The Union of Artesco Workers (SUTRART) strongly condemns the Peruvian subsidiary of the German company STAEDTLER for failing to comply with key obligations under the current collective bargaining agreement. This includes failure to hold quarterly meetings between management and union representatives, despite repeated formal requests to address urgent issues related to working conditions and occupational health and safety. Particularly alarming is the current organisation of production into only two 12-hour shifts, a system that poses serious risks to workers' health and safety.

The union, affiliated with the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), also raises serious concerns about allegations of harassment by supervisors and denounces the company’s failure to intervene effectively. Furthermore, the company continues to lack transparency in decisions that directly affect the workforce. For example, the advance payment of profit sharing was unilaterally set and communicated externally with a 5 percent reduction, without official communication to the union or the workforce as a whole. Another major problem is the significant increase in temporary workers and employees from subcontractors, whose rights and protections are even more precarious.

The union expresses deep concern about practices that undermine freedom of association. These include, among other actions, the transfer of the former General Secretary of the Union to an external warehouse without a defined job function, a measure widely perceived as retaliatory. Constant surveillance, particularly targeting unionized colleagues, constitutes a serious violation of workers’ rights. The union views these developments as part of a broader pattern of non-compliance with the Core Labor Standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO), especially with regard to freedom of association, protection against anti-union discrimination, and the promotion of genuine social dialogue. As a STAEDTLER subsidiary, the company is also bound by the obligations of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and must ensure respect for human and labour rights throughout its operations.

In light of this situation, the union calls for the immediate resumption of structured and good-faith social dialogue meetings, full compliance with the collective bargaining agreement, and constructive labor relations.

In 2024, STAEDTLER terminated the International Framework Agreement with BWI and IG Metall, which had actively supported compliance with and monitoring of international labour standards since 2006. BWI and IG Metall affirm that they will closely monitor developments in Peru and continue to stand firmly alongside their affiliate in defending workers’ rights. This will include engagement with the company at an international level and, if necessary, the activation of relevant and global mechanisms to ensure full respect for labour rights and freedom of association.