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

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.

The practices of ITUC criticized again

The zeal of the CSI-ITUC to expose the exploitation of workers in Qatar has made it worth to become the target of strong criticism itself.

Accustomed to denounce the abuses committed everywhere in the world at the expense of workers, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has this time came under the fire of criticism. Since several months, the trade union organization backed on to the International Labour Organization (ILO) is increasingly contested. Mandated to assist unions and orchestrate awareness campaigns worldwide for respect for worker’s rights, the ITUC has built strong hostility from some governments.

Recently, the vice president of the ITUC-CSI, G. Sanjeeva Reddy, also a former minister, criticized the methods and practices within the trade union confederation. G. Sanjeeva Reddy was surprised financial resources deployed by the ITUC-CSI to put his country in the dock and sabotage at the same time a negotiation process at the national level between the government and unions. A protest accompanied by accusations against companies and agents paid by the ITUC to conduct its communication campaigns.

Charges with a little more information came across internet in recent weeks, but anonymously. Main targets being Australian Sharan Burrow, ITUC general secretary and his closest collaborators, who orchestrated media campaigns that were extremely effective but also extreme costly. Attention is particularly drawn to the case of an employee who was also paid in respect of his company for telling lie against his working conditions, concerning communication in the media and on social networks.

One of the last campaigns of the ITUC-CSI was against Qatar and FIFA. The trade union confederation has produced a damning report in which it denounced the situation of workers employed on the site of the World Cup 2022 Football. For Sharan Burrow, this workforce is "tantamount to modern slavery”. The campaigns of the ITUC-CSI for Qatar result from a choice clearly expressed by the ILO policy office has found it necessary to make a focus on the situation of workers in this country. However, voices continue to rise behind the scenes to be surprised by the difference in treatment between Qatar and other Gulf monarchies.

Why did not she ITUC expressed the same zeal to denounce the treatment of workers in Saudi Arabia? Can we know? These repeated attacks are not surprising Burrow. "We are the target for several months of a disinformation campaign based on dissemination of false documents. This is intended to divert attention from the situation of workers in Qatar, "said the general secretary of the ITUC.

Source: Tribune deGeneve (TDG), Switzerland   

http://www.tdg.ch/news/standard/pratiques-union-syndicats-denoncees/story/17111553

Sharan Burrow 's ITUC fund scam ! ITUC takes 18 lacs from us , says Vice President

The Indian economy reportedly suffered a loss of Rs 25,000 crores due to the September 2 nation-wide strike by central trade unions in protest against labour reforms proposed by the Narendra Modi-led NDA regime, and impacted most essential services.

Normal life was affected in many states as millions of industrial and blue collar employees struck work in the first nation-wide protest since Prime Minister Modi took power more than a year ago.

Ten unions, armed with a 12-point charter of demands, also questioned the government’s decision to exclude factories, with up to 40 workers, from the ambit of labour laws.

 Sharan Burrow, the general secretary of the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the world’s largest trade union body, reportedly questioned the Indian Government’s intentions in working to improve labour standards.

G. Sanjeeva Reddy, vice president of ITUC and president of INTUC, and a former member of parliament, however, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the high membership fees, amounting to lakhs of rupees, being paid to the ITUC.

He said, “I make large contributions to ITUC Brussels and ITUC Singapore, but these funds are never used for our own progress, but used by the ITUC for its own purposes. INTUC pays 18 lacs annually to ITUC, which is a huge amount by any standards. Honestly speaking, I have my grievances with ITUC. Our workers should get partnership in profits. After all, ITUC is living on our contributions. How much power have they got, what can they do?”

Questions have also been raised about ITUC often shifting its focus from its prime responsibility of exhibiting solidarity with workforces around the world, and instead, condemning systems of governance in entirety.

Reddy said, “I do not want international people to come and interfere with my work, because only solidarity doesn’t help. I have got my own organisation with three crores 30 lakh workforce, my own funds. I will not accept slavery for money or promise to help in our own cause.”

“Our workers are living in far flung villages, and we have Rs.20 crore fund in fixed deposit. We are not asking for any dole from anyone,” Reddy added.

He further said, “It’s my personal opinion that they cater more to workers in western countries. I have expressed this unreservedly in my meetings. I am telling in my organisation this also. They are more concerned about the problems of the developed nations, the highly-paid workers. They should take care of the interests of Asia and Africa, and other poor countries”.

“What is the point in being affiliated to ITUC? What is the purpose? We are affiliated only to identify ourselves with the international labour movement, that’s all. It is only psychological; it doesn’t make any real difference to us.”

Virjesh Upadhyay, general secretary of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, also voiced his objection on the ITUC’s meddling nature.

“ITUC, being the largest confederated body of the trade unions of the world, is facing credibility issues. They are losing their relevance. They are not doing what they are supposed to do. Like some NGOs in India have been banned for hurting the economy, we are demanding that ITUC also be banned because they are not serving Indian concerns. They are carrying out agendas of other countries and organisations.”

As already informed by ngowatchdog.org , Misutilisation of funds has been the central theme in every criticism of ITUC. They have also been allegedly accused of hiring the services of Essential Media Communications (EMC), an Australian firm, to give boost to their various campaigns, especially against Gulf countries, on social media.

It is being reported that they have allegedly also paid thousands of dollars to other agencies to exercise similar mandates.

ITUC reportedly gets its annual funds from its affiliates in 162 countries, which amounts to millions of dollars. It is, therefore, puzzling to comprehend why a self-sufficient organisation like the INTUC needs to reach out to a global body like ITUC only for moral support.

Moroccan Authorities Postpone ITUC Planned Mission to Occupied Territories of Western Sahara

The Moroccan authorities has decided to postpone the mission of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to the occupied territories of Western Sahara which was planned for the next week.

However, ITUC which was planning to go Morocco has been trying to invade the country with its unnecessary and void campaigns against labor exploitation. Moreover the organization now has started showing more and more interests in human rights issues more than the labor crisis worldwide

ITUC Deputy General Secretary, Jaap Wienen, confirmed in a statement that the reason behind the decision that the Sahrawi community in the occupied territories “would use the opportunity of our mission to organise big mobilisations on the roads of Laayoune , which especially in a period of elections would lead to confrontations”.

Moreover, Mr. Wienen confirmed “we received a signal that most probably the members of our delegation would be refused to enter Morocco at their arrival at the airport”.

The statement indicated that “apparently the authorities managed to create an atmosphere of fear among our affiliates, which made them decide to demand to postpone the mission.”

The federation regretted the blockade of the mission and insisted that the mission would take place as planned, as the program was developed together with the Moroccan affiliates, and all reservations were definitively made.

Money minded ITUC declares ‘outrage’ at Israel settlements , what can be reason of this late concern Sharan ?

The ITUC has condemned Israel’s intention to build yet another 1,000 settlement dwellings in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said,

“Binyamin Netanyahu’s government is treating the international community with total contempt, and trampling further on the rights and livelihoods of Palestinians with this provocative and illegal move. Governments around the world should respond by giving formal recognition to the State of Palestine, and acting to stop any form of international involvement in building and sustaining these illegal settlements.”

The adoption by the Irish Senate last week of a Resolution to recognise the State of Palestine follows the announcement by Sweden’s government that it plans to formally recognise Palestine, and a recognition motion passed overwhelmingly by the UK Parliament earlier this month.

“Well over 100 countries have now formally recognized the Palestinian State, with parliaments in many others also passing symbolic motions. Symbolic recognition needs to be turned into action, so that the long-promised two-state solution for Israel and Palestine can become a reality. There is every reason for Palestinians to have international recognition, and no good reason for yet further delay. The status quo is a threat to peace and stability in the region and a denial of human rights for the Palestinian people,” said Burrow.

“The international community needs to step up to the task of helping rebuild the Gaza Strip, and the political stagnation which is stopping progress needs to be turned into real action by the global community to break the impasse,” said Burrow.

However, everybody related to human rights issues knows the money minded intentions of ITUC.

Since, a long time reportedly, the higher authorities of ITUC have been enjoying super luxurious lifestyle, and now the sudden shed of crocodile tears at the Israel-Gaza Issue seems objectionable. One may not be able to see even a single full-proof plan of saving the victims of Gaza crisis situation by ITUC.

ITUC , organisation has always been seen coming in action after all the aftermath of a big human or labour right crisis has already faded away. Clearly, ITUC knows how to turn the eyeballs of media persons towards them. Thus the recent concern by ITUC seems quite dramatic !

ITUC Belgium, members and Sharan Burrow exposed about false labour issues

ITUC Belgium, members and Sharan Burrow exposed about wrong labour issues
read full story

http://pressreleaseping.com/what-interest-has-union


On 16 July we have expressed legitimate concerns regarding ties ITUC - the International Trade Union Confederation - and the communications company purpose.com that counts among its appendices organization "Walk Free". "Walk Free" that, before the vote that confirmed Blatter as the head of FIFA, attacked the Swiss leader promoting the candidacy of his rival, Prince Hussein Bin. Article ipotizzavamo a privileged relationship between the dangerous and perhaps purpose.com and the ITUC; in particular, we put emphasis on possible undeclared American interference in the politics of the International Trade Union Confederation. Detailed cutting weight, whereas the ITUC, just in Qatar, he let out full names of employees who have worked to reveal the working conditions in force in the country, putting them clearly in danger.

It is therefore with some surprise that we found out a few days ago, the General Secretary of the ITUC, Ms Sharan Burrows, has retweeted a quote from our article: "The American organization walks free (whose objective is to change the opinion of the masses) supports the ITUC Sharan Burrow and in defense of American interests in Qatar.” In doing so Mrs. Burrows confirmed that the ITUC is involved in a media campaign against Qatar and FIFA, on behalf of the US government. It cannot make abstraction of the fact that Qatar has seen attribute sampled football in 2022 with two votes difference damage precisely the United States. In light of the above it seems that the complaints about the working conditions of migrants in Qatar have become the pretext for regular accounts that go beyond the normal duties of a trade union. And this is not nice.