On September 28, 2007 BWI affiliates CSGWU of Hong Kong and TEUPM of Malaysia conducted events as part of the Day of Action approved at the recent BWI Asia-Pacific Regional Committee and part of BWI's work on migrant and cross border work. BWI has migrant workers projects in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Bahrain with participation from affiliates from the Philippines, Nepal, India, and Indonesia.

Hong Kong
The CSGWU conducted a workshop for Nepalese Bar Bender workers who participated in the recent Bar Bender strike for an increase in wages and a guaranteed 8-hour work day. More details here. The workshop explained the contents of the written agreement.

According to Maswa Kajiman, a Nepali Bar Bender worker, the agreement is being honored. Prior to the strike his wage was 680 HKD and after the strike he now receives 730 HKD. His work hours is guaranteed an 8-hour day.

The participation of the Nepali Bar Bender workers was part of the CSGWU overall project in organizing the more than 9,000 (9% of the entire work force in the construction industry) Nepali construction workers. The union hopes to launch a Nepali Construction Workers Union that will affiliate with both the CSGWU and its national center, the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions.

Malaysia
The TEUPM along with other members of the Emergency Taskforce on Stranded Bangladeshi Workers - civil society groups, migrant rights organizations, and trade unions - interviewed over 70 Bangladeshi workers to verify their facts for the purpose of gaining their rightful claims from the PTC Asia Pacific, the employer of more than 500 Bangladeshi migrant workers. At least 100 Bangladeshi workers, who had fled the slavery-like working conditions of the PTC Asia Pacific owned factories went on a hunger strike in front of the Bangladeshi High Commission office in Kuala Lumpur to protest their working conditions, not receiving wages for close to six months and to urge the Bangladeshi High Commission to assist their efforts.

The workers were housed 30 to 50 in small houses until they were “outsourced” to several sub contractors in factories or recycling plants for 15 to 45 days. Each worker was given only 50 MYR for personal items and food - they could only afford one meal per day. Often they were not provided sufficient OHS equipment and exposed to hazardous materials and not paid for the periods of work they had done for the PTC Asia Pacific.

When the workers had sought assistance from the Bangladeshi High Commission, the High Commission called the PTC Asia Pacific management to respond to the workers allegations. The PTC Asia responded by apologizing and promising to treat workers better; however, the company locked up the workers for 20 days without providing them any work. Now the workers refuse to work for PTC Asia and many of them want to return home.

The TEUPM along with UECI and the MTUC have joined the Emergency Task Force that was recently formed to address the thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers who are being exploited by their employers and just left stranded without any jobs or recourse by recruiters and employers upon their arrival in Malaysia.

India
Despite the recent economic growth in India, million of workers remain jobless and migrate abroad seeking job opportunities - a large portion is from the State of Kerala and is exploited on construction sites in the Gulf.

Alarmed by this situation, KKNTC’s leadership from the different districts of Kerala gathered to discuss the exploitative and harsh conditions in which their fellow Keralans work abroad “immediate steps have to be taken to address the concerns of migrant workers and the Government of India has to commit itself to attend to these issues at a Diplomatic and Ministerial Level."

The General Secretary of the KKNTC held a press conference where it proposed a Charter of Demands to be submitted to the Minister of Indian Overseas Affairs “Migrant workers have to be accorded similar job contracts, as applicable to local workers, which includes decent work conditions and more importantly steps have to be taken to safeguard their basic trade union and human rights.”

The proposed charter calls for the following:

The Government should immediately take steps to initiate dialogue with countries employing Indian nationals to ensure dignity of labour and protection of basic human rights.

Ensure sponsors/employers pay salaries as per the contract and workers perform job as outlined in their individual job contract.

Workers are timely disbursed their salaries & additional remuneration is paid for overtime.

Issuance of proper protective equipment at work place, medical surveillance, social security benefits and basic health & safety training to be imparted to all migrant workers.

Ensure that basic trade union rights as governed by ILO Conventions 87 & 98 are honored.

Women workers are treated with dignity and equality.

The KKNTC pledged to organize awareness activities within their membership and work with BWI APRO and BWI affiliates in the receiving countries.

The activities in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and India were part of other actions conducted throughout the region by BWI in cooperation with the Trade Union International of Workers in Building, Wood, Building Materials and Allied Industries (UITBB).