No. 98/1 March 2000
BATU-SAARC sub-regional evaluation seminar
TopThe Seminar was held from 6 to 9 February in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to evaluate the performance of the BATU Affiliates, CFTUI (India), APTUC (Pakistan), BSSF (Bangladesh ) and NWC (Sri Lanka) in implementing the three programmes, namely, Regional training, Complementary Social Undertakings and Institutional Development, sponsored by the WSM in Brussels, Belgium. NWC welcomed the delegates to the Seminar and hosted the evaluation of the affiliates' achievements within the three programmes under the sponsorship of World Solidarity Movement. NWC acknowledged the presence at the seminar of the WSM Project Officer/Asia, Stijn Sintubin, Pol Buekenhout of the CSC-ACV International Department and also Estenio Tunac, Co-ordinator of the BATU ASEAN Sub Region . There was the presentation of the aims and objectives of the BATU-SAARC five-year programme 1998-2002, as well as the subject of evaluation and its applicability.
Presentations were made by the National Affiliates on their aims, development and impact of the 1999 programmes. Mr K. Wijratnam, former Senior Deputy Commissioner of labour, Sri Lanka was the External Evaluator who made an incisive and interesting presentation on project realisation and impact for the year 1999 of the WSM programmes. Discussion took place on the need for a strategic plan within the region, to strengthen the unions for the betterment of the workers. It has been noted that evaluation should not only be a yardstick for quantitative measurement but also for qualitative measurement. The delegates to the Seminar at the end decided on a BATU SAARC Sub-Regional Structure and the main decisions were to rotate the SAARC Secretariat every four years, the WSM BATU programme to be implemented by the SAARC Co-ordinator and a clear division between political leadership of the SAARC Secretariat and the Co-ordinator. For expansion within the SAARC, the decision was to concentrate on Nepal.
TopThe 8th of March is an excellent to take stock of the progress made on the
way to equality, but also to define new policies in the struggle for social
justice. This year's World Women's Day has a very special meaning for the
demands of the women workers in that it marks the start of the activities
related to the Global March of Women. Throughout the world the women will again
voice their demands and viewpoints in order to eliminate poverty and the acts of
violence against women (see Labor 1/2000).
It is good to point out here that women are victims of de jure and de facto
inequalities in almost all societies and all activity sectors: poverty is
feminising and acts of violence against them are on the rise both in the private
and in the public sector. As a consequence, the situation of women in society,
from the family nucleus to the national and international political structures,
is one of the major challenges in contemporary history; it is also a guarantee
of genuine democracy, for the equality goals plays a prominent part in the
democratic project.
The WCL, alive to this challenge, reaffirms its commitment to stand up for
respect for the human rights of all workers and women workers. As was affirmed
during the 4th World Women's Conference in Beijing, the human rights of women
are an indefeasible, integral and indivisible part of the universal human
rights. This must not be forgotten this year, in which the United Nations will
devote a special session of its General Assembly to the assessment (Beijing +5)
of the progress made with commitment of that summit, this year also, in which
the ILO will adopt the revised Maternity Protection Convention (no 103) and
Recommendation (no 95).
TopPiet Nelissen conducted a mission to Bulgaria on the occasion of the Congress of the confederation PODKREPA, on 8-11 February. He met the president of PROMYANA, the Bulgarian affiliate of the WCL, and leaders of a number of PODKREPA and PROMYANA federations affiliated to the WFIW and the WFBW. Many PODKREPA representatives attended the opening session of the Congress at the Palais de la Culture. President Trenchev held a radical speech on the deplorable social and economic situation of the country; he blamed the government for this situation, yet admitted that it came into power thanks to PODKREPA in particular. President Trenchev accused the government of corruption and reproached it with impotence. Despite the agreements with the government the social dialogue had remained dead letter, he said. Podkrepa responded to the bad government policy with an appeal to create a broad anti-government alliance with the NGOs and other groups in order to change the system.
Piet Nelissen then met leaders of PROMYANA Trade Action. At present, three federations of industry workers are affiliated to the WFIW, and one building workers' federation is affiliated to the WFBW. The meeting in Plovdiv made it possible to gain a clear insight into the practical everyday problems facing the population: very low wages left unpaid for months, corruption in the privatisation process, ever higher unemployment rate, absence of social protection. The situation in the coal industry seems to be irreversible, whereas jobs in the nuclear industry are under threat on account of the safety regulations and the energy policy of the European Union.
TopThe Board meeting of the WFIW miners' section/European Foundation of Christian Miners (EFCM) took place in Saarbrücken, Germany, on 14 February. Besides a number of regular subjects such as the assessment of the General Assembly in December and the preparations for the WFIW World Congress, the Board discussed two additional activities. The Romanian miners proposed conducting jointly with Cartel Alfa a seminar for WFIW affiliates and potential affiliates in Central and Eastern Europe. This seminar would be held in Romania on 19-20 June. Prior to the seminar, there would be a tripartite seminar on the European Union policy, organised by the ECSC and intended for the Romanian authorities, employers and trade unions. The Romanian miners want the seminar to be followed by a trade union forum on the specific problems facing the Romanian coal industry.
TopLate in January, two trade unionists were arrested and warrants were issued for the arrest of other unionists, among whom Adrien Akouete, assistant general secretary of the DOAWTU. For these facts the WCL filed a complaint with the ILO.
Thereupon the arrests and arrest warrants were withdrawn, which means that the Togolese authorities have understood the unlawful nature of these acts, a fact that holds out prospects for the future. The WCL nevertheless decided to maintain its complaint, because the government should know that trade union freedom is a principle not to be infringed on.
TopOn 24-27 January, the WCL and the DOAWTU conducted a regional seminar for English-speaking Africa on the International Labour Standards. The seminar was attended by twenty leaders of English-speaking African affiliates of the WCL. They took stock of the ILO's standard-setting system and particularly of the control systems, so that the trade unions can use them in the protection of the workers' rights. The participants worked out a plan of action to strengthen the WCL's standards network in the English-speaking countries. Norm Department director Claude Akpokavie took part in the seminar and seized the opportunity to visit the WCL affiliates in South Africa and Mauritius. In Mauritius he visited the WCL affiliate NTUC and supported its struggle against the Public Security Act, adopted by the government. This Act holds huge risks of trade union freedom and human rights violations. A meeting with the ministers of Labour and Justice enabled the WCL and the NTUC to defend their position in this matter.
TopOn 28-29 February, the international trade federations of the WCL conducted a
mission to the ILO.
They met the officials of several departments: Workers' Activities Office,
Social Dialogue Sector, Employment Sector, Sectoral Activities Department,
Safety and Health at Work Service, International Labour Standards Department.
These meetings made it possible to present extensively the many activities of
the ILO in fields such as employment, social dialogue and sectoral activities,
economic and social security in the 21st century, protection and health of the
workers. Also the standard-setting action of the ILO and the development of
codes containing social regulations were presented. The delegation of the
international trade federations, for its part, went into aspects of trade action
in relation to the ILO's "The Global Compact" programme, which is
aimed to link social progress to economic growth. The matter of labour standards
and their application was discussed, along with the priorities of the social
dialogue and the idea to create an International Labour Court. The accent was on
the importance of a better participation of the international trade federations
in the ILO's sectoral activities. The delegation was led by WCL vice-president
Jacques Jouret. The meeting proved to be very important and positive. Mr M.
Simón of the Workers' Activities Department and Mrs K. Hagen, executive
director of the Social Dialogue Sector, expressed their will to maintain regular
contacts with the top leaders of the WCL's international trade federations with
a view to a better co-operation on the respective activities of the ILO and the
WCL.
TopOur French affiliate, the CFTC, has informed us of the removal of a further obstacle to the ratification of Convention no 182 (the Ministry of Defence gave the green light). This is a step forward, and the CFTC continues to step up its action to have the Convention ratified as soon as possible.
Top5-10/3 WFIW Seminar and World Congress Doorn (Holland)
6-10/3 Visit IMF-World Bank Latin America Washington (United States)
16-31/3 277th session ILO/GB
19-20/3 European Section Lisbon (Portugal)
20-25/3 CNTC Congress Bangui (Central African Republic)
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