Friday, July 19, 2013

Iraqi unions join forces for trade union legislation

The new IndustriALL Global Union Council of Iraq
Iraq still lacks legislation protecting workers' rights, guaranteeing freedom of association and governing industrial relations. In an effort to coordinate and consolidate forces, an IndustriALL Global Union National Council was established in Baghdad on July 10.

TPP: 200 NGO serah memo bantahan

TPP: 200 NGO serah memo bantahan
Badrul Hisham kelihatan sedang menaiki kenderaan pacuan empat roda menuju ke pejabat Kementerian Perdagangan dan Industri bagi menyerahkan memorandum bantahan perjanjian TPP di Jalan Duta, hari ini.
TPP: 200 NGO serah memo bantahan
Mohd Khalid juga kelihatan hadir dalam bantahan tersebut.
KUALA LUMPUR [DIKEMASKINI] – Beberapa gabungan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) hari ini mengadakan perhimpunan untuk menyerahkan memorandum bantahan kepada pejabat Kementerian Perdagangan dan Industri berhubung isu Perjanjian Perkongsian Trans-Pasific (TPP).

Kumpulan itu yang dikenali sebagai Badan Bertindak Bantah TPPA Malaysia (BBBTM) terdiri daripada 200 NGO itu mengadakan perhimpunan di Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan selepas solat Jumaat petang tadi.

Kumpulan berkenaan mula membanjiri tempat letak kereta bersebelahan dengan masjid itu kira-kira jam 2.15 petang.

Perhimpunan tersebut dilakukan selepas solat Jumaat itu bagaimanapun dilihat kurang mendapat sambutan para jemaah yang hadir menunaikan solat.

Sementara itu, turut kelihatan sebuah kenderaan pacuan empat roda berwarna hitam dijadikan pentas kepada wakil NGO dan berucap menggunakan pembesar suara mudah alih yang dipasang di atas kenderaan terbabit.

Antara pemimpin NGO yang menyertai perhimpunan itu ialah Presiden Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), Badrul Hisham Shahrin, Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC), Mohd Khalid Atan, wakil Pas, Dr Rosli Yaakob dan wakil Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu (MTEM), Rizal Yaakob.

Kumpulan berkenaan tiba di pintu masuk pejabat kementerian terbabit pada jam 2.50 petang namun ia dikunci dan dikawal rapi pihak polis dan turut menghalang wakil NGO terbabit daripada memasuki kawasan pejabat kerajaan itu.

Conditions in Cambodia’s Garment Industry Worsen: ILO

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Garment factory workers block a section of the National Highway Two in Phnom Penh to demand higher wages and better working conditions, June 19, 2013.

Working conditions in Cambodia’s garment industry have worsened, the International Labour Organization said in a report Thursday, but manufacturers said the entire industry should not be blamed for the problems of a few factories.

Despite improvements until two to three years ago, the country’s third largest currency earning industry has suffered setbacks in the areas of worker safety and child labor, the ILO said.

Myanmar is still using child soldiers - ILO

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Mr. Steve Marshall, the ILO liaison officer seen in a press conference
Myanmar is still using forced labour in addition to the use of child soldiers, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said during a press conference in Yangon on July 17.
“Myanmar cannot deny the fact that there are still child soldier and forced labour. We are negotiating with the government over the eradication of these two issues. Not only the ILO but also other UN organisations are working together on these issues. To avoid using child soldiers, the government has already ordered to stop recruiting underage soldiers to the army. We are joining hands with the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services in this regard,” said Mr. Steve Marshall, the ILO liaison officer.

He continued to say that recruiting minors has also been found in other ethnic armed forces apart from the government forces. Forced labour and using child soldier cases can be found in the regions where ceasefires have been agreed. They have planned to work together with ethnic groups and international labour organisations to put an end to the practice.