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IUF Global Sugar

IUF Global Sugar. Sugar (sucrose). from cane and beet: two different crops, different climate/environment around 120 countries manufacturing sugar domestically estimates of about 1.5-2 million factory workers (beet & cane);

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IUF Global Sugar

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  1. IUF Global Sugar

  2. Sugar (sucrose) • from cane and beet: two different crops, different climate/environment • around 120 countries manufacturing sugar domestically • estimates of about 1.5-2 million factory workers (beet & cane); • agricultural jobs: difficult to estimate, due to seasonal nature (harvest time)  6-7 million "full-time" jobs (cane) • 2/3 to 3/4 of world's cane is manually harvested • world production of about 145 million tonnes of sugar

  3. Restructuring • “Centre of gravity” from North America (inc. Caribbean) & Western Europe to Brazil and Asia (1970-2005) • Consolidation of production (larger factories) and concentration of ownership (larger companies) • Technological advances • 1990s: liberalisation programs and market reforms, trade issues (WTO, etc.)

  4. Areas of Work • Attached to the Geneva Secretariat (AWTG) • Support to unions to face restructuring • Strengthening unions • Solidarity • Geographical areas • English-speaking Caribbean (also bananas) • East/Southern Africa (+ Mauritius) • Asia/Pacific: Indonesia, India • Central/Eastern Europe: Ukraine: 2004 • Initiatives by regional offices

  5. Solidarity and Networking • Regional networks: e.g. English-speaking Caribbean • Company lines: e.g. Illovo network in Southern Africa • International: global conference 2004 • Interregional contacts: UK/Guyana • Field visits to 18-20 countries: meeting with grass-root members; first-hand knowledge of local situations

  6. Seminars, Workshops • E/S Caribbean: 1,450 participants in 1999-2006 activities • about 350 women participants (2001-2006) • Asia/Pacific: India (Karnataka, Maharasthra) 2004, 2005; Indonesia 2004, 2006 • African regional project: 2002; regional meeting in June 2004

  7. Research and exchange of information • Decent job framework • social protection • social dialogue • employment opportunities • workers' rights • Trade • EU/ACP • African integration processes: SADC, Comesa

  8. Dissemination of information • The Sugar Worker (1999), Trabajador Azucarero (2001) • vehicle for creating & maintaining network • common understanding of basic developments in the sector • further union solidarity • 11 times/year • support by CAW (2004), 3F/SiD (2005-2006) • Web site: www.iuf.org/sugar • English: being "revamped", work in progress • Spanish/Portuguese: www.iuf.org/azucar/ • Research documents • Women in the Caribbean sugar industries • Trade agreements in Africa • Restructuring in Asia/Pacific • Restructuring in the English-speaking Caribbean • Decent Jobs in the international sugar sector (in progress)

  9. Impact of IUF Global Sugar • Strengthening sugar union structures in the face of changes of trade arrangements, corporate developments, restructuring • Advanced union links and solidarity • IUF presence in international sugar forums (ISO)

  10. IUF Global Sugar: Perspectivesto 2010

  11. Trends in the sector (1) 2006-2010: Main aspects of EU sugar reform expected to be in place • expected fall in production: 6 million tonnes of sugar (?) • EFFAT: closure of about 100 factories, loss of 150,000 direct + indirect jobs • 36% reduction in preferential prices direct "negative" impact on traditional ACPs exporters (e.g. Caribbean) • “Sugar Action Plans” ACP sugar to adjust to new conditions • LDCs (Africa) + Everything but Arms (EBA) = duty-free access in 2009 • configuration of international sugar trade • quality of sugar: refined, VHP, VVHP, raws, • EU: largest exporter of high quality refined sugar • new refining facilities (e.g. Middle East)

  12. Trends in the sector (2) Shaping sector's new configuration: fuel vs food • bio-fuels (ethanol - cane == other crops - bio-diesel), Kyoto Protocol, environmental considerations (?) • increasing correlation of international oil and sugar prices (Brazil) • increasing interdependence with other crops: corn (HFCS in the US in 1980s), soy, palm oil, cereals, etc.

  13. Some lines of work • Networking: stress interregional contacts • EU/ACP: depth of IUF affiliation: EU unions + 12/13 unions in ACP sugar exporting countries • India, Brazil • Women: encourage their participation in unions • 5-30% of total labour force (e.g. Latin America, Caribbean, Africa) • seen from the categories of workers: the unskilled jobs are usually taken by women workers: agriculture (planting, weeding, fertilizer application); service (cleaning); administration (secretarial jobs) • Decent job framework as benchmark for national development in context of trade negotiations (EU/ACP Sugar Action Plans) • Social aspects: pension plans for agricultural workers in cane • Child Labour • Caribbean campaign ratification of ILO C-184: 2006 regional conference, Guyana, Jamaica • OSH, PPE, drinking water.

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