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(8/9/2010)

Labor groups urge passage of bills banning asbestos

Manila, Philippines (8 September 2010) – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) and the Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) urged the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the bills banning asbestos to minimize hazards to health and safety of workers, their families and the general public. TUCP, ALU and BWI made the call in letters sent Monday to the Senate Committees on Trade and Commerce, Health and Demography, and Finance...

(6/9/2010)

Panama: Global Unions Mission expresses unconditional support and solidarity with the Trade Union and civil society movement

The BWI organised the Global Unions Mission, with a delegation of Trade Union leaders from several countries visiting the Republic of Panamá, on a three day Mission 24 to 26 August 2010 to verify the Trade Union rights situation in Panamá. The mission took place after the protests and wave of government repression, which affected the country during July. This was as a result of the government’s introduction of the anti-union law 30 and law 14 restricting civil society demonstrations. Rejected...

(2/9/2010)

KC GECIN takes stubborn stand abusing Freedom of Association

KC GECIN Enterprise is continuously defying the right of Freedom of Association and steps up challenging the industrial relation mechanism of Cambodia. The union members who belong to Building and Wood Workers Federation of Cambodia- BWTUC, an affiliate of BWI, has launched a strike last month to protest the KC GECIN management’s unfair labour practice by illegally dismissing the employment contract of workers who attended a legitimate labour seminar and later on the leaders and activists of...

(1/9/2010)

Solidarity with the mine workers of Chile

"BWI is very concerned about the situation of the 33 miners, who were buried 700 meters under the ground in a copper and gold mine" states Carlos Salguero, the regional representative for BWI Latin America and Caribbean. Salguero adds: "We sympathize with the miners and fully support the solidarity campaign launched by IMF and ICEM." The tragedy occurred on 6 August 2010 in a mine (Compania Minera San Esteban First) in northern Chile. Efforts are underway to save the workers’ lives:...

(30/8/2010)

Ukrainian trade unions do not accept IMF pressure on workers rights

According to latest news received from BWI affiliate in Ukraine, CBMIWUU, Ukrainian trade unionists blocked IMF Kiev office on 17 August 2010 to highlight unacceptable terms of agreement between the international financial institution and Ukrainian Government. “Five years increasing of retirement age for women, drastic increasing of communal facilities cost (50% immediately and 400% in three years) as well as restriction for any salary growth in public sector will make Ukraine an epicenter...

(28/8/2010)

Africa and Middle East Women Committee Meeting in Tunisia : Advocacy and lobbying should become a priority

Africa and Middle East Women’s Committee has held a successful meeting on Saturday, 7th August at the Ramada Plaza hotel in Tunis, Tunisia under the theme: "Make decent and sustainable work a reality for working women ". The meeting was opened by the president of AFRECO Piet Matosa assisted by the BWI International Women Committee chairperson Edna Opoku Boakye and the AFRECO vice president Baba el Madane Toure. "We are pround of our women leadership in Africa and the Middle East and we...

(26/8/2010)

CBMIWUU Launches ECMIN-Ukraine Web-site for migrant workers

According to the Construction and Building Materials Industry Workers’ Union of Ukraine (CBMIWUU), an affiliate of BWI, there is approximately 1 million Ukrainian migrant workers working in the European Union. "Our priority is to negotiate and advocate our government to create sustainable, safe, and decent jobs here in the Ukraine so that our workers do not have to go abroad to provide livelihood for their families,” stated Vasyl Andreyev, President of the CBMIWUU. He continued, “But in...

(26/8/2010)

Namibia: Conference on challenges facing the workers in the Construction Industry

Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU), the BWI affiliate in Namibia held a conference on 23rd to 24th August 2010 under the theme “challenges facing the workers in the Namibian Construction Industry”. The conference was official opened by MANWU President Comrade Jacobus Shirunga, key notes speaker and the deputy minister of labour Mr. Alpheus Muheua; and brought all the stakeholders in the construction industry namely, Employers, Trade Unions, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),...

(24/8/2010)

Development of a BWI Global Migration Programme

The BWI is developing a Global Migration Programme. Under the guidance of the Adhoc Working Group on Migration, the programme will be coordinated and implemented through the headquarters in Geneva. To make this global programme possible, FNV, LOTCO, SASK, ACILS and affiliates have committed support. Jin Sook Lee joined the Geneva Team as the Global Campaign Director whose primary responsibility is the coordination and implementation of the Global Migration Programme. Since 2003, Jin...

(23/8/2010)

Zambia: NUBEGW trains safety representatives and inspects workplaces in Kitwe and Ndola

BWI affiliate in Zambia-Kitwe inspected four companies in Ndola and Kitwe namely BASONITE Lda., THOR Developments, Kalulushi Clay Bricks and Pouwells Construction to verify the level of occupational health and safety. The first two companies inspected were in wood and forestry while the other two are in construction sectors. A total of twenty safety representatives from the four companies were trained on health and safety issues in Kitwe. The participants were equipped with knowledge on ILO...

(23/8/2010)

Solidarity Campaign Cambodia: ACT NOW! Workers at KC GECIN Enterprise in Cambodia are sacked

The Building and Wood Workers Trade Union of Cambodia (BWTUC) has been organizing construction and wood workers in various construction projects, cement manufacturing, brick factories and construction companies. Recently, it has been organizing workers at KC GECIN Enterprise in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. KC GECIN Enterprises, which is a local construction company owned by Cambodian national, Mr. Kim Chhean, has two main construction producing sites, employing over 160 workers. On August...

(19/8/2010)

Southeast Asia Conference on Ban Asbestos Campaign

BWI has been known as one of the key players in the global ban asbestos campaign with strong presence at the regional level. To sharpen and fine tune the ongoing campaign strategy at the sub regional level, BWI affiliates in Southeast Asia just concluded a two-day conference on Ban Asbestos Campaign held in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 2 to 4, 2010. Brother Mudofir, President of FKUI, the host union, opened the conference. This was followed by an opening speech from Brother Apolinar...

(19/8/2010)

August 2010 –August 2011: Celebrate the International Year of Youth (IYY)

On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/64/134 proclaiming the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first International Youth Year in 1985 on the theme Participation, Development and Peace. The aim of this International Year of Youth is to harness the energy,...

(18/8/2010)

KFCITU Raises Safety Record of Hyundai Development Company in South Korea

On July 27, 2010 three construction workers fell 64 floors to their death on the construction of an apartment high rise in Haeundai, an expensive, trendy beach coast in Busan, a southern city in South Korea. The apartment complex was a project of Hyundai Development Company (HDC), founded in 1976 is one of South Korea’s leading developer in housing, civil works projects, and urban development. According to the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions (KFCITU), an affiliate of...

(16/8/2010)

South Asia: Realising 10 for 2010

The South Asia region witnessed a series of meetings hosted at Bhubaneswar – the capital city of Orissa State – located at the eastern coast of India. The meeting(s) (27-31 July 2010) were attended by senior leadership from the BWI affiliated unions from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and India. The Honourable Chief Minister of the Orissa State, Mr Naveen Patnaik sent a special message for the meeting(s); and the Labour Minister of the State Mr Puspendra Singh Deo participated in the inaugural...

(16/8/2010)

BWI Partner in Thailand Raises Concerns About Migrant Workers in Thailand

According to BWI’s partner in Thailand, the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) the Royal Thai Government (RTG) has increased its crackdown on close to 300,000 migrant workers who had missed the February deadline of the National Verification program. The National Verification (NV) program is an attempt by the Thai government to address the constant flow of what it declares “illegal” migration into Thailand, specifically from the Thailand-Burma border. Under the NV program,...

(10/8/2010)

Construction Workers Injured in Akkaba - Jordan

The Jordanian city of Akkaba was taken by panic and shock following an anonymous missile attack believed to have originated from the desert of Sinaa', which landed facing the Akkaba Intercontinental Hotel. Four workers were injuredby the attack, in addition to the death of one. The BWI affiliates in Africa and Middle East condemned the terroristic attack which ended the life of an innocent worker while injuring others. The BWI General Secretary, Ambet Yuson, expressed his utter...

(10/8/2010)

BWI Affiliate in Hong Kong Launches the Green Glass Green Pilot Project

BWI Affiliate in Hong Kong Launches the Green Glass Green Pilot Project In June of this year, the Hong Kong Dumper Truck Driver Association (HKDTDA), one of BWI’s new affiliates in Hong Kong launched an innovative pilot project called Green Glass Green. The objective of the project is to collect used wine and beer glass bottles from the bars and pubs of Wan Chai, Hong Kong from designated glass disposal areas three times a week and delivered to an eco-brick plant to be used in the...

(10/8/2010)

Hong Kong Unions Call for Extra Break Time on Scorching Summer Days to Save Lives

According to Hong Kong construction unions, the hot, humid summer months of Hong Kong can be deadly for construction workers as many suffer from heatstroke and other related diseases. In the past two months two workers have already died due to heat stroke. On July 19th a Bar Bender fell into a coma while working at a construction site operated by Hung Hom. He was reported dead on arrival at the hospital. On that particular day, the heat was scorching with temperatures soaring as high as...

(10/8/2010)

Hong Kong Unions Succeed in Getting Back Wages for Young Temporary Workers

It seemed like a perfect summer job for some twenty-something students. For two months, they were to be employed as temporary delivery workers for $550 HKD ($70 USD) a day at a construction project in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong operated by Vaford Contracting Company Limited. The company was hired by the Suen family who owns Simatelex Manufactory Company Limited to renovate and transform the Pun Tak Building into a serviced apartment block. Unfortunately for the young workers, the...