Headlines@IndustriALL #614 IndustriALL Global Union, IF Metall and H&M Group update global framework agreement

The world’s largest? trade union federation, IndustriALL Global Union, representing 50 million workers, and H&M Group have together with the Swedish trade union IF Metall signed an updated global framework agreement, protecting the interests of more than one million garment workers.

Reflecting on eight years of partnership, this global framework agreement (GFA) marks a new level of commitment to fundamental rights of workers across H&M Group’s supply chain. It covers more than one million garment workers that are employed at the around 1,000 factories run by the manufacturers where H&M Group buys their products.

IndustriALL general secretary Atle Hoie, says on the GFA:

“With this renewed agreement we continue the important work in the sector of further empowering workers and unions in H&M’s supply chain. The GFA includes significant achievements, like the inclusion of all core ILO conventions, as well as ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment. Neutrality in union organizing is another important element of the agreement. The national monitoring committees, a global steering committee, a joint industrial relations development committee, and importantly a dispute resolution mechanism that is bound by the decision of the independent mediator, provide a solid ground for functional industrial relations needed for a sustainable textile and garment industry.”

H&M Group CEO Daniel Ervér says:

“We are proud about this long lasting collaboration with IndustriALL and IF Metall to continue empowering workers in our supply chain. Well-functioning industrial relations including collective bargaining are key to achieving good working conditions and improved wages in our supply chain. This contributes to a more sustainable fashion industry through functioning labour markets in the countries where we source our products from.”

IF Metall president Marie Nilsson says:

“Through this agreement, we renew the commitment to realise a sustainable garment industry, where workers are organised by trade unions. Now the important part begins, ensuring that we move from policy to practice. We are excited to continue this important partnership.”

The agreement includes an updated governance structure to ensure effective implementation of the agreement, a commitment to collaborate on due diligence in line with OECD Guidelines and strengthened language on preventing and providing remedy to gender-based violence and harassment. The updates also acknowledge the importance of the industry collaboration we engage in to improve working conditions for everyone, like ACT, the ACCORD, and the RSC and Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh.

The global framework agreement will continue to establish that

• The parties will jointly promote signing of collective agreements both at factory, company and industrial level between relevant social partners
• Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work as part of their health and safety rights
• The parties will provide training for both management and union representatives on employers’ responsibilities, workers’ rights and obligations, industrial relations, collective bargaining agreements and peaceful conflict resolution
• H&M will actively use all its possible leverage to ensure that its direct suppliers respect human and trade union rights in the workplace
• Workers’ representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace

H&M, IndustriALL and IF Metall first signed a GFA in 2015 , which was renewed in 2016.

Top Nigerian union leader faces terrorism charges

On 19 August the Nigerian police in Abuja wrote a letter to the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, asking him to report to the police the following day to answer charges of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

The letter warned: “Be informed that in the event of failing to honour this letter, this office will have no alternative than to activate a warrant of arrest.”? ?

In reply, NLC lawyers said that the police must explain the “details and nature of the allegations” and that Ajaero will go for the interview on 29 August. ?

The charges Ajaero face?arise from trade union participation in national mass action against the cost-of-living crisis whose social media identity is #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.? ?

However, the government’s heavy-handed response led to the death of 13 protestors and the imprisonment of several others. Nigerian workers took to the streets as they are facing increasing financial hardships because of high inflation of over 34 per cent, underemployment, low wages, and high poverty.

This was worsened by the removal of petroleum subsidies which led to price hikes. As some of the ways to ease workers’ plight, the unions are demanding economic policies that will lead to economic development, industrialization, and the creation of decent jobs. ?

The unions see the letter from the police as an act of continued harassment of leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other labour leaders. “We view this as a calculated attempt to weaken and destabilize the labour movement, which has always stood as a bastion of democratic principles and the voice of the Nigerian masses,” wrote the NLC in a statement. ?

“IndustriALL urges the Federal Government of Nigeria and the police to stop the repressive actions and intimidation against trade unions and civil society organizations. Instead, the government must engage in meaningful social dialogue with trade unions, and take necessary actions to stop this injustice,”

said Atle H?ie, IndustriALL general secretary.

Ajaero is also the general secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate. Other IndustriALL affiliates in Nigeria organize in the chemical, energy, engineering, oil and gas, ship building and ship breaking, textile and garment, and other sectors.

Bangladesh: affiliates seek to hold dialogue with interim government

Considering the changed political situation in Bangladesh after the toppling of the discredited Sheikh Hasina’s government, IndustriALL affiliates in the country extends support to the interim government and laid?out their demands and expectations from the advisor to the ministry of labour and employment as well as seek to hold dialogue with the interim government.

Affiliates in Bangladesh have strongly condemned the brutal killings of those involved in the recent protests in the country. Trade unions have called on the interim government to conduct judicial investigation of the killings and ensure that harsh punishments are meted out to those found guilty, through a fair trial. Unions have urged the government to ensure that families of all victims are adequately compensated as well as rehabilitated.?

In addition, union leaders have demanded that all factories, including garment factories, be immediately reopened and workers be paid back wages for the period that the factories were closed. Unions have also called for the withdrawal of all legal cases filed against garment workers involved in the minimum wage protest last year as well as the elimination of blacklisting workers in the recruitment process across various factories.

Affiliates also took the opportunity to press for their longstanding demands pertaining to minimum wage, anti-worker labour law?amendments, trade union rights in export processing zones and decent working conditions in factories, among others. Unions are demanding that the minimum wage be replaced by living wage which is inflation adjusted as well as a subsidised food grain, under public distribution system, be introduced for garment workers on an urgent basis.?

Union leaders have also stressed the need to urgently address the country’s high unemployment rate and climate change related concerns. Currently, Bangladesh is experiencing massive flooding that has affected over a million people. The demand to ensure a Just Transition in the country as well as proper implementation of the International Labour Organization’s Roadmap a lso continues to remain high on unions’ agenda.

A.M. Nazim Uddin, president of the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council says:

“We extend our heartiest welcome to the interim government. We hope to work together with the government to ensure that justice and democracy prevails in the country. We have written to the honourable advisor in the ministry of labour and employment to meet with us so that we can discuss the deplorable conditions of garment workers in the country and together chart out a course of action to ensure workers’ lives and workers’ rights are protected.”

IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Kemal ?zkan, says:

“Amidst the political transition in Bangladesh, it is imperative that the interim government engages in meaningful dialogue with trade unions to address the pressing issues facing workers. The brutal suppression of protests and the ongoing challenges in the industrial sectors underscore the urgent need for justice, fair wages, better health and safety and improved working conditions. The interim government must collaborate with our affiliates to ensure that the rights and livelihoods of workers are protected and that the path toward a just and equitable future is firmly established.”?

Mongolia: Industrial unions prioritize OSH and union power

At the end of a joint meeting on 21 August, of IndustriALL Mongolia affiliates, and an occupational safety and health (OSH) seminar-workshop in light and heavy industries in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, participants developed an action plan to address workplace safety and health and strengthening unions.

Following the revision of Mongolia’s labour law two years ago unions are assessing its impact on labour conditions, especially OSH. Despite developing standards, workplace safety issues persist, with underreported incidents of worker exhaustion and industrial accidents. It is widely believed that these are only an understatement of the real problem due to under-reporting of the management.

The Federation of Energy, Geology, and Mining Workers Trade Unions (MEGM) successfully advocated for standardized rest time, inspiring the light industry union (MITUF) to push for sector-specific OSH standards. Both unions are committed to promoting OSH at national and industry levels.

Unions also discussed wage improvements and membership expansion. While a petition for wage increases in heavy industry is ongoing, a government survey on light industry wages, particularly for the 50,000 cashmere and textile workers, fell short of worker expectations. Tamir Enkhbaatar, president of Mongolian Industrial Workers Trade Union Federation (MITUF) said:

“The participation of women and young workers are critical to strengthening unions in Mongolia, that is why we need to strategize on how to attract young people into unions, utilizing social media and digital technology will give voice for the young workers to be heard. Furthermore, during the industrial revolution, flexible forms of employment are increasing and the informal economy is expanding. In order to develop the future strategic planning of the Mongolian Industry Trade union in accordance with this change, it is essential to study the experience of the movement of international unions.”

Dolgor Duinaakhuu, president of MEGM said:

“MEGM has prioritized the incorporation of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) provisions in energy and mining agreements to ensure that its members can work in a healthy and safe environment, minimizing the risk of industrial accidents and occupational diseases. Additionally, we are collaborating with all social partners to promote accident-free working practices through comprehensive OSH training. IndustriALL’s visit in Mongolia was instrumental in clarifying the union’s stance on OSH-related issues at the regional level.”

Ramon Certeza, IndustriALL South East Asia regional secretary said:

“I believe that having?strong union?cultures and traditions is the backbone of a fair and just society in Mongolia. It empowers workers to stand together, collectively protect their rights, and build a future where everyone shares in the nation's progress. The critical role of women and young workers are essential leading towards that path.”

IndustriALL and unions from MEGM and MITUF are represented at the Nadaam Festival in celebrating the 107th anniversary of the trade union movement in Mongolia which?organized annually by Confederation of Mongolia Trade Unions.?

Belgian and Malagasy unions cooperate on building union power

The cooperation between Belgian and Malagasy unions is testimony of?how trade unions in the global north and the global south are working together on key issues that include the Just Transition and human rights due diligence.

The critical role of international trade union solidarity was emphasized at a union building workshop in Tamatave, 20 and 21 August. Additionally, the workshop stressed on the importance of locating Just Transition debates within a workers’ rights framework that included women miners’ rights at work. Malagasy unions campaign?for the ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 to end violence and harassment in the world of work were also highlighted. Further, there were recommendations on the government of Madagascar to implement national labour laws including the mining code to enhance decent working conditions. ?

The participants included three union leaders from CSC-BIE and mine workers from Ambatovy’s nickel-cobalt mining sites in Moramanga and Tamatave. The mineworkers are members of Syndicalisme et Vie des Societes (SVS). Both CSC-BIE and SVS are affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union. Besides Madagascar, CSC-BIE also supports human rights due diligence along the supply chains in Sub-Saharan Africa and union building activities in Senegal that include innovative recruitment and organizing. ?

The workshop discussed how the energy transition from high carbon to low carbon economies impacted on workers and communities in Madagascar and is an opportunity to build union power. Participants also mentioned that Madagascar is a producer of cobalt, nickel, ilmenite, and chromium ores – which are some of the critical minerals needed for the energy transition. Additionally, the beneficiation of these minerals had potential to create decent jobs and spur economic development on Africa’s biggest island. ?

The workshop emphasized on increased efforts to recruit more members to the union. For example, there were recommendations for unions to develop a gender responsive organizing strategy, to counter discrimination when hiring women and increase women’s access to unions. The strategy would also include minimum living wages, ending precarious working conditions for women, and reducing the gender pay gap. ?

On human rights due diligence, Jan Franco, CSC-BIE international officer, said:

“This is an approach that unions can use to discuss Just Transition plans. The importance of human rights due diligence is that it addresses labour violations along supply chains, and seeks remedies from the violating companies or businesses, and that cases can also be heard in European courts.”

In May the European Union approved the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. ?

“Global solidarity on trade union organizing is key to cooperation between unions in the global north and global south. It gives the labour movement the chance to learn and reflect from experiences in different countries that are far apart and yet committed to advancing workers’ rights and interests,”

said Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary.