Nepal (GoN) to prepare the strategies and campaign of reconstruction of Nepal post-earthquake with focus on Nepali workers. The roadmap has asked the GoN to revise the national employment policy to create at least 200.000 jobs as the reconstruction phase will require huge manpower. GoN should also guarantee Nepali workers 200 days of employment per year and raise minimum wages to 1.000Rps/day for unskilled workers to create decent jobs and stop migration of the Nepali workers. To promote this agenda, ITUC-NAC will ensure representation in decision making processes regarding reconstruction efforts. This roadmap was signed by all three leaders of the trade unions, the Minister of Labour and the representative of the employers’ union.

ITUC visits CFTUI in India

I just came back from a mission in India where the WSM partner CFTUI was visited by a delegation of the ITUC and ITUC-AP regarding their full affiliation. The delegation was composed out of Jaap Wiener, Deputy Director ITUC, Noriyuki Suzuki, General Secretary ITUC-AP, and myself as WSM Asia Coordinator, as mandated by ACV-CSC.

The mission had as purpose to gather information regarding the potential full membership affiliation of CFTUI to ITUC, having been associated member since 2006. During the two day mission, the delegation interacted with the leadership of CFTUI, the Executive Committee members, leaders from the affiliated trade unions and attended a conference of 400 members from the Delhi shop &establishments unions. It also consulted the existing affiliated members in India, INTUC and HMS. The affiliation request will be handled during the next ITUC General Council, on 12th of October 2015 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The strongest point of CFTUI is clearly its membership, which has drastically increased during the past ten years, going from 30.000 members to 1,3 million, and with an additional potential 600.000 to 1 million to join in the coming two years. Its main obstacle is the lack of national verification of its membership, which excludes it from many social dialogue instances. CFTUI has achieved several important improvements of workers’ rights in various areas and states, especially in the informal economy. It does however not yet institutionally play its role in social dialogue, though full membership at ITUC would increase its credibility as a social partner...
 

Article from AREDS: Towards workers’ Rights in India

Twelve trade unions of unorganized workers have come together and formed the Karur District Federation of All Unorganised Workers’ Unions in 2014. Since its inception, the leaders of the federation have been thinking of bringing out a newsletter on the success stories of the member unions, the struggles undertaken by the unions as well as the federation and the matters on the latest socio-politico and economic development in the country. Their dream came true as the first issue of the Newsletter ‘Tholilaalar Urimaiyai Nokki’ (Towards workers’ Rights) was released on the 21st of August 2015 in Karur.

Current context in India
The Indian government is taking different steps to de-link the association between the unorganized workers and the trade unions. Previously, the leaders of the trade unions to which the workers belonged to were doing the work of enrolling and renewing memberships with the Labour Welfare Board. Presently, the government has passed a Government Order which says that the workers should go in person to the Labour Welfare Office to enroll their names and renew their memberships. If this becomes regular practice, the workers will approach the union only when they have to avail the financial assistance under labour welfare schemes. Doubtless, this will liquidate the interest of the workers in enhancing their awareness on workers’ rights and will dampen the fighting spirit of the workers in claiming their legitimate rights.

Therefore, the union leaders try to consistently keep the members in contact with the unions. They have to ensure an effective and periodical communication between the union and the members. In such times, a newsletter would surely be instrumental in bridging the workers and the trade union. For this reason, the Karur District Federation of All Unorganised Workers’ Unions has brought out this newsletter.

India to grant better rights through policy on domestic workers

Indian media recently reported the drafting of a policy by the central government on better rights of domestic workers. This issue was part of the political action NDWM and the other WSM partners have been campaigning on for several years now in India, with most recently a postcard campaign demanding the ILO 189 ratification by India and a national legislation. 

According to the media, the NDA government is readying a national policy incorporating these features, besides a host of benefits, including social security cover and provisions against sexual harassment and bonded labour. The 'National Policy for Domestic Workers' is likely to be presented before the Union Cabinet soon.

Domestic servants, who stare at an uncertain future when they grow weak with age and are thrown out of their job, will now have the cushion of a social security scheme under which the employer will have a mandatory contribution.

The policy envisages the right to domestic helps to pursue education, a safe work environment and a mechanism for redress of their grievances.

Workers and employers will also have the right to form groups and engage with each other for 'collective bargaining'.

A draft note in this regard, prepared by the Director General Labour Welfare (DGLW), was submitted to Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya last week."The policy framework is on par with the standards of the International Labour Organisation. India has adopted the ILO convention on domestic workers and therefore we have to make a policy for this segment of the society" he said.

NDWM, though acknowledging the step forward, also notes that a major loophole is that the government wants to recruit domestic workers through placement agency, which will be adding to the exploitation as in many cases, these agents are human traffickers. The policy also doesn't spell out any complaint mechanism or monitoring system if the minimum wage is not implemented. Lastly and most importantly, this is only a national policy which is not binding instrument. If the Indian States don't wish to implement it, the Central Government will have little or no control over it.

CFTUI obtains 25% raise for teacher and helpers in Bihar, India

Aganwari are helpers in the public schools, who deal with everything from cooking to watching over the children. In Bihar, a state in the north-east of India, they made around 1.000INR per month, which hadn't been increased for ages and is very low compared to others states (for instance, Kerala pays aganwari 10.000, Andra Pradesh: 8.000). They have to work for 10 to 12 hours each day, divided in two sections: teachers and helpers (cook) for children 0 to 6 year old from 500 families per helper and many extra responsibilities: polio vaccinations, surveys, caring for sick mothers, etc.

CFTUI, the WSM partner has an affiliated trade union of Aganwari with with 25.000 members out of a total of 70.000 teachers and 70.000 helpers). The demands for raise have been since a long time, with in 2010, finally an increase from 1.000 to 3.000INR.

Since this was still very low, their leadership decided in April to conduct a campaign for increase with:

• Agitation on 6th June
• Block and hunger strike in 250 localities 9 and 10 June across Bihar with around 25000 participants
• State wide strike in 3rd of July

At 26 anniversary, GEFONT hands out awards and support to earthquake victims

On the occasion of its 26th Founding Day, GEFONT handed over cash to the April 25 and beyond earthquake victims, who are members of GEFONT. 25.000 to 40.000NPR were handed over to those victims’ families who were killed by the devastating quake, whereas, the members who were seriously injured in the quake were given 15 to 20.000 rupees. The cash was handed over by GEFONT President Bishnu Rimal, totalling 1.175.000NPR! "I sincerely thank Global ILO staffs' union, and WSM for their generous solidarity" said president Rimal.

On the same occassion, GEFONT distributed two awards and scholarships. This year Yamkala Magrati from Sunsari district was awarded the Noor Wangchhu Award and Chanchalal Bot from Udayapur district was awarded Madhav Neupane Smriti Award.GEFONT President Bishnu Rimal presented Gangadevi Scholarship and Treatment Assistance to Nayan Pokharel of Hetauda and Surya Bahadur Sarki of Butwal. Likewise Mira Basnet, Tea estate worker and member of FAPWUN was given Gangadevi health treatment assistance. She had lost a limb in a bus accident while coming to Kathmandu.
More information can be found here.

NTUC ensures five demands present in Nepali constitution drafting process

NTUC trade union and its affiliates from the Kathmandu valley met last Sunday, to appeal to their members to attend public hearings organized as part of the constitution drafting process in Nepal. After trade unions agreed in the JTUCC platform on several issues to be included (link), NTUC put forward five main issues which the members should suggest during the public hearings organized in 240 electoral constituencies around the country.

These five demands prioritized by NTUC are:

1. Representation: 10% of workers representation on all levels of the state (parliament, but also district and local level) - link here
2. Social security for all, including for migrant workers abroad
3. Right to vote for Nepali migrants working abroad, through the Nepali diplomatic representations
4. Institutionalizing the Labour Commission, a tripartite structure, necessary for the correct implementation of the Labour Law
5. Right to strike

Five Nepali Congress members from the Constitutional Assembly attended, as well as the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, who ensured he supported the demands from NTUC.

Bruno Deceukelier, invited as the WSM Asia Coordinator, which is supporting this process, spoke how WSM believes in solidarity between workers all over the world, which is increasingly becoming a small village. He expressed it was important that in this village, houses of decent work were build and congratulated NTUC on emphasizing the four cornerstones in their five demands:

1. The Right to Strike, which was also contested globally in the ILO and needs to be defended more than ever;
2. The social security and more largely social protection for all, especially with such a significant portion of Nepali working abroad;
3. Workers representation in the democracy;
4. Social dialogue and tripartite structures

He also said Nepal is currently going through a fundamental time, where rights can be inscribed in the constitution and provide the foundation for many improvements of labour rights. If successful, trade unions will then have to play an important role in ensuring the respect of these rights.

How crucial this is can be demonstrated by the opposition of the Nepali Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), which wants to withdraw labour rights from the fundamental rights to be inscribed in the constitution. The article mentions "The private sector has voiced fears about the possible misuse of the provision regarding labour rights. “If the right is treated as a fundamental right, labourers could file a petition against their employers, and the state is liable to protect the right. This will create a dubious situation" (link to article here).

NGWF informs: Garment workers rally and red flag procession held on demanding wage and festival bonus

The leaders of six garment workers federations have demanded immediate payment of wages within July 10 and Eid (festival) bonus within 14 to garment workers. They also urged the government to take action against factory owners, who would violate the deadlines.

The demands were raised at a rally on 08th July, Wednesday, at 10:30am in front of the National Press Club in the capital city Dhaka. The garment workers rally was followed by a red- flag procession that paraded important streets of the city.

Presided over by Amirul Haque Amin, president of the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), the program was jointly organized by NGWF, Bangladesh Garment Workers Employees Federation, National Garment Workers Employees Federation, Akota Garment Workers Federation, Garment Workers Solidarity Federation and Bangla Garment Workers Federation.

The rally was addressed, among others, by Trade union Comrade Qamrul Ahsan, M. Delwar Hossain, Kazi Mohammed Ali, Md. Kamrul Hasan & Ms Shahida Akter Smrity.

The speakers urged the factory owners and BGMEA to pay garment workers their wages and overtime dues for the month of June within July 10 and the Eid  bonus before 14 July 2015, as per the government announcement.

The speakers mentioned that every year during Eid festival some garment factory owners fraudulently cheat the garments workers through a dilly dally tactic & thus do not pay the workers at all. As a result workers fall in inhuman condition. The leaders alerted BGMEA leaders and law enforcing agencies in this regard. This year if any garments factory owner, committing the crime of cheating the workers, they urged all concerned to bring them under law and ensure remarkable punishment.

The speakers demanded that the management of Grameen Knitwear, the factory owned by Nobel Lauriat Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, withdraw all false and imaginary cases against 204 workers, reinstate the sacked workers or pay, as per termination definition, termination benefit, service benefit, leave compensation and provident fund, including all dues immediately.

The workers leaders also demanded for reopening of Success Fashion and Norwest Industries as well as capture factory owners Safar Ali Bhuyan and Indian national Pollok Sheth respectively for committing offence to destroy trade union.

WSM photocompetition

An image can be very strong and help to convey messages, hook audiences to what we stand for and rally them to our cause. Hence, WSM launched a photo contest for 2015, where we invite our partners to submit photos that illustrate their work in general and in particular, the right to social protection.

Below you can find some of the pictures entered...

Trade Unions and SARTUC of Nepal meet with Finance Minister

In light of the recent tragedy witnessed by Nepal in the aftermath of the April 25 earthquake, the Government of Nepal is organizing a donor conference to be held on 25 June 2015, to report on post disaster needs.

The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) recently completed under the aegis of the National Planning Commission and some of the major donors in Nepal, indicates that the earthquake has resulted in loss of income, including jobs and livelihoods, of millions of Nepalis.

To provide proper monitoring and oversight functions, SARTUC General Secretary Laxman Basnet led a delegation to submit a request proposal with Hon’ble Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat for representation of workers’ voice and interests at the upcoming international conference.

Mr. Bishnu Rimal, President GEFONT, Mr. Khila Nath Dahal, President NTUC, and other trade union leaders accompanied the delegation.  The Honorable Minister, in response, acknowledged the role of workers in nation re-building and has affirmed its representation at the upcoming donor’s conference. 

Bishnu from GEFONT at ILO: Informal Economy: What are the challenges for Unions in Nepal?

The following is an interview with Bishnu Rimal, President of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), who expresses his views on the challenges faced by Unions to organize and protect the migrant workers in Nepal. M. Rimal also explains how the ILO can work with Unions to facilitate the transition from informal to formal economy.

Find the original on ILO during the 104th International Labour session regarding the informal economy here.

Zuid-Azie jaarverslag 2014 voor WSM

Elk jaar maakt WSM een jaarverslag, iets wat minder droog dan ons rapport voor de Belgische overheid, en met een bepaalde focus. Voor het 2014 jaarverslag kozen we de informele economie en het werk dat de WSM partners hierrond doen in Zuid-Azie.

2014 was een druk jaar voor de partners van WSM in Zuid-Azië. Meer dan 400.000 mensen werden door de partners bijgestaan op verschillende manieren rond het recht op sociale bescherming (rechtsbijstand, beroepsopleiding, sociale economie, sociale zekerheid, gezondheidszorg), waarvan 54% vrouwen. Zo kregen meer dan 72.000 mensen betere toegang tot sociale beschermingssystemen en 275.000 mensen tot betaalbare gezondheidszorg. Gezamenlijke politieke actie lobbyt met de nationale regeringen o.m. in Nepal rond veiligheid op het werk en rond gezondheidszorg voor textielarbeidsters in Bangladesh. De Bangladesh partners waren ook actief in de campagne die in België één jaar na de Rana Plaza ramp werd gevoerd en meer dan 13.000 handtekeningen verzamelde en er toe leiden dat JBC en Bel&Bo zich bij de Fair Wair Foundation aansloten.

Eén van de thema’s waar WSM en onze partners het actiefste rond zijn in Zuid-Azië is de informele economie, één van de grootste uitdagingen betreffende waardig werk. Acht op tien mensen in Zuid Azië werken in de informele economie, wereldwijd de regio met het hoogste percentage van mensen die hierin werken, in Nepal bijvoorbeeld goed voor 40% van het BNP. Het betreft meestal werk zonder duidelijk loon, maatregelen, statuut en dat vaak niet of slechts onrechtstreeks belast wordt. Meerdere problemen plagen deze werkers: geen schriftelijk arbeidscontract, geen identificatie, inkomstenonzekerheid, geen garantie voor veilige werkomstandigheden of dekking in geval van ongevallen, onbeperkte uren, werkers die uitgesloten van sociale zekerheidssystemen of collectieve arbeidsovereenkomsten. Vaak zijn het relatief ongeschoolde werkers, zoals huispersoneel, bouwvakkers of dagwerkers in de landbouw, die lange uren werken voor lage lonen en zonder jobzekerheid.

NGWF: Realization of US 30 million dollar as compensation of Rana Plaza victims is “One step forward towards victory of workers movement”

Realization of US 30 million dollar as compensation of Rana Plaza victims is “One step forward towards victory of workers movement”. Thanks to all, including ILO, IndustriAll, UNI, ITUC and CCC for this achievement" say leaders of National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF) at the Solidarity rally of Rana Plaza victims.

They also paid rich tributes to the Bangladesh Prime Minister for her action for the victims immediately after the collapse of Rana Plaza.
National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF) and victims of Rana Plaza have termed the realization of US 30 million dollar as compensation of Rana Plaza victims as “One step forward towards the victory of workers movement”. For achieving the victory they have given thanks to different Trade Unions’ and Labour Rights Organizations, including ILO, IndustriAll, UNI, CCC, ITUC, WRC,ILRF, United Student Against Sweat Shops (USAS),MSN, DGB, TUC, ACTU, CLC, FNV, Cgt, Action Aid and BILS.

Today (16/06/2015) 11:00 am a solidarity rally of Rana Plaza victims was held in front of the Rana Plaza at Savar marking the achievement of the Rana Plaza victims compensation fund (collection of US$ 30 million) and reckoning the important role played by those organizations. The rally was organized jointly by NGWF and Rana Plaza victims.

NDWM: Campaign against child labour in India

NDWM organized a press meeting and human chain in Chennai to protest against a proposed amendment during the Anti child labour day. About 500 members of the Child Right Movement expressed their objections to amending the Child Labour Act, 1986. They feel it is important to prevent children below 14 from working, even if it is during non-school hours or vacations.


Sr Valar, state coordinator for NDWM Tamil Nadu:"The children help their parents at work after school hours and legalising this work opens the door to promoting child labour. They are then denied the joys of childhood."

Similar actions were held across India. In Delhi, the representatives of Child Domestic Workers met Member Secretary of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and handed over a memorandum.You can support their protest by signing the petition here.

Belgium ratifies ILO Convention 189 on Decent work for Domestic Workers

Another step forward! The convention on decent work for domestic workers has been ratified by Belgium during the International Labour Conference in Geneva! In the presence of Sister Jeanne Devos from NDWM, Luk Cortebeeck (President of WSM), Stalpaert Pia from ACV-CSC Voeding & Diensten (Food & Services) and Kris Peeters, the ILO Convention detailing basic rights for domestic workers was finally ratified by our country.

It was a lengthy process. In 2008, the ILO Board of Directors decided to develop new regulations for domestic workers, seeing that this was the most invisible group in the workplace. In 2010 and 2011, for two years, unions, employers and governments have negotiated this new regulation. Pia Stalpaert, president of ACV-CSC Food and Services, and Jeanne Devos, founder of the National Domestic Workers Movement in India, a WSM partner, participated in the negotiations.
After drafting the Convention, the work at national level began, because the ILO conventions need to be ratified. At this level as well, the ACV-CSC, the ACV-CSC Food and Services and World Solidarity played a key role. For almost 4 years, the coalition has put pressure on the different Belgian policy levels so that the agreement would be ratified. Their work has finally paid off: earlier this year, all parliaments gave their approval after the ratification, the Belgian government now has a year to adapt the national regulations.

External Evaluation of WSM programme in India

This mission was to accompany the external evaluation done by South Research and their local consultant, M Chelladurai Solomon, focusing on the WSM supported synergies in India (decent living income and domestic workers cat. 2) and the capacity strengthening (Cat.3).
All five PO were included quite extensively, during three weeks of field visits in Chennai and Karur (Tamil Nadu), Kerala, Patna (Bihar) and Mumbai. Meetings were also held with the two research members consulting to conduct the study of the decent living income synergy.

Victims Rana Plaza finally to receive compensation

More than two years after the collapse of the Rana Plaza complex compensations can finally go to the victims and their families. The Clean Clothes Campaign conducted a two-year campaign to pressure large international chains who made clothes in one of the five plants of the Rana Plaza complex to compensate the victims. More than a million consumers in Europe and other parts of the world took part in actions and petitions. On the second anniversary of the collapse, there was still a $ 2.4 million deficit in order to achieve the target of 30 million USD. An anonymous donation filled the gap.

The Rana Plaza Donor Trust Fund was established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to raise money for medical costs and loss of income for the Rana Plaza victims and their families. In November 2014 the Coordination Committee of the Fund announced that $ 30 million was needed to cover the 5000 claims. Because the contributions of brands and chains were slow in coming, the initial compensations could only partially be paid.

The CCC calls on policy makers to ensure that future disaster victims quickly get the compensation they are entitled to. The ILO initiative in Bangladesh to establish a workers' compensation insurance for four million workers in the clothing sector is therefore more than welcome. On European level, there is a need to develop instruments that hold European brands and chains accountable for working conditions in their supply chain.

"This is a great victory, but it has taken far too long," said Sara Ceustermans of the Clean Clothes Campaign in Flanders. "That brands and chains which together make more than 20 billion dollars profit annually needed two years and immense pressure to raise 30 million USD. This shows that can not leave the initiative to produce ethically solely to the sector. Access to remediation for victims must come naturally, and not have to be the result of public pressure."

Nepali trade unions support the Prime Minister fund after the earthquake

SARTUC handed over one million rupees to the Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund meant for the victims affected by devastating earthquake of April 25.

SARTUC General Secretary, Laxman Basnet, handed the check of 1,016,552.50 Nepali Rupees to the Honorable Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at latter’s official residence in Baluwatar. At the event, SARTUC affiliate Presidents of Nepal Chapter and other trade union leaders were present as well.

Mr. Basnet emphasized the role of the government’s mechanism to reach the needy and also highlighted the role that the workers would play in the re-building of nation. He also stated that the workers within and outside the country would be able to directly facilitate the reconstruction process if there was a mechanism, like social security, where workers’ funds would guarantee a steady flow of fund.

Prime Minister Koirala, in response, acknowledged and expressed gratitude for the contribution made by the workers, and he also made commitment to expedite process for ensuring social security of workers.

Sympathy without action means nothing: GK mission after the 25th of April 2015 Nepal earthquake

The team from our partner in Bangladesh, GK, arrived the day after the second quake with medical supplies and tents. I got a call at 6am in the morning when they arrived. If I could come and pick them up at the Ring Road, since they couldn't drive into the city, because the bus was stacked so high, it couldn't get under the electrical wires. On my bike to meet with the 12 members of the team, off loading the stuff and finding pick ups to drop it at our house. They brought around 50 boxes of medical supplies, some tents and 2.000 liters of water.

Some news from GEFONT's earthquake relief

GEFONT held a press conference today, regarding the relief efforts they have been providing in the aftermath of the 25 April earthquake. Under the banner of joint platform of Nepali trade union JTUCC (Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre) a memorial service was organised in the evening of May 1st.  Thousands of candles were lit to pay tribute to deceased people, speedy recovery of injured persons, and condolences to the bereaved family and solidarity to the entire victims. It was one of the first and special programme dedicated to general public after the shock.

Solidarity in the south and between WSM partners

It is not only from the West that solidarity comes to Nepal after the earthquake, but most support has been given by India. Also the WSM partners in Asia have expressed their solidarity and support.

Just two illustrations: the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC), and C.CWADU also WSM partners, are gathering donations for GEFONT and NTUC (see article).

Another partner in Bangladesh, GK, which runs a Medical College and hospital said there are many Nepali students there, who, with the help from staff, went round requesting for donations. Apparently, while collecting this money, a child selling flowers on the street also come up to them and donated 10Taka (10Eurocent). GK will be sending a team of volunteers along with the Nepali doctors and students to Nepal for medical support.

When a Nepali migrant worker comes home after the earthquake...

Watch this segment for Al Jazeera, about a Nepali worker, Suresh Kumal, who returned home to scenes of devastation and personal loss, made by a friend of ours, Subina Shrestha.

Even though the need is big to help with the rebuilding, he will still need to go back to pay the loan from the company.

A reality often overlooked in the aftermath of the earthquake, while at least two million Nepali are working abroad in the Gulf States. When I visited some villages, an old couple was clearing away the debris of their house. There were not enough young men left in the area to help....

The Independent headlined Nepal earthquake victims' families prevented from leaving Qatar Fifa World Cup building sites to attend funerals: Strict rules, known as kafala, mean that many of the 400,000 Nepalese employed in the country have their passports taken.

So, what can you do? Well, Avaaz has launched a petition to demand the abolshment of the Kafala system, which enslaves migrant workers. Sign it here. 

Bangladesh approves its National Social Security Strategy

Original article from Development Pathways here.
In early April 2015, the Government of Bangladesh approved its new National Social Security Strategy (NSSS). Since independence, Bangladesh has instituted a range of social security schemes although the level of investment in conventional cash-based schemes has remained relatively low, at no more than 0.7% of GDP, while overall spending on social protection – once civil service pensions and food transfers are included – is over 2% of GDP). Research by Development Pathways has indicated that the impact of the current social security system is minimal, reducing the poverty rate by a mere 4.5%. The Government of Bangladesh has also been concerned about inefficiencies in the system as well as a proliferation of small schemes across a wide range of Ministries (often promoted and financed by development partners). The NSSS is an attempt by the government to bring coherence to the national social security system while also developing a long-term vision for a more modern and comprehensive system. Development Pathways – in collaboration with the Policy Research Institute (PRI) and SANEM – were contracted to support the Planning Commission in developing the Strategy.

Short movie on trafficking by NDWM

AHAANA, a short film on Anti-trafficking produced by NDWM:

The earthquake in Nepal

A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck close to Nepal's capital Kathmandu on 25 Apr 2015, toppling office blocks, temples, towers and killing thousands of people. More than two dozen people were also reported killed in neighbouring India, China and Bangladesh.

As of 29 Apr, the Government of Nepal reported 5,006 deaths and 10,194 injured people. It is estimated that 2.8 million people have been displaced, as over 70,000 are believed to be destroyed and another 530,000 homes damaged across the 39 affected districts.

The WSM partners in Nepal, NTUC and GEFONT, two trade unions with a combined membership of over 700.000 people, are currently focusing on helping out. Bishnu Rimal from GEFONT spoke in Equal Times on the situation and priorities. GEFONT also launched an appeal for solidarity.

WSM has expressed their deep sympathies and offers to support them through their existing solidarity funds, which will be used to assist members, by paying for medical bills and reconstruction of houses from members. The appeal to the Belgian public and members can be found here in French and here in Dutch. I've also been trying to relay realities on the field through Belgian media, emphasizing how the first and most important help is achieved by the solidarity of Nepalis here, in all kinds of ways and from all strays of life, rather than the international support, which takes time to mobilize and arrive. Communication remains extremely difficult, so it is hard to update and share specific information during these confusing times. The less fortunate focus on surviving and rebuilding, the more fortunate on finding ways to help out...

Of course, this tragic event will also affect the WSM programme. The WSM meeting of all Asia partners, which had already been postponed once because of the Turkish Airlines crash which blocked the Kathmandu airport for several days, will now again be postponed till September. A delegation from ACV-CSC and WSM will still come 10th of May however to meet with the partner leaders and asses the situation and how best to help.

For updates on the personal experiences and efforts of helping out, as I am based in Kathmandu as the WSM Asia Coordinator, you can read my personal blog here.