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Globalisation, Migration and Trade Union Movement: Issues and Responses

Globalisation, Migration and Trade Union Movement: Issues and Responses. Decent Work for All ASIAN DECENT WORK DECADE 2006-2015. Elsa Ramos-Carbone ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

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Globalisation, Migration and Trade Union Movement: Issues and Responses

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  1. Globalisation, Migration and Trade Union Movement: Issues and Responses Decent Work for All ASIAN DECENT WORK DECADE 2006-2015 Elsa Ramos-Carbone ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

  2. Globalisation, Migration and Trade Union Movement: Issues and Responses • Part 3: Trade union action

  3. Migration: a trade union priority • Migration has always been a priority for the trade union movement, not only because it is mandated to promote and defend the rights of all workers, but also because it owes much of its strength to migrant workers. • Indeed, trade unions many parts of the world, including the United States, were founded by migrant workers

  4. Migrant Workers: Trade Union Concerns • Workers’ rights • Equal opportunity and treatment • Integration - No to racism & xenophobia • Government policies • Recruitment • Union membership • Gender dimension 8/10/2014

  5. Migrant Workers: Trade Union Concerns (contd.) • Health and safety • Social security • Role of Trade Unions • Role of ILO • Countries of origin • Migrant receiving countries • Migration policies and process 8/10/2014

  6. Migrant workers: centre of trade union strategies • Migrant workers are not passive. By definition, they are amongst the most enterprising and determined people –to travel and work in a different country requires some boldness and will power.. • Migrant workers must therefore be at the centre of trade union strategies about migrant labour. • Trade unions must work to protect migrant workers through initiatives in both origin and destination countries. The principles of decent work and a rights-based approach should inform all organizing, advocacy and campaigning activity.

  7. Role of trade unions Countries of Origin • Setting up special cells/departments • Maintaining database • Welfare fund • Promote education • Encourage regular flow of remittance • Campaign for access to national labour legislations • Liaison with government • Organise training programmes before departure 8/10/2014

  8. Role of trade unions Countries of Origin • Campaign for adoption and application of model contracts • Representing migrant labour at all levels • Assisting returnee migrants • Building coalition and alliances with other groups • Forging partnerships with unions in receiving countries 8/10/2014

  9. Role of Trade Unions Receiving countries • Arranging reception of new entrants, facilitate unionisation and integration • Training and education • Ensure desirable living conditions • Educate national workers on contribution of migrant workers • UNIONISE THEM • Provide migrants with a voice, representation and legal services • Maintain close liaison with government • Develop network with other organisations 8/10/2014

  10. Role of trade unions Receiving countries (contd) • Promote ratification of ILO Conventions • Promote social harmony and coexistence • Represent migrant workers on all relevant platform • Ensure equality of treatment and avoidance of discrimination • Access to courts • Access to other jobs & vocational training • Freedom of movement 8/10/2014

  11. Trade union action to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers take many forms: • Giving priority to the issue: as Special Action Programmes; campaign focus, etc.: Canada, Belgium, Nepal, Hongkong, Africa, PSI, UNI, BWI, ITF • Adopting policies: e.g. Congress Resolution and Action Plans, Charter for Migrant Workers: South Africa, Europe, Tunisia • Campaigning for ratification of ILO conventions providing for equal treatment – jobs, wages, social security, union rights (C.97 & C.143): Italy, Ireland, Malaysia • Documenting and disseminating best practices as well as stories of migrant workers: Singapore, Europe, Nepal 8/10/2014

  12. Trade Union actions (contd) • Lobbying, also with like-minded organisations, government for protection and promotion of migrant workers: Spain, Thailand, Italy, India, Malaysia, Australia, Ireland • Monitoring and reporting human trafficking: Europe, Burma, Jordan • Raising public awareness (Int’l. Migrants’ Day celebrations, 18th December; marches, sit-ins, leaflets, press conferences and releases, radio and TV programmes, etc: USA, Thailand, Switzerland, Philippines, Europe 8/10/2014

  13. A migrant worker’s place is in the Union • Organising migrant workers: Australia, Singapore, China (internal); Europe, USA, Hongkong, Korea, Argentina, Greece, Mexico, Mauritius • Building partnerships: Malaysia/Indonesia; Nepal/Korea; Mauritania/Senegal; France/Maghreb countries, Bahrain/Philippines; Lao PDR/Thailand, Estonia/Finland, Germany/Turkey, UK/Portugal, Spain/Morocco, Dominican Rep./Costa Rica • Holding regular Conferences: Canada, UK • Conducting awareness-raising training and education programmes on migration issues: Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Nepal

  14. A migrant worker’s place is in the Union (contd.) • Adopting positive action measures to integrate migrants into trade unions: *Setting up special structures for migrant workers (committees, departments/desks): Hongkong, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, Europe * reserved seats on decision-making bodies: Europe * Amending trade union statutes - Producing information and training materials in languages of migrant workers: Australia, Europe, Canada 8/10/2014

  15. A migrant worker’s place is in the Union (contd.) • Running language courses for migrants: Ireland, Belgium • Running service and information centres, help desks, legal clinics: Malaysia, Europe, China, Burma • Establishing offices in countries of origin to inform migrants about workers’ rights and trade unions: France • Including special clauses for migrant workers in collective bargaining: Italy, Australia, Germany

  16. Four pillars of trade union strategy • Promoting a rational migration policy; • Creating alliances with trade unions in other countries; • Educating and informing union members, especially active members; • Reaching out to migrant workers: getting them to know and join trade unions

  17. KEY TASKS for Trade Unions • Organizing, collective bargaining and the protection and promotion of rights are the three key tasks for unions – exactly the same principles apply to migrant workers.

  18. Thank you very much! SOLIDARITY FOREVER!

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