No. 100/1 April 2000
WFIW World Congress
TopDuring its five-yearly congress, assembled in Doorn, Holland, from 6 to 9 March, the World Federation of Industry Workers (WFIW, affiliated to the WCL) passed a few resolutions. In these resolutions it stresses the need to agree on guidelines for companies operating on an international scale, in which they recognise their social responsibility. The WFIW wants to agree with multinationals on guidelines that would then apply to all branch companies, so including the ones in third world countries. In the opinion of the WFIW the guidelines must at least enforce respect for the five basic workers' rights (ban on child labour, on forced labour and on discrimination at the workplace, trade union freedom and freedom of collective bargaining). Moreover, it must refer to the right to decent wages, to safe and healthy working circumstances and to a sound health and disability insurance.
In a second resolution the WFIW wants to present to the authorities and employers a privatisation code to guarantee the quality of privatisation and to protect the workers' interests in such situations. The code still has to be drawn up and it has to contain directives on themes like employment, working hours, wages, overtime work, health care, vocational training, contracts, training, participation, social plan and access to financial documents. Furthermore, the WFIW affiliates from the West will support more intensively the development of the protection of individual interests by the affiliates from the third world. In those countries, too, development of a good social dialogue and good participation structures through education and training is indispensable for achieving the aforementioned goals.
TopOn 7-10 March 2000, the WCL conducted a mission to the multilateral credit
establishments Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and World Bank. WCL general secretary Willy Thys, WCL vice-president
Luc Cortebeeck, Bretton Woods institutions expert Ronald Janssen, confederal
secretary Eduardo Estevez and head of the WCL's Washington-based Liaison Office
Paul Tennassee accompanied a sizeable CLAT delegation led by Julio Roberto Gomez
(Colombia).
Prior to the mission, on 21-26 February, a preparatory seminar had been
conducted at the Latin American Workers' University (UTAL). The participants
drew up a document which contains proposals and analyses for the attention of
the international financial institutions. In this document entitled
"Considerations on the socio-economic situation in Latin America and the
impact of the financial policy", the accent is on the effects of the
structural adjustment programmes, particularly for the workers; furthermore, the
CLAT put forward proposals in connection with a new financial architecture, the
regulation of short-term capital flows, the struggle against poverty,
privatisation, the development of social protection networks, the positive
discrimination principle in favour of the developing countries, etc. These
proposals were tabled during the mission. The document (in Spanish) is on
request available at the WCL secretariat.
The representatives of each participating country could discuss the specific
problems in the respective countries with IDB chairman Mr Enrique Iglesias. The
meeting enabled the CLAT to formulate its proposals and to insist on an exchange
of information. It also thinks that such meetings should take place more often.
During the meeting with assistant IMF director Mr Eduardo Animat, the CLAT
raised the most crucial problems facing Latin America and the Caribbean. It
insisted on a less stiff dialogue on the part of the Fund, so that this
organisation gathers its information through the governments only.
The mission was concluded with a meeting with a number of highly placed World
Bank officials in charge of Latin America and the Caribbean.
TopWCL general secretary Willy Thys has just returned from a mission to Asia.
On 12-13 March, he was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for contacts with the MKTR, a
45,000 strong organisation of public service workers. The teaching staff are
affiliated to the WCT, and the electronics workers to the WFIW. Willy Thys noted
that Malaysia is one of the most industrialised countries and that the industry
sectors are currently facing a wave of privatisation. The country has a lot of
migrant workers, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia. Willy Thys had a
meeting with Indonesian migrant workers in the presence of SBSI chairman Mukhtar
Pakpahan. The MKTR and the SBSI intend to co-operate to improve the situation of
the migrants, and this intention could result in a joint seminar on this subject
in Kuala Lumpur.
On 14-16 March, Willy Thys visited the BATU on the occasion of the start of the
celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the FFW, next June. Many contacts were
established during the visit. With Ramon Jabar he discussed the trade union
situation in the country, where the Asian crisis has led to the industrial
structure being slimmed down somewhat. With trade action leaders Willy Thys
discussed the fact of stepping up the sectoral and women's action in Asia (the
free trade zones and migrant women issues). In conclusion, Willy Thys had a
meeting with FFW and BATU president Johny Tan on the overall trade union
situation in Asia.
TopWCL Confederal secretary Toolsyraj Benydin and DOAWTU deputy secretary-general Adrien Akouete conducted a mission to Madagascar for two working sessions with the organisations SEKRIMA and USAM, both affiliated to the WCL. They also met the general secretary at the Ministry of Labour. The WCL delegation insisted on Madagascar raising the number of trade union members in the workers' group at the annual ILO Conference, taking into account the most representative union criterion. It also insisted on a trade union training policy at all levels. The WCL's visit coincided with a civil servants' strike. The public servants have been on strike since 13 March to demand a salary increase up to at least 900 FF (around 135 US$). In this respect it is important to mention that the legally guaranteed minimum wage was recently raised from 139.75 FMG (Malagasy francs, equivalent to French francs) (around 21 US$) to 160,15 FMG (around 24 US$). The situation is tense. There is no trust anymore between the social partners and the Ministry of Labour. Moreover, the tripartite dialogue has been suspended.
TopTopOn 13 March, Bernard Matthey, secretary of the Syndicat interprofessionnel des Travailleuses et Travailleurs (SIT - Switzerland) and former general secretary of this organisation, was killed in an accident when returning home from his work. During the funeral Béatrice Fauchère, WCL representative in Geneva, paid the WCL's last respects. She stressed the great importance of Bernard Matthey for the WCL when the SIT was still a member. "The World Confederation of Labour", she said, "exists thanks to the action of committed activists and leaders who co-operate in all continents on the development of a world in which economic development benefits the entire population and social justice and trade union freedom are recognised and applied. Bernard Matthey was one such activist and leader." Béatrice Fauchère reminded of the fact that Bernard Matthey "took a very active part in several WCL committees, publishing studies and developing viewpoints on themes that remain very topical (...). For several years, further, he had represented the WCL at the UNCTAD, a UN organisation from which the developing countries and the WCL had expected a lot." On behalf of the WCL, Béatrice expressed her sympathy to the wife and children of Bernard Matthey and to the activists of the SIT.
Top03-07/04 Participation of Willy Thys to the ICFTU Congress, Durban (South
Africa)
04-08/04 FIOST World Board, Paris (France)
06-08/04 WCl Executive Committee, Bucharest (Roumania)
07-08/04 CLAC Congress, Vancouver (Canada)
10/04 WFCW Board , Vienna (Austria)
12/04 CMAPExtraordinary Session, Brussels (Belgium)
13/04 Conference on the future of EU Development Cooperation, Brussels (Belgium)
14-16/04 Congress CNT/Paraguay, Asunción (Paraguay)
15/04 Building and Wood Congress CNV (Netherlands)
24/04-01/05 SBSI Congress (Indonesia)
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