IMF signs IFA with Brunel

GLOBAL: The International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) have signed an international framework agreement (IFA) with Brunel, a Netherlands-based international recruitment and service provider specialised in deploying skilled workers in the fields of engineering, ICT, legal, finance and insurance and banking. By signing the agreement, Brunel formalised its commitment to ensuring fundamental human rights by working with labour and the IMF. The agreement, which initially applies to Brunel's operations which fall within the scope of the IMF, includes specific reference to the core labour Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the right to equal pay, no forced or child labour and no discrimination. The IFA provides for abstention from anti-union discrimination and commits on working against corruption. Brunel also commits to equal opportunity recruitment practices, continuous skills development and to ensuring that remuneration is better than, or at least equal to, conditions set forth in national legislation and collective bargaining agreements. Brunel also expects suppliers and subcontractors to adhere to the ILO conventions, with non-compliance resulting in sanctions, including withdrawal from future contracts. The agreement came in response to the Howard Government's use of temporary migrant labour to undercut wages and conditions in Australia. "Under the Howard Government, temporary migrant labour has been terribly exploited through large agency fees, excessive costs for poor quality housing, dismissal when workers become injured, threat of deportation if they join the union and poor wages and conditions," explains AMWU president Julius Roe. "While strongly supporting immigration on the basis that migrant workers have full citizenship and other rights, the AMWU has sought to expose the plight of these migrant workers and tried to reach collective agreements with companies that seek to use temporary migrant workers," he said. "The agreement with Brunel ensures that temporary migrant workers are only used where absolutely necessary and that they receive training, equal wages and conditions and union and collective agreement protection. Given the international nature of employment in this sector, an international agreement with the support of the IMF was essential," he said. A copy of the agreement is published on the IMF website.