Nepal making strides towards social security

 While in many places, social security is under threat, in Nepal, new historic social security legislation was passed and last week they started the implementation.

In July 2017, after 18 years of lobbying by the trade unions, WSM partners, a universal social security bill was passed which has paved the way for the government to four main social security schemes. For the very first time, all those working in formal and informal sectors will be covered by unemployment, maternity, health, accident, old age and disability benefits. Workers will contribute 11%, while employers 20% and the government will ensure the management of the system.

Of course, passing legislation is an important step, but to guarantee implementation, it needs to be widely known and accepted. In an unprecedented PR move, the government took out adds in all newspapers, covering the entire first page with this news, SMS were send to subscribers, billboards were placed all over town to graphically show the four schemes. The 27th of November was declared National Social Security Day, to be celebrated yearly and offering an opportunity to yearly remind the government of its now very public commitment.

And of course, WSM partners as trade unions gathered many of their members across the country to celebrate and inform workers of these new rights, and they'll be there to help ensure the government rolls out all schemes and doesn't just stop at these four basic schemes.

ANRSP attends the ASEAN People's Forum

The ANRSP, represented by Bismo and Ath Thorn (Cambodia Steering Committee Member), attended the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People Forum in Singapore from 2 till 4th of November 2018. ACSC/APF is a gathering of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Southeast Asia to engage with ASEAN on the issues affecting the region. ASEAN is composed out of 10 countries in South East Asia; Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. The 10 states of ASEAN have very different political systems, which are reflected as well in their representatives attending the forum. After initially focusing on lobbying towards, due to the lack of response, ACSC/APF will mainly build an alternative model of regional integration and people’ solidarity across the Southeast Asia region. In Singapore, delegations were limited to maximum 200 peoples or 20 delegations per country -compared to a total of more than 1.000 people in the ACSC/APF Philippines in 2017, certain topics were considered ‘sensitive’ and there were no officials present from ASEAN or Singapore.

2018 Update on the Bangladesh OHS Initiative

In Bangladesh, WSM and its partners have supported in 2016 till 2018 the OHS Initiative. You can find their latest newsletter here. 
As an extract, here an email interview with Masud Parvez, previously the Training Manager and now the Project Coordinator of the Bangladesh OHS Initiative for Workers and Community.

What have the participants in the 2017 training course done with their new skills and information?
At the end of the 20-day training course, the first group of participants carried out several training programs for their own organizations, part of the general effort of the participating organizations to make occupational health and safety a part of their regular project activities. Our records show that 20
of the program graduates from the five organizations participating last year carried out a total of 106 training sessions, each lasting from two hours to all day long, for 2,400 participants. Each organization tends to focus on specific topics. For example, some focused on labor law and the role of safety committees, others on hygiene in the workplace, and still others on gender and domestic and workplace violence.
According to our follow-up training plan based on discussions with the member organizations, they will conduct another 108 trainings reaching 2,160 participants by November. These trainings will be
conducted by graduates of both groups, with the new graduates leading two sessions each.

Bangladesh Labour amendment bill passed

The Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed in Parliament on 24th of October 2018 aiming to give more facilities to workers and reducing the workers' threshold to 20 percent from the existing 30 percent for forming trade unions. State Minister for Labour and Employment (Independent Charge) Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu moved the Bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote.The bill was prepared and updated following the observations of the International Labour Organization (ILO) which will be a labour-friendly one.

Under the new law:

1. the percentage of workers' participation required for forming trade unions at factories will be reduced to 20 percent from the existing 30 percent;
2. no child will be allowed to work in factories. If anybody employs child workers, then he or she will have to pay a fine of Tk 5,000;
3. the punishment of workers for violating laws has been reduced by 50 percent while new facilities included for them;
4. the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment has been upgraded to the level of Directorate;
5. The post of the chief inspector of the department is now inspector general, while deputy director general is additional inspector general, and the post of labour director has been upgraded to the rank of director general;
6. Mentally and physically-challenged labourers cannot be employed in any risky works;
7. According to section 47 of the Bill, if any female worker gives birth to a baby before informing the authorities, she will get an eight-week leave within three days after informing the authorities. If the factory authorities do not allow her to go on leave, they will be fined Tk 25,000. 
8. Besides, if any worker does his or her duty during festival, he or she will get a one-day leave and wage for two days after the festival. 
9. Both owners and workers will be sentenced to one-year jail with a fine of Tk 10,000 for misconduct, which was two years in the previous law. 
10. Section 195 of the law will be applicable for factory owners and section 196 for labourers and workers. 
11. In case of natural death, the family of the worker concerned will get Tk 2 lakh as compensation, which was Tk 1 lakh in the previous law, and in the case of injury, they will get Tk 2.50 lakh, which is now Tk 1.25 lakh. 
12. if the owner is forced to sign or accept anything applying force, issuing threat, confinement, torture and detaching gas, power and water connections, this will be considered as misconduct.
13. the punishment for enforcing strike illegally has been reduced to six months from one year.
14. the support of 51 percent workers is needed against present two-thirds of total workers to call a strike. Illegal enforcement of strike will also be considered as misconduct. 
15. If anyone is found to be a member of a number of trade unions at the same time, he or she will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment which was six months in the previous law. 
16. According to the ILO convention, the draft law has a scope to form a tripartite advisory council consisting of the government, owners and workers.
17. the Labour Court will have to deliver judgment in a case within 90 days from the date of filing it and if it is not possible to announce the verdict in the stipulated time, the court must deliver its judgment in the next 90 days. In case of appeal petition, the court will have to pass its order within 90 days. 
18. the government will have to give registration to a trade union within 55 days from receiving the application which was in 60 days in the previous law.

Call for contributions for next issue "Decent work - historical and cultural varieties"

The Cologne University's Global South Studies Center has a Call for contributions for its next issue "Decent work - historical and cultural varieties" which is open until 15 November 2018. The web magazine Voices from Around the World presents short analyses, interventions, and other contributions to urgent questions of the Global South – and Global North. The magazine, which was launched by the Global South Studies Center (GSSC) of the University of Cologne (Germany) in 2015, moves beyond rigid spatial, temporal as well as disciplinary boundaries. It aims to kick-start fresh debates by presenting views from thinkers around the globe. One of the web magazine’s unique features is its format. Transgressing traditional academic-style writing, contributors are free to approach each topic in a variety of outlets be it academic texts, essays, interviews, poems, pictures, art expressions or (music) videos. The magazine also acts as a forum for interdisciplinary conversations across a wide variety of social sciences and humanities.

Steering Committee members talk about the ANRSP

During the AEPF in Ghent in October 2018, we took the opportunity to interview some of the Steering Committee members of the Asia Network on the Right to Social Protection, asking three questions:

1. What are some of the main achievements?
2. What is the added value of the ANRSP?
3. How are we all connected?

The main achievement through the WSM support is that GEFONT was able to organize the young workers within the GEFONT rank and file. We held a first youth conference in Kathmandu and a youth wing at central as well as at province and affiliate level. Secondly, we receive support to organize the migrant workers, basically in Qatar and held a conference there. Another major issue we have been working on with WSM support is the social protection, where we were able to draft a position paper on behalf of the trade unions, which can be used as the main tool while bargaining with the employers and the government, and that I think led to a milestone of social security for Nepal. While GEFONT is a relatively young trade union, the first generation of leaders already crossed sixty years, so we have to bring the young workers in leadership positions, if not, we will not have a future. From generation to generation, a tarde union should be strengthened should keep its capacity to organize the working class and keep its capacity to influence the policies, which is why we create the young workers wings and train them as leaders. Because of the ANRSP, we are able to share our views, and we learn a lot from the other friends, both in and outside of the network. This way, we can implement new things into the ground reality. This is why the network is important and it creates a synergy effect to our movement. We are all connected, not only through the network, also through the different institutions and organizations. This network is a platform with regular coordination, communication and exchanges, which makes it the most important one. Ramesh Badal, GEFONT and Nepal Steering Committee member

We are connected, through WSM but also among the partners of WSM. Let me explain it in this way: GK is a single organisation, and when we partner with WSM, this is one kind of a connection we share, with the technical assistance and other. Then, we have become a network, the Asia Network on the Right to Social Protection. Through that we are connected with some more partners, and we enrich each other through sharing. Through this, we could participate to the Asia Europe People's Forum, and so we are connected in a bigger forum, so this is very helpful, not only for sharing, but also to raise our voice and supporting each other. – Dr Kadir, Bangladesh Steering Committee Member.

WSM contribution to YCW ASPAC is very helpful because as of now, we are continuing our struggle especially in organizing young workers, who are the most vulnerable, not only organizing them, but educating them on their rights and how they are going to develop their skills and capacities in terms of defending their rights. Also how they are going to live and compete in a society where you can only survive if you have skills. Many of the young workers are in the informal sector, they are unorganized.
Being part of the ANRSP brings an added value to our work in YCW ASPAC, for a few years, it has been our demands in YCW ASPAC, the right to SP. Even in our different national movements in Asia, it is our demand, for young workers to have access to Social Protection. But most of the young workers, they don’t understand what social protection means, that it is a right, they aren’t aware. So what we are doing is we are raising awareness on what is social protection, giving education and I think the network really helps us in terms of giving the analysis and giving examples from other members of the ANRSP which can help us to work on the specific alternatives or develop strategies and means to provide or help our members to have access to social protection and help them understand.
Right now, one of the key issues that we are facing is the increasing number of unemployment for young workers. One of the factors for this is the digitalisation of the world of work and also the contractualisation. We have seen that after three or five months, many of the young workers contracts are ended and they fall into the informal sector. This results in the young workers not to be organized or not be part of a union or association. It is really hard for us to organize young workers, they really need to be trained, to be informed and educated about their rights and which capacities they need to improve in order for them to have dignity. I feel like we are connected because we are all from different sectors. We from the YCW ASPAC represent young workers, and here there are members from the health sector, from trade unions, informal and migrant workers. It is very important that all of these sectors come together to jointly demand social protection. These are the sectors that are the victims of not having social protection. When we come together, it is really a good opportunity to learn from each other, to share different strategies on what we are doing in our different organisations. From there, we learn and we can use it in our own organisations. Not only that, coming together gives us power, to resist those issues that are really downgrading the dignity of the people’s rights. Being in this network really makes us connected, allows us to work together and take action together to receive our demands, especially for us to have social protection. Leizyl Salem, Steering Committee Member for the young workers.

Thanks to WSM and the cooperation we have with AREDS has been successful in creating practical alternatives in terms of food, security, and in terms of protection. The study we made with the WSM India partners on social protection for all has led the ILO to use out material and to initiate such kind of micro level studies on social protection for the informal sector. Also, this study has been an instrument to make AREDS and the other partners in India to be part of the Workers’ Charter at the national level, which has been a very great contribution.
The network is very important because the fact that in isolation nothing can be achieved. Only together, with a right minded process of collective nature can give us success, as history has shown us and we have to make it work. Only in solidarity can we achieve things. Being alone and micro-level initiatives, sporadically, spread in different directions cannot lead to policy changes, neither can it bring results for the people we are concerned with. We are connected in a very organic way, firstly because of the synergy the actions we do collectively in India. We also have the W-Connect newsletter that keeps us all together, in expressing and sharing what we do, in different part of the country and the region. Also, joining in many of the events that take place on common thematic workshops, seminars and conferences that are held at regional or international level is the best way to keep alive our thinking and our actions to move forward. Our common values build bridges and this is something that is very unique in my own experiences. Partners are made into one common network, sharing a connection, which I haven’t seen with other organisations or movements. WSM taking that initiative is most appreciated and that is something we need to continue, even through all the difficulties. Samy, AREDS and India Steering Committee Member.

NDWM believes in working in networking because our strength lies in joining hands with other organisations, like trade unions, civil society and faith based organisations, as well as international organisations, because the issues are many and alone we cannot achieve to bring any change. So it is very important that we join with other organisations, those working for our people, and raise our issues. It is not only on the state and national India level, even on the regional level, we need to network to achieve the rights of the migrant and the domestic workers since we feel these are global issues. We see the same issues faced by migrant and domestic workers worldwide. So it is very much needed that we build a network which works at state, national and international level. NDWM is very grateful to WSM and their international cooperation Through WSMs support we could achieve in India a lot of improvements for the domestic workers. Especially in different states we could lobby for domestic workers policies, like welfare boards and minimum wage for the domestic workers.  We are also very happy with the study we have carried out together with the partners with the support of WSM. Through that study, we could do lobby with the government to come up with social protection for the domestic workers, which we will continue, believing that we will one day achieve the demands of the workers. We are connected with each other basically through mails, through Whatsapps and through W-Connect, and through the synergy that we have built up among the India partners. We are also connected by inviting us to participate in different conferences workshops in different places. We feel the connectedness together, and we always feel more connected, person to person  Sometimes we share our good practices, how we are rescuing the migrants with other WSM partners, and we also learn from them, how they are organizing. This is the platform that I feel we give and take. I find this connectedness brings more meaning to us, to know one another, to learn from each other. Sister Vallar, NDWM India and Steering Committee member for migrant workers

ILO paper on social protection for older persons

The ILO has published a paper on Social Protection for older persons: Key policy trends and statistics 2017-19 (link). This policy paper: (i) provides a global overview of the organization of pension systems and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); (ii) monitors SDG indicator 1.3 for older persons, analyses trends and recent policies in 192 countries, including the extension of legal and effective coverage in a large number of low- and middle-income countries, through a mix of contributory and non-contributory schemes; (iii) looks at persisting inequalities in access to income security in old-age; (iv) presents lessons from three decades of pension privatization and the trend to returning to public systems; (v) calls for countries to double their efforts to extend system coverage, including the extension of social protection floors, while at the same time improving the adequacy of benefits.

We Need 160USD! Bangladeshi Garment Workers Hunger Strike to increase Minimum Wage

The National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) is organizing a token Hunger Strike on 12 October, 2018 by garment workers in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka to demand: reconsideration & increase of the declared minimum wage, basic to be fixed at 70% and not 51%, immediate declaration of the wage for all other grades, annual increment to be fixed at 10% and to increase the wages of other grades proportionately. The President of the federation Mr. Amirul Haque Amin declared this program from the Press Conference held at the auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity on 4 October, 2018, in the presence of the other central leaders.

When civil society speaks, will leaders from Asia and Europe listen? AEPF in Belgium

Mid October 2018 leaders of states from Asia and Europe meet in Brussels, as part of the Asia Europe summit which happens every two years. In its wake, civil society meets at the Asia Europe People's Forum, as well as business representatives or other lobbying groups. For the very first time, the three networks working on social protection in Asia organised a joint session during this forum as part of the social justice cluster. Hence, a twelve people delegation was supported to attend the 12th AEPF which took place in Ghent, composed out of six Steering Committee Members and a representative from the Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP) and the Asian Round Table on Social Protection (AROSP) network.

Topics which were discussed were, among others, trade agreements, climate action, migrants in Ghent, human rights, Palm oil plantations and many more. A part from the overall declaration, the Social Justice cluster came forward with a charter which includes many of the topics our networks have been lobbying for and will be presented to European and Asian leaders, as well as used to advocate at a global level.

The three networks also organized an open session on The right to Social Protection for All: Strengthening the right to social protection for vulnerable people in Asia & Europe. According to the ILO World Social Protection Report 2017-2019, only 45% of the global population (38,9% in the Asia–Pacific region) is covered by at least one social protection benefit. The right to health is not yet a reality in many countries, especially in rural areas. Lack of social protection leaves people vulnerable to poverty, inequality and social exclusion across the life cycle. Coverage gaps are associated with significant underinvestment in social protection.

At the same time, the world of work is rapidly changing following demographic evolution, globalization of production, international trade, digital economy and automation, urbanization, workers mobility and increase of non-standard employment (precarious contracts, on call work, etc). This comes on top of persistently high levels of informal economy in many countries. Extending social protection and its benefits, and increasing the availability as well as improving the working conditions are already manifesting as major challenges in the future in Asia and in Europe. In a world with widening inequalities and enormous uncertainties, social protection is needed more than ever; it is a must.

Both in Asia and Europe social movements are mobilising and campaigning for the right to social protection for all to be respected and realized. They are also making the way by establishing own initiatives and mechanisms for social protection. In both Asia and Europe there are some good practices were social movements managed to convince governments to strongly expand social protection coverage introducing various schemes ranging from universal health care, work and livelihood guarantees, unemployment and disability income-support, work injury insurance, old-age pensions, maternity protection, calamity assistance and others.

But given the many challenges and gaps remaining to fully implement and guarantee the right to comprehensive social protection for everyone, current policies will need to be improved and upgraded. Social protection policies should be rights and solidarity based, strongly involve the representative social movements and integrate their initiatives in universal social protection mechanisms so they can cover social protection rights throughout the whole life cycle for the entire population.

We should maintain and fully implement the principles of Social Protection that are globally agreed by the world’s leading organization on social protection standards, the ILO, and its Convention 102 and Recommendations 202 and 204. These and other human rights treaties and declarations clearly state Social Protection is a universal Human Right. It is also well integrated in the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this open space workshop we focus on how social movements assert the right to social protection, and make the way by establishing own mechanisms of social protection and influencing their governments to largely improve their social protection policies in line with the above mentioned principles and international standards.

Brussels region sisters with Chennai, India and supports domestic workers there

Today, overlooking a gorgeous view of Brussels, our delegation composed out of Sr Vallar from Chennai and Sr Jeanne Devos from NDWM signed the agreement between WSM and NDWM to start a project supported by the Brussels Region. Hosted by State Secretary of Brussels Capital Region Bianca Debaets, this project of two years will be supporting the work done by the National Domestic Workers Movement in Chennai and Tamil Nadu to improve rights and skills of domestic workers. During the visit, Sr Vallar explained that even though the Tamil Nadu government, after decades of lobbying, finally adopted a minimum wage for domestic workers, it was at the rate of 37 INR per hour or 43 eurocent, which was the rate demanded by NDWM... in 2010, so hopelessly insufficient for domestic workers to live on! 

From right to left: Francina Varghese, Jeroen Roskams  and Bruno Deceukelier (WSM), with Sister Vallar and Sr Jeanne Devos (NDWM), with from the Brussels Region Ms Bianca Debaets and Emmanuel Boodts and Pieter-Jan Mattheus, Regional Secretary from Beweging

As comparison, neighboring state Kerala placed the minimum wage at 137INR, or 1,6€. While it is a good thing there is finally a minimum adopted and a mechanism to punish employers who don't respect this, this low rate might even turn out to be counterproductive, as employers paying more might feel they can now offer less. In short, still a lot of work to do, but NDWM feels up to the task, now also with this first ever project with the Brussels Region!

Outcome of the ITUC-FES-WSM Financing of social protection seminar

 At the international level, there has been renewed and increasing commitment to extend social protection in recent years, most notably through the adoption of ILO Recommendation 202 (National Social Protection Floors) and Recommendation 204 (Transitioning from the Informal to the Formal Economy). The Agenda 2030 further strengthens this international commitment with references to social protection in 5 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

However, the question of how such extensions to social protection should be financed and who should finance them has been relatively under addressed within international debates. It was within this context that the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and World Solidarity (WSM), decided to host a Global Conference on Financing Social Protection on 17-18 September 2018 in Brussels. The conference brought together over 100 participants from trade unions, civil society, academia, think tanks, international organisations and governments from across the world to identify the challenges to financing social protection and to explore the solutions available both at the national and the international level.

A good environment practice from Nepal: Himalaya Campaigns by UNITRAV-GEFONT

UNITRAV, a union of around 2.000 Sherpa or guides/porters, organised a cleaning campaign on the Mt. Everest, where workers of the union collected waste left behind from the tourists on the mountain (air tanks, garbage etc.). This has been a big issue, as generations of mountain climbers simply left all their waste behind, which freezes and doesn't decompose. This was also a way to sensitize other guides and tourists that the mountain needs to be kept clean and protected.

Dorje Khatri

Another campaign conducted by GEFONT was  ‘Save the climate, save the Himalayas’. In 2011, Dorje Khatri, leader of Nepal’s trade union of Sherpas, Vice-President of GEFONT, and a committed defender of the environment, planted the ITUC flag atop the peak of Everest as part of global mobilisation by unions pushing for action on climate change leading up to the Durban Climate Summit, which he attended. Khatri did more than going up the mountain seven times. Aspects like climate change indeed affect the melting of the ice and glaciers, which in turn endangers the lives of workers and the population in general. He also spent untold hours organizing fellow Sherpas into their union to achieve decent wages and employment rights. Sadly, in April 2014, Dorje Khatri was among 12 people killed in one of the worst disasters on Mount Everest ever recorded.  Since then, as decided by the 3rd ITUC World Congress, the ITUC General Council annually recognises outstanding contributions to the fight for sustainability and justice, through the Dorje Khatri Award.

NGWF demands the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to determine the minimum wages of Garment workers

On 13th of September 2018, the minimum wage for Bangladeshi garment workers was fixed at 8.000BDT, which is largely insufficient for garment workers to live. The previous minimum wage, dating from 2013, was 5.300BDT and trade unions were demanding a substantial increase to 16.000BDT to compensate for inflation. On 26th of September 2018, after hundreds of garment workers gathered in a Bangladeshi Flag Rally in front of the national press club in Dhaka, this demand was submitted in a memorandum to the prime minister.

Speakers highlighted the following points:

• The announced 8.000BDT is for 7th grade workers, which are basically helpers, representing only 3% to 5% of the total garment workers. No minimum wage was announced for other types of workers, including the main driving force operators.
• Of the announced 8.000BDT (gross wage), only 4.100BDT is considered as basic wage, or only 51% of the gross wage. This means all aspects which refer to the basic wage, like overtime, festival bonus, service and retirement benefits, will be very low as well. For instance, if a worker gets 20BDT per hour for general duty, with this low basic wage, in doing overtime, she or he will get only receive 20,40BDT.
• No mention is made to a yearly wages increase rate, while trade unions recommend an annual inflation by 10% rather than the previous 5 %.

 The following 4 demands are included in the memorandum:

1. The announced wages have to be reconsidered and increased.
2. Wages of all categories of workers have to be defined, including operators.
3. The basic wage must constitute 70%, not 51% as currently is the case.
4. Yearly wages increase must be 10%.

Asian Networks on social protection meet EU Parliamentarians

Members of the ANRSP, together with the two other Asian networks on social protection, NTSP and AROSP, met with European Parliamentarians on the 26th of October 2018 in Brussels. Taking advantage of their stay in Belgium for the Asia Europe People’s Forum, this exchange on the situation in Asian countries regarding human rights, free trade agreements and social protection was done with the Global Progressive Forum (GPF), which is a common initiative of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and the Party of European Socialists. Their network sprang up from the success of the first World Social Forum held in January 2001 in Porto Alegre and aims to bring together a diversity of people from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America to discuss and propose alternatives to the negative aspects of the current Globalization process. The GPF had also invited members of the network of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, who contributed as Asian Parliamentarians. Invited by WSM, the Social Protection Expert of the European Commission DG DEVCO and a member from the Regional Affairs and South Asia of the European External Action Service (EEAS), also attended and explained their priorities.

 Our delegation highlighted the current situation in India and the dangers to the labour movement there, with an increasing criminalisation and deterioration of labour rights in the process of codifying the labour laws. NDWM also referred to the situation of domestic workers, with Sister Jeanne Devos explaining the history of their movement and their involvement in the process of the ILC189. Another big topic was the influence the EU can have through trade agreements which conditionalize import tariffs with the respect of human and labour rights, for instance in the Philippines (GSP+) and Bangladesh (Sustainability Compact). Bismo Sanyoto, Thematic and Political Coordinator of the ANRSP talked about the two issues of social protection: how to finance this (most countries still spend less than 2% of the GDP on social protection) and how to extend the coverage, also for informal workers.

Despite all the lofty declarations which put social protection as a priority for the development programmes of the EU, the representative from DEVCO said less than 1% of the overall DEVCO budget is dedicated to SP projects. He said the future global programme will focus on budget support, in 5 to 8 countries over the world, to link public finances and social protection. This would involve civil society organisations, also through the Global Coalition on Social Protection Floors, of which WSM is an active member.

How to pay to extend social protection?

 ITUC, with FES and WSM brought together 140 participants from over 30 trade unions and civil society organisations in the world to look at ways to finance social protection 17-18 September in Brussels. Worldwide, social protection is increasingly recognised as a priority: by the ILO (with Recommendation 202 on social protection floors adopted in 2012), the EU, the World Bank, the IMF and even the G20. As a result, it features very prominently in the Sustainable Development Goals (1.3).

Gijs Justaert from the policy department of WSM: “Though the consensus on the need for social protection grows, the main question remains: how to achieve universal social protection in each country?”. Alison Tate, Director of Economic and Social Policy at ITUC feels that “extending social protection shouldn’t be seen by governments as an increased expense, as many do - in an environment of austerity, but as an investment that pays off in terms of better skills, greater equality and inclusive economic growth.”

Several international organisations (ILO, WB, IMF, EU and OECD) and development partners shared their views on the question of sustainable financing. Bruno Deceukelier, Asia Coordinator for WSM sees “a big difference in approach between some of them. The World Bank and IMF want to assist the extreme poor or crises affected population, whereas Social Protection with a right based approach would ensure universal coverage, which would also gather larger support from all citizens.” The FES Social Protection Index and other research shows that in the short term, 71 countries could achieve social protection floors for all by investing an extra 2% of GDP or less.

Sulistri, from KSBSI

“In South Asia, the informal workers still have to be reached and covered by the newly adopted social security schemes, because they represent over 80% of the population, as well as labour migrants, both in the sending or the destination countries”, says Umesh from GEFONT in Nepal. 

Sulistri, from KSBSI, and also Steering Committee member for Indonesia of the Asia Network on the Right to Social Protection (ANRSP) echoes this: “As a union we successfully pushed for the inclusion of workers from the informal economy in the law on social security, but it is complicated because the contributions come only from the workers, and have to be paid regularly; if not, they lose their benefits. This seminar looked at eight options to finance Social Protection, and, hopefully with the assistance from ITUC, we can analyse which are most appropriate for us in Indonesia.” 

Prit SoUot from CLC Cambodia, highlights existing gaps: “the NSSF only covers employment injury insurance for the enterprises employing at least 8 workers and that the Cambodian Government’s plan to extend social insurance for disabled, unemployed and retirement needs to be closely monitored.”

Francisca Altagracia Jimenez
AMUSSOL-CASC

Francisca Altagracia Jimenez from AMUSSOL-CASC explained their efforts to cover the informal workers in the Dominican Republic, which wasn’t an evident choice for trade unions, but which has allowed them to increase their membership. “Today, more than 60.000 informal economy workers, 40% of them women, enjoy health care, employment injury insurance and an old age pension.” 

But social protection is not only for the workers, and Drissa Soare from CNTB, Burkina Faso highlights the importance of working together with other actors of civil society, like health cooperatives to help ensure the access to health: “with the support of WSM, we have been working together in a multi-stakeholder network to lobby for better legislation and extend the services and coverage to their members.”

 Drissa Soare from CNTB, Burkina Faso and Alison Tate, ITUC

In short, as Alison Tate, Director of Economic and Social Policy of ITUC says: “Promoting Social protection is part of the core business of trade unions, as it links directly to the fight against inequality.” This seminar allowed trade unionists and civil society representatives from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe to share experiences and good practices. Several of them highlighted the need to work together in strategic alliances to address the huge challenges that remain.  Something WSM and its partners already do within their network on the right to social protection. Something ITUC, FES, WSM and several other civil society organisations do within the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors.

In short, the conference was an excellent opportunity for WSM and its partners to increase their visibility and highlight some of their work, not only to other trade unions, but also to stakeholders like the ILO, potential donors and partners which could support our rights-based approach to promote the right to social protection for all around the world.

NGWF managed to get jobs reinstated of illegally fired union leaders from Top Jeans

What was the problem?
According to the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), WSM's partner in Bangladesh, the management of Dhaka based Top Jeans violated the Labour Act and harassed executive union leaders and active members of the union several times. On 20th of August 2018, the management fired the President of the union. Management did not list the wages of 30 workers, including the union leaders. When they came to know the reason, management allegedly abused the workers, with around 40 thugs who entered the factory and forced them to leave their jobs, as well as ordering them to leave the area. These thugs stabbed one of the workers, who is currently under treatment at Bangladesh Medical of emergency unit. As a result, 30 workers, of which 9 are trade union leaders, cannot enter the factory.


The trade unions demanded

• justice administered to the management and the thugs;
• to cover all medical treatments of the injured workers;
• to reinstate the fired 30 workers with due wage;
• to remove any obstacle to continue union activities;
• to stop harassment of the workers by management and thugs.

Labour protest and compromise reached:
On 30 August, the workers demonstrated and led a procession after the lock out of the factory, gathering solidarity from 80% of the workers. Due to this movement, the traffic in the Uttara area of Dhaka city was halted. Later, an agreement by initiative and mediation by BGMEA and the Federation's was reached with the government representatives, the BGMEA, the factory authorities, the union and the federation. The management was obliged to reinstate the jobs of twenty of the fired workers, including eight of the union leaders.  Work was resumed and factory production is again fully operating.

Brands’ support for a living wage for garment workers in Bangladesh

The Minimum Wage Board in Bangladesh will reconvene on Wednesday, 29 August, to set the new statutory minimum wage for workers in Bangladesh’s garment industry. Ahead of this meeting Clean Clothes Campaign, the International Labor Rights Forum and Maquila Solidarity Network jointly urged major brands sourcing from Bangladesh to publicly support workers’ demands. These include the minimum wage of 16,000 taka, a statutory framework to govern pay grades and promotion and other welfare measures. Inditex – the owner of Zara, Bershka, Pull and Bear and several other labels – was the first to publicly respond in a positive manner.

Tamil Nadu Govt Sets Rs 37/Hr Minimum Wage For Domestic Workers, 7 Yrs Of Jail For Paying Less

The Tamil Nadu government in southern India has fixed minimum monthly wages for domestic workers in a recently released notification. The issued notification recognises skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled domestic workers. It is a big step by the state government as a part of Labour Reforms which aimed at setting guidelines for the unorganised sector. There should not be any distinction between the wages of a male and a female worker.

The notification is based on the recommendations made by an eight-member committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Labour of Coimbatore. The committee had meetings with labour inspectors, domestic workers union and employers to understand their needs.

Any violation of the notification can land into punishment of up to seven years imprisonment with fine.

While this is an important step forward, a national policy is needed for the safety of domestic workers which would ensure their overall well being which includes health, education of their children etc. The Ministry of Labour has been working on a policy for domestic workers since last three years.

What has the most significant change for young leaders in trade unions?

15 young leaders of GEFONT discussed this today in Kathmandu, with the help of Gopal. Based on examples from brick factories in Bhaktapur and for transport sector, it seems Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) are what they feel has the most important impact, as it improves the lives of not only their members, but of all workers.

One of the important messages was that young leaders aren’t the leaders of tomorrow, they should be leaders today! It meant for participants they don’t have to wait for positions to be given by the current leadership, but to demand and take up leadership positions, as young workers have specific issues and face particular challenges (internships, lack of permanent contracts, more at risk for sexual harassment etc.) that need to be represented already now at leadership level of trade unions or during CBA negotiations.

Domestic Workers mobilised in India, speaking out against Labour Code

The Indian National Platform for Domestic Workers (NPDW), a networking body with NDWM and NDWF as members, organised a public event on 2 August in Delhi to demand the Government of India to enact a National Legislation for domestic workers and to withdraw the Labour Codes which are not labour friendly. This event consisted of a rally and public programme in which six Members of Parliament addressed the participants.

To create awareness about the Labour Code and to seek public support, NDWM and NDWF launched a signature campaign on 1st of May and managed to collect 150,000 signatures from 16 States, also with the help of the other WSM India partners. These signatures were submitted to the Prime Minister and the Labour department on 2nd of August.

To raise awareness and public support, posters were displayed in slums and public places. NDWM organised press conferences in 14 States, leading to wide media coverage. The NDWM advocacy team met around 20 members of Parliament to invite them for the rally (30th of July till 1st of August), some of whom endorsed the petition of the NPDW, as well as prominent leaders like Shri. Sitaram Yechuri and Shri. Rahul Gandhi.

Cambodia: EU mission assesses human rights and labour situation

European Commission - Press release

A delegation of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) visited Cambodia from 5 to 11 July 2018 to evaluate the situation on the ground following recent worrying human rights and labour rights developments in the country.

The European Union will now analyse as a matter of priority the information gathered during the mission to consider further steps. This analysis will also take into account further written submissions from the Cambodian authorities, reports of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other bodies responsible for monitoring the implementation by Cambodia of the international conventions relevant to the EU duty-free trade scheme Everything But Arms (EBA). The EBA trade scheme allows Cambodia to export all products (except arms and ammunition) into the EU, free of quotas and tariffs.

Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: "The EU is proud to provide the most economically vulnerable countries of the world with free access to our market. The Everything But Arms initiative has had a significant impact on development and poverty eradication in Cambodia. Nevertheless, the recent worrying developments in the country have called for a closer assessment of whether Cambodia is fulfilling its commitments. The discussions and information gathering during our EU mission have focused on the serious decline in the area of political and electoral rights, as well as a curbing of civil society activities. There are also deficiencies when it comes to land dispute resolution mechanisms, and serious threats to freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. In the trade policy of the European Union, social justice is a vital aspect, including the respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and labour standards. Following the fact-finding mission, we will now analyse the facts in detail, and consider further steps. Removing Cambodia from the trade scheme is a measure of last resort, if all our other efforts have failed to address these concerns."

The EU delegation met with several members of the Cambodian government, as well as trade unions, civil society, businesses, and the United Nations (UN) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) representatives in the country.  

Trade unions as actors for development

Over 15 representatives of Asian trade unions (of which GEFONT, NTUC, CLC and KSBSI) as well as solidarity support organisations (SSOs), of which WSM and IIWE, met in Bangkok, Thailand on 19-20 June 2018 to review, strengthen and coordinate international cooperation initiatives.

Trade unions across the world are involved in international cooperation initiatives. The TUDCN Partnerships work provides a platform for them to share best practice, coordinate their work and construct common tools to strengthen the effectiveness of this work. The TUDCN is undertaking a series of regional meetings to increase the inter-regional coordination of this work.

EU can easily help promote an Employment Injury Scheme for Bangladeshi garment workers

While GK, one of WSM's partner in Bangladesh, focuses on a pilot project which is providing overall health insurance for over 35.000 garment workers, in the period since the Rana Plaza and Tazreen claims were paid, the ILO has spearheaded a project, funded by the German government, to develop concrete proposals for a national Employment Injury Insurance (EII) scheme that have been shared  and discussed with all relevant stakeholders. According to a paper published the Clean Clothes Campaign, the proposals as drafted also met with broad acceptance among the key parties, including the national trade union centres; most of the outstanding questions are  centred on how the scheme will be financed. Yet, over the last two years this work appears to have stalled and momentum towards meeting the 2020 deadline is being lost.

The establishment of a national employment injury insurance (EII) scheme in Bangladesh is the only way to ensure that the rights of those injured at work are protected and that their families receive the loss of income payments and medical care they are entitled to.  Any such scheme must be permanent and be set up to provide loss of income payments and medical care to any worker injured or killed at work, regardless of fault. The scheme needs to provide life time pensions,  rather than lump sums and to put in place a permanent  system for claiming and receiving such payments that is easy to access, difficult to corrupt and paid in a form that is most appropriate for low wage workers.

A meaningful EII scheme needs to be mandatory, state run and universal. Employer insurance schemes - where individual employers take out insurance to cover their own workers - are not in line with international standards and are particularly inappropriate in a context where the enforcement of basic employer obligations is weak and the employment relationships are often informal. Attempts to privatise the obligation to provide employment insurance is likely to leave the majority of workers – particularly those employed in smaller or subcontracted factories – without any protection and will do little to improve the measures already in place.



Bangladesh is no longer a country defined by its poverty and there is no excuse for the lack of social security provisions, which leaves workers permanently vulnerable to disaster or accidents. The garment industry has  played a vital role in bringing foreign investment into the country and its workers have the right to expect that some of these profits are invested into systems that will reduce this vulnerability and provide livelihood security.

With upcoming June meeting in Brussels on the Sustainability Compact between the EU and Bangladesh, this item should definitely be on the agenda.

Win a signature of the Red Devils, the Belgian football team, and support clean clothes!

The World Cup 2018 is about to start. Do you ever want to make a prediction of the big winner? WSM is giving away five BETTING CALENDARS, signed by NOT by one, but by TWO 2 Red Devils. You can win this by simply signing the petition here and by liking the Cleane kleren FB Page.

In doping so, you will also help us in the fight for ethical production of clothes and you can win these coveted signatures.

On 12th of June, the winners will be announced.

AFWA: Executive Summary with Key Findings related to gender-based violence in H&M, GAP and Walmart

Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) has published an Executive Summary that condenses the Key Findings and Risk Factors related to gender-based violence in garment global supply chains of H&M, GAP and Walmart, easier to quickly reference and share (here) which you can also find it at their webpage.

AFWA is proud of these research reports that have served to fuel, strengthen and support the tripartite dialogue at the ILO in favour of labour - as trade unions and governments have struggled for the last ten days with the obstructionist tactics of employers lobby dominated by multinationals at the ILC in Geneva. The findings from the reports have been startling and provided most current evidence.

On June 5th, the Guardian covered Asia Floor Wage Alliance’s research on gender-based violence in H&M and GAP supply chains. The newspaper reported that, “Gap and H&M both would investigate the allegations [of gender based violence in their supply chains] and that they welcomed initiatives to tackle violence, including an ILO convention.”

Social Protection for all - ANRSP position on Social Protection

The world of work is rapidly changing following demographic evolution, globalization of production, digital economy and automation, urbanization, workers mobility and increase of non-standard employment (precarious contracts, on call work, etc) . Young ‘millenialmillennial’ generations will comprise 50% of the workforce in 2020 with a new behavior and mindset to adapt the changing nature of work. More women are entering the workplace and more people are working from home. New types of job which never existed before will be created, such as green jobs. The role of the government in providing social services to the people has been reduced in many countries and it is being replaced by private actors who commercially provide all kinds of services ranging from health insurance to pension funds for those who can afford them. Poverty and migration have provided an army of people who are willing to work any type of jobs at any wage, which undermines the existing social protection, and weakens the workers’ bargaining position.

According to the ILO World Social Protection Report 2017-2019, only 45% of the global population (38,9% in the Asia–Pacific region) is covered by at least one social protection benefit. The right to health is not yet a reality in many countries, especially in rural areas. Large coverage gaps remain for child and family benefits, maternity and unemployment protection and disability allowances. Lack of social protection leaves people vulnerable to poverty, inequality and social exclusion across the life cycle. Coverage gaps are associated with significant underinvestment in social protection. In the Asia-Pacific region, government expenditure for social protection to GDP is only 4.6%, compared to Western Europe’s 18.1%. Asia is young but is expected to age considerably in the next 15 years. While poverty is declining across Asia, a majority of workers are still working in the informal economy, with long working hours, low income and without social protection. Extending social protection and its benefits, and improving workers’ job quality will be among Asia’s major challenges in the future.

A decent income for a decent life - ANRSP position on Minimum Living Wages

In a context of persisting dependency on the informal economy for large numbers of people, worsening loss of livelihood because of limited access to the resources (land grabbing, pollution…) and growing precariousness in the formal economy because of increasing non-standard forms of work (short term contracts, on call work, zero-hour contracts, platform etc.), one could be tempted to forget about the level of income or wages. After all, ‘any job is better than no job at all’. And yet, it is precisely in this context we have to guard and guarantee the right of every person to have the necessary resources and income to lead a life in dignity.

We are aware of the important links between the remuneration of ones work, social protection allowances, access to quality social services like health. Low income, bad housing or limited healthy food leads to illness and health expenses and the incapacity to work and to earn an income and vice-versa. In this position paper we will however focus on the revenue one earns for work. The right to a Minimum Living Wage has been recognized in several international conventions and declarations, like the Constitution of the ILO (1919), the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR 1948), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESC 1966) and ILO convention 131 (1970).

As members of the ANRSP, we adhere to these international conventions and declarations and we consider a Minimum Living Wage to be a legally binding concept. It is a right that has to be respected whatever the situation, the form or statute of labor, without any discrimination. However, we have to acknowledge the international texts remain broad and are in need of specification. So far there is no globally accepted definition and methodology to calculate living wages. Enterprises often use this as justification for not paying a living wage and refer only to minimum wages set by national laws as legally binding concepts.

In reality, the current minimum wages are not sufficient to guarantee the needs for workers and their families and don’t allow to lead a life in dignity. They are also greatly insufficient to stop the current race to the bottom, fueled by global competition and businesses desire to maximize profits. The ILO constitution and the UDHR not only mention a ‘minimum living wage’, but also a just share of the fruits of progress to all and a ’just remuneration’. In addition to this, sustainable Development Goal 10 focuses entirely on the reduction of inequality. Apart from just taxation and redistributive social protection, a sufficiently high share of labor in the overall wealth is a key to achieving this objective.

ILO #MeToo: WSM and partners explain why we need an ILO Convention on violence on the work floor

An international norm about (sexual) violence on and around the work? Everyone at the International Labor Conference in Geneva wants it. Governments, employers and employees: #Iwant! But why don't those negotiations go as smoothly as hoped for?

"Violence behind closed doors"
It is clear to everyone that we are negotiating a new international labor standard. Examples of violence and bullying in the workplace were suddenly discussed in living rooms worldwide last year. #metoo! has awakened the world. Previously unspoken and tolerated abuses have been highlighted in the media.

You also notice this at the Labor Conference. The hashtag is frequently used from the crowded benches of representatives from government, employers and employees. For the more than 200 women and the (unfortunately) few rare men who defend the interests of the employees here, the hashtag gives them a louder voice. And the perseverance to go for a powerful, binding instrument. The many women know very well why they are here. Tells Sr Christy Mary of the National Domestic Workers Movement in India, founded by Belgian sister Jeanne Devos. "In India, violence against women has increased in recent years. That is no different in the workplace, and certainly not for domestic workers who work behind closed doors, "Christy testifies. "Today, India has no law that protects women from violence in the workplace. A binding international standard would help us to put the government under pressure to comply with it."

Intimidation or a compliment?
Everyone had expected that it would be difficult. After all, the employers are not jumping for additional regulation. And certainly not if they would be held responsible for violence and intimidation that is not strictly on the work floor, but also in work-related activities outside. The relocation to and from work, company parties, or intimidation by customers and others. And then the debate about what violence and intimidation should encompass. The search for a definition - the first article of a possible new labor standard - has occupied the conference for the initial full four days (and late evening!).

Do we really want to punish everyone who gives a colleague a compliment about a nice dress, is what we hear from the employers' side. Do we really want to punish everyone who gives a colleague a compliment about a nice dress? Those who are without sin, cast the first stone ... #Ihave!

Whatever will be the result, it is important for the workers' group that it concerns physical as well as psychological and sexual forms of violence and intimidation, as well as violence or bullying of a sexist nature aimed at women, gays, transgenders or anyone else. Yet no one expected that it would be this difficult. After a week of negotiation - there is a draft text with 37 articles - we are still talking about the first three articles: the definitions of violence and intimidation in the working environment and the scope of a possible new labor standard. The employers' group plays it extremely smart. They leave no opportunity to emphasize how important they think this is, but don't hesitate to continue to raise issues so cloud the debate. Enough to ensure that all 187 authorities present are thoroughly reviewing their own national laws or practices and start rounds of debates and discussions until late in the evening. For the workers' group, there is nothing else to do but to dig in.

As it looks currently, it will inevitably turn out to a vote on one of those late nights. Do we want a binding regulation or just a more voluntary recommendation? For the trade unions and the many NGOs that are present here, including World Solidarity with its various partners, lobbying has been done to get as many governments as possible on our side. Belgium at least, represented by Labour Minister Kris Peeters, emphasized yesterday in the plenary session of the Conference that it is in favor of a binding instrument, and does everything it can to tackle gender-based violence in its own country.

Sr Christy – NDWM India: The ILO Convention is very important for us in India because in India, violence in the workplace is increasing. Also for the National Domestic Workers Movement it is very significant because domestic workers are vulnerable to abuse and harassment. Since they are working behind closed doors, the crimes against domestic workers are often not reported. After this Convention, since the government of India is in favour of a Convention, it will help us to lobby with the government to pass legislation.

Koumoura (CNTG, Guinée): There are many types of violence: sexual violence, physical violence, moral violence, psychological abuse and also commercial violence. We, as a union, what do we do? We are already confronted to several types of violence. Women come to us, to tell us that they suffer at the workplace, that they are harassed. What do we do? We try to provide them with support, we tell them that we must break the silence. As soon as you are harassed by your superior, because you have to recognize it, we have serious problems. Harassment is a serious form of violence that humiliates women. But this is a big taboo for woman in our countries. We cannot say what happens, if not the woman, she loses her honor, whereas it is not about that. We must break the silence to really fight violence. So we tell them: break the silence. That is why it is our joy that this convention is made, that it is drafted to punish the perpetrators of violence and harassment.

Garciela Lopez, World March for Women, Latin America: Women around the world need a legal instrument to combat gender-based violence and harassment. We need a binding convention that obliges states to work toward this. We need a legal instrument that obliges employers and employees alike to respect and obtain a life free from violence and gender-based harassment in the workplace. Work must be understood as meaning the formal and informal economy, as well as other forms of work, in the community and also in our homes. We are one-third of the working population that suffers daily from harassment and gender-based violence.