Sign the petition for clean (sports) clothes

The #cleanekleren campaign starts close to home. We engage in a constructive dialogue with Belgian sports brands, strengthened by athletes who indeed care how our clothes are made. But it can succeed only with your help! Therefore, just as Philippe Gilbert, sign our petition! It is a small effort, but one that can have a huge impact so sign #cleanekleren. The more signatures, the more Belgian sport brands and retailers know consumers care about the working conditions in which our clothes are made!

Paths to Human Economy

At a time when globalization has pervaded into the nerves and veins of the economy of each country and of the social life of every nation, the very idea of social development, economic progress and cultural growth cannot exist in isolation. All developed and developing countries are interdependent in achieving social development and economic progress. No nation could exist and get going by ignoring the welfare of the people of other nations. In the present context, we cannot accomplish social-politico-economic-cultural development by excluding nations or human races.  At the same time, each of the nations has to recognize the uniqueness of other because each nation and each race follows diverse paths of development.

Economy is not only centered on money but also on humanism. Hence, the development of a nation, now, depends on the development of other nations that are the lings in the chain of globalization. Each nation has to stride towards development by holding its hands with the partners nation or nations. One cannot rush forward leaving the others stay behind. We have to achieve economic development interdependently and help each other follow the Paths of Human Economy.

DCLI a Network of Human Economy have published a book ‘The Paths of Human Economy’ which is based on the findings and empirical evidences of the study undertook by DCLI on the human centered economy for more than two years. L.A.Samy of Asia, Yves Berthelot of Europe, Andres Lalanne of Latin America and Lily Razafimbelo of Africa have written this book together and the prefaces is written by Kofi Annan, d’Enrique Iglesias and Christiane Hessel. This book will, for sure, give you an insight to probe the present economy that overrules us in our respective countries. The work is not just a thesis nor a theory but an invitation to join in the network of Human economy whereever we are and involve in your own way to foster this.  The book is available with the publishers and you can get it online.

Links: Flipkart, Amazon, website

Nepal: trade unions fight for full service charge to go to workers

Major Trade Unions of Nepal expressed their solidarity to the Hotel and Tourism sector workers' demand regarding the 10 % service charge. Several social dialogues meetings took place between the Employers’, represented in the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) and the Nepal Tourism and Hotel Labourers’ Union Association from NTUC, GEFONT and ANTUF to resolve the issue but to date, the debate continues.

The major three tourism and hotel Workers unions demand the staff should get the entire amount collected in the service charge. The service charge collected from customers is currently divided between employees and the management: as per the first agreement signed in 2006, employees are getting 68 percent, while management gets 32 percent. A joint struggle committee of the associations has also been established to resolve the problem but was not heard. The service charge collection was made mandatory 12 years ago.
 
Mr. Khemraj Khadka, President, Nepal Tourism, Hotel, Casino and Restaurant Workers Union (NTHCRWU- a pioneer affiliated national union to NTUC and IUF internationally) accused the HAN officials of not respecting the initial agreement. There was a 20 points agreement between workers and HAN officials where they agreed to set up a task force to monitor and review the service charge every three years but not a single meeting was held.  
“When we made the agreement, we were very new in the practice of service charge in Nepal, but there is an international practice of taking 2-15%. Giving 32 % to management is an injustice towards the workers, now our demand is to implement 100 % service charge to the worker” Khada said.

Address the missing link in ASEAN integration: Realize people’s agenda for a Social ASEAN.

Statement of Civil Society, Trade Unions, Migrants, and Parliamentarians in Southeast Asia
to the 22nd Senior Officials Meeting of the ASCC and the 17th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting

On 6-9 March 2017, ASEAN Senior Officials and Ministers will tackle socio-cultural and environmental concerns in the region at the 22nd Senior Officials Meeting of the ASCC and at the 17th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting. The latter will discuss preparations for and the declarations or statements for adoption by the Heads of States at the ASEAN Summit, with the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” in April.

We – civil society organizations, trade unions, workers, migrants, marginalized sectors, and parliamentarians in Southeast Asia –  urge high officials and leaders in ASEAN to include in the discussions and declarations the perspectives of ordinary women, men, and vulnerable groups aspiring for a better quality of life – a life of dignity.
We call on the Senior Officials, Ministers, and Heads of States of ASEAN to make the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN truly meaningful by leaving a golden legacy to the peoples in Southeast Asia; make “people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN” a reality. Adopt the people’s agenda for a Social ASEAN.
Majority of the peoples in Southeast Asia have been suffering from economic and social deprivation, insecurity, social exclusion and oppression as inequalities continue to widen. More than 65% of the workforce in the region are in precarious work – without permanent and decent jobs, access to social services and social protection, and without adequate income that could enable them a life with dignity.  Less than 30% of the population have social protection as government expenditure for social protection remains low. In Southeast Asia, an average of only 3% of GDP per country goes to social protection and in 4 of the ASEAN countries it is below 2%.