ANI Reports : ITUC Needs To Do More For Unskilled Laborers, Report Of Sharan Burrow’s ITUC In Nepal & India

New Delhi, Dec. 24 (ANI): Indian trade union bodies and leaders have once again called on the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to pay more attention to improving the conditions of workers and unskilled labourers.

http://ngowatchdog.org/rich-ituc-needs-to-do-more-for-unskilled-laborers-report-of-sharan-burrows-ituc-in-nepal-india/

Source (ANI):  http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail3/story245663/-039-rich-039-ituc-needs-to-do-more-for-unskilled-labourers.html

Highlighting this need, the vice president of the Asia-Pacific unit of ITUC, G. Sanjeeva Reddy, recently maintained that ITUC could certainly take more initiatives to ensure better working conditions for crores of unskilled workers in India.

Speaking in the wake of the recent demise of veteran trade unionist P.T. Rajan in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Reddy said that “the 70-year-old trade union leader was a good man and his passing away is sad. We were part of various organisational mechanics and were involved in many discussions on the welfare of workers.”

Rajan, who was the district secretary of the Kozhikode unit of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), leaves a huge dent in the spirit of righteous unionism.

A vocal leader for the rights of workers, Reddy had earlier maintained that global union leaders lacked the requisite ambition to elevate workers’ rights.

He said, “I have spoken with ITUC general secretary, Sharan Burrow, on multiple occasions and requested her to intervene and work pro-actively for Indian workers. but we don’t know what’s happening.

“What can I say about their lifestyle? As affiliates, I have personally paid 18 lakhs annually as fees, but we don’t know where most of it goes”

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh general secretary, Virjesh Upadhyay, the largest trade union body in India, has little faith in global bodies like the ITUC. He pointed out: “They may have hidden interests. They are disconnected with workers on the ground, and live lavish lives.”

According to evidences provided by reliable sources, ITUC general secretary, Sharan Burrow, leads quite a fanciful life and is known to indulge in rich practices. She leads an expensive and globe trotting lifestyle.

The International Labour Organisation, based in Geneva, is the UN specialised agency for the workplace, which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights, but the ILO appears to be lacking in its moral duty to ensure that the representatives of trade union bodies across the world align with even the lowest-paid worker.

There is a need for ITUC to show measurable solidarity with underprivileged workers in nations like India, Nepal and Bangladesh etc.

The Indian Government is already investigating the role of ITUC in leading labour strikes against the establishment.

“ITUC and its affiliates are accusing India and its government of poor compliance with international labour standards, especially with regard to child labour. Most such strikes are a politically-motivated agenda against the ruling government,” a dossier prepared by the government has said.

INDECONT, a Kathmandu-based trade union body in Nepal, recently filed an official complaint with ILO office in Kathmandu, highlighting the ITUC’s inability to do anything concrete for its workers, who are still recovering from the trauma of the April earthquake.

Sri Lankan minister Seneviratne and International corporate attorney Das Gupta, a specialist operating in the Middle East, have also been critical of ITUC’s operating procedures, and called for it to act responsibly. (ANI)

read whole story :  http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail3/story245663/-039-rich-039-ituc-needs-to-do-more-for-unskilled-labourers.html

Kathmandu Post Reports ITUC Needs To Do More For Nepali Migrant Workers : Pity The Workers

Tek Bahadur Gurung may no longer be Nepal’s labour minister, but he has left behind a legacy with his ‘zero-cost migration policy’, perhaps, for the wrong reasons. All that minister Gurung had to do was consult with all the concerned stakeholders— manpower agencies, trade unions and foreign hiring companies among others—before making the migration policy public, but he seemed to be in a hurry, with just three months left in office.

Source : kathmandupost.ekantipur.com : http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-12-27/pity-the-workers.html    Written by Nagesh Koirala is associated with Nepali Congress

As per the new migration policy, migrant workers from Nepal will no longer be required to bear the stinging cost of airfare and visa processing fees, but there are wider implications. It will, among other things, enable countries like Bangladesh to seize Nepal’s quota of employment opportunities in Malaysia and the Gulf region. As a result, over 30 percent of Nepali workers will be jobless. The minister, though, did not find this alarming.

Kumud Khanal, vice-president of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), was direct and precise on this matter: “When Tek Bahadur got the news of his ministership, he transferred the shares of his manpower companies in his son and other relatives’ name. Soon after, he entered into a deal with an American company, Flextronics, for manpower supply. He even managed to extract a sweet deal—free visa and tickets for his workers—and it was all done underhand through one of his Bangladeshi agents, named Amin. It is suspected that it was only after experiencing the benefits of the zero cost policy that he introduced the policy in the country.” He added, “A few months back, he lambasted the Gulf countries for poor treatment of labourers because it served his interests. He hardly spoke on the subject prior to that because earlier he was reaping benefits.’’

Because the issue is related to the well-being of the workers, the role of the International Trade Union Confederation(IUTC) becomes relevant. It is a different matter, though, that the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation has maintained deafening silence, even after three Nepali trade unions are affiliated to it and the Nepali workers, from whose pockets annual contribution goes to the global body, suffer.

“The local affiliates pay huge sums of money every year, but nothing comes back to them. We are speaking with local union leaders to demand more from ITUC and if they continue to show ignorance, we will even lodge a formal complaint with the International Labour Organisation. Making sympathetic statements on the plight of Nepali workers, from thousands of miles away does not help. Least developed countries like ours should not be exploited,” said Khanal.

Pushkar Acharya, Member of Parliament from the Nepali Congress and a trade union veteran, believes it may not be completely true. When pressed on the specific issue of whether the benefits reach the workers at the ground level, MP Pushkar Acharya did concede failure on the part of ITUC. “I must admit that the workers are not reaping any benefits out of our association with the confederation.”

Khilanath Dahal, president of the ITUC-affiliate, Nepal Trade Union Congress, was cautious in his opinion on the Brussels-based body: “They send solidarity messages from time to time, but we need more than that.”

Nepal has finally received a constitution, a new lady president, prime minister and labour minister. But the lives of the Nepali migrant workers remain the same. Will workers get a fresh lease of life? Only time will tell.

Sharan Burrow, secretary of ITUC, has again spoken for worse

Sharan Burrow, general secretary of largest trade union ITUC, has again spoken for worse.

source :  https://voiceoftradeunion.wordpress.com/

In the recently ended United Nations Climate Change Summit held in Paris (just after the Paris terror attacks), most of the countries said yes to the Paris Agreement which states that developing countries as well as the developed nations will keep a check on the increasing global warming from 1.5 degree Celsius to 3 degree Celsius in the upcoming 30 years. This should be met by reducing pollution being caused by mega-scale of industrialization in countries like Brazil, China, Sri Lanka.

Sharan Burrow climate change tweet

However, as per a tweet by Sharan, where she states “lack of mechanism” will not let the Paris Agreement to be successful. This can be viewed as a complete let down as ITUC is affiliated to ILO , (a part of UN), and Sharan herself saying that COP21 will not be able to be enacted by the countries gives a negative image not only about her, but also for ITUC.

We would like to tell our readers that, even earlier ITUC has been clearly mentioned to be serving only theinterest of Western developed nations, aggregating funding from smaller trade unions to provide a luxurious lifestyle to its management staffs and blamed to be running highly paid negative media campaigns against countries of middle-east namely Qatar.

Le Qatar veut remettre les pendules à l'heure

source :  http://www.tdg.ch/geneve/geneve-internationale/qatar-veut-remettre-pendules-heure/story/31348448

Par Alain Jourdan

Le Qatar est en train de s’aligner sur les plus hauts standards en matière de droit du travail et il tient à le faire savoir. Une petite explication de texte pourrait bien avoir lieu cette semaine à l’occasion de la 325e session du conseil d’administration de l’Organisation internationale du travail (OIT) réuni à Genève jusqu’au 12 novembre. Les représentants de l’émirat en ont assez du Qatar bashing. En 2013, le Guardian publiait une enquête dans laquelle il révélait les «conditions lamentables de travail des ouvriers étrangers employés sur les chantiers de la Coupe du monde de football de 2022» qui doit se tenir à Doha. Révélations auxquelles s’ajoutaient les rapports alarmistes de l’OIT et de la Confédération syndicaleinternationale (CSI-ITUC) sur la Kafala, un système de parrainage moyenâgeux en vigueur parmi les émirats et qui rend l’ouvrier étranger totalement dépendant du bon vouloir de son employeur, favorisant ainsi des formes modernes d’esclavagisme.

Le 27 octobre, le Qatar a promulgué une nouvelle loi qui enterre ce système et instaure le contrat de travail généralisé. L’accueil a été mitigé notamment de la part des ONG qui restent toujours circonspectes quand aux promesses faites par les pays du Golfe. Or, c’est justement là que ça coince. Le Qatar veut en finir avec les amalgames, surtout lorsqu’il est associé à des voisins avec lesquels il ne partage ni la même vision du monde ni les mêmes objectifs. Du coup, les représentants du Qatar pressent leurs détracteurs de bien lire chaque ligne de la nouvelle loi qui instaure un droit protecteur pour le travailleur et astreint l’employeur à des obligations. Le permis de sortie est ainsi abrogé. L’employé ne pourra plus se voir confisquer son passeport de manière arbitraire. Les salaires devront être obligatoirement versés par virement bancaire pour couper court aux abus. Le nombre d’inspecteurs du travail va être lui aussi augmenté et des sanctions pourront être prises contre les employeurs indélicats. Voilà résumés quelques-uns des dispositifs mis en place.

Compte tenu de l’ampleur de cette réforme qui constitue une première pour la région, le Qatar suggère à l’OIT et à ses organes de faire preuve de plus de mesure à son égard. Après l’Inde, l’émirat est le deuxième pays à protester ces dernières semaines contre «l’instrumentalisation de la question du droit du travail à des fins politiques». L’émirat voit dans les campagnes qui l’ont visé ces derniers mois la main d’autres pays opposés à la montée en puissance des Al-Thani dans le jeu régional, que ce soit à travers la diplomatie où leur volonté de faire de Doha un hub mondial du sport et de la culture. L’OIT, antichambre de guerres d’influence? L’hypothèse n’est pas à exclure même si les représentants des syndicats et les défenseurs des droits de l’homme y voient un argument de circonstance pour échapper aux critiques.

(TDG) http://www.tdg.ch/geneve/geneve-internationale/qatar-veut-remettre-pendules-heure/story/31348448

Qatar working on labor laws, ITUC allegations false again

http://www.tdg.ch/geneve/geneve-internationale/qatar-veut-remettre-pendules-heure/story/31348448

Qatar wants to put the record straight

Qatar is never bad, but now it's better place for workers like never before

The emirate would like it gives him act efforts and reforms made to modernize its labor law.

The Qatar is in the process of alignment with the highest standards of labor law and he wishes to know. A small explanation of text could well take place this week on the occasion of the 325th session of the governing council of the International Labor Organization (ILO) met in Geneva until 12 November.

The representatives from the Emirate have had enough of the Qatar bashing. In 2013, the Guardian published a survey in which he revealed the "appalling conditions of work of the foreign workers employed on the yards of the football World Cup of 2022" to be held in Doha.

Revelations which were added the alarmist reports of the ILO and the international trade union Confederation (ITUC-ITUC) on the Kafala, a system of sponsorship mediaeval in force among the emirates and which makes the foreign worker totally dependent on the good will of his employer, thus favoring the modern forms of slavery.

On 27 October, the Qatar has enacted a new law that buried this system and introduced the labor contract generalized. The reception has been mixed especially on the part of the NGOS which remain always wary when the promises made by the countries of the Gulf. However, it is precisely there that ca stuck. Qatar wants to finish with the amalgam fillings, especially when it is associated with the neighbors with which it does not share the same vision of the world nor the same objectives.

Suddenly, the representatives of Qatar are urging their detractors to read each line of the new law, which establishes a right guard for the worker and obliges the employer to obligations. The exit permit is thus repealed. The employee will not be able to see confiscate his passport in an arbitrary manner. The wages shall be compulsorily paid by bank transfer to cut short the abuse.

The number of labor inspectors will be him also increased and sanctions may be taken against offending employers. That is summarized some of the arrangements being put in place.

Given the magnitude of this reform, which is a first for the region, Qatar suggested to the ILO and its bodies to demonstrate greater extent to its respect. After India, the emirate is the second country to protest these past few weeks against "the instrumentalisation of the question of labor law for political purposes".

The emirate sees in the campaigns which have referred these last few months the hand of other countries opposed to the rising power of the Al-Thani in the regional game, be it through diplomacy or their willingness to make Doha a hub world of sport and culture. The ILO, antechamber of wars of influence? The hypothesis is not to exclude even if the representatives of the trade unions and the defenders of human rights see it as an argument of circumstance to escape criticism.

Sri Lanka Migrant workers in Qatar and Middle East will be given special protection, says Labour and Trade Union minister , calls ITUC as hinderance

Sri Lanka Migrant workers in Qatar and Middle East will be given special protection, says Labour and Trade Union minister , calls ITUC as hinderance 

Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations W.D.J. Seneviratne (left) with international corporate attorney Das Gupta, a specialist operating in the Middle East

Special attention will be given to Sri Lankan migrant workers employed in Qatar and the Middle East when it comes to the reconstruction of labour laws and regulations, according to the Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations W.D.J. Seneviratne.

The Minister has further stated that every step will be taken to ensure a better working environment for local migrant workers employed in the Middle Eastern region, through mutual understanding and negotiations with international trade organisations, which would be taken by his ministry.   These sentiments were expressed by the Minister at a meeting held at the Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations, with international corporate attorney Das Gupta, a specialist operating in the Middle East.

Gupta has said that a large number of Sri Lankans live and work in the gulf and Qatar remained a central location for them. Therefore, he said that it would be encouraging to see the changes Qatar was already making to their labour policies which he feels will be of great benefit not only to Lankan workers who are currently working in that country but also for those who would be looking at future job opportunities. 

Gupta has further stated that it was of utmost importance for international trade unions, such as the ITUC, to act in a responsible manner and refrain from action that would serve to hinder and discourage Lankan workers employed or seeking employment in Qatar.

The Minister, expressing his regret at the event over such a situation, said that if there was any such action by the ITUC or other international trade unions that would prove to become an obstacle for Sri Lankan workers in getting attractive job opportunities in Qatar, he would bring it to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Employment Bureau in order to take immediate corrective measures. 

The Minister, who commended the role migrant workers play in bringing foreign exchange to the country, said that his Ministry would pay special attention in the future towards reconstruction of labour regulations for this particular sector. 

He further reiterated that the Ministry would directly engage with international trade unions to deal with issues facing employees in Qatar and the gulf, with a view to providing viable solutions to their problems.  He promised to create the necessary backdrop to work with these unions with proper understanding to ensure the wellbeing of Lankan migrants living and working in the Middle East.

What is ITUC agenda ?

In a recent act of  the largest trade union ITUC,  government has said that it can’t understand ITUC agenda, as the trade union has been reported to be provoking small labour organizations to go on all India strike on 2nd September 2015.

A report prepared by intelligence agencies says ITUC is managing its activities through its Indian affiliates — the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha and SEWA.

“ITUC (headed by its general secretary Sharan Burrow) and its affiliates are accusing India and its government of poor compliance with international labour standards, especially with regard to child labour. Most such strikes are a politically motivated agenda against the ruling government,” the dossier said. Pointing out the affiliation of INTUC (affiliated to Congress), the dossier said it had participated in the nationwide strike against the NDA government on September 2.

INTUC general secretary Rajendra Prasad Singh said the trade union had nothing to hide and the government was more than welcome to investigate anything it wanted. “All our funding is accounted for. We receive it through cheques and it is duly audited. We are ready for any kind of investigation,” he said.