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.