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.