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11 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 88/2001
Unions representing the world's diamond, gem, ornament and jewellery production workers have called for a dialogue with employers in their sectors. Talks should cover the full range of issues affecting workers in the industry, the unions said, including health, safety and environment, child labour and employment standards.
The call came at the end of a world conference of unions in the industry, held in Bangkok on 23-25 November by the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
Global agreements should be signed between the ICEM and major companies in the industry, the conference said - or between the ICEM and employers in the sector as a whole. The ICEM should approach international industry associations on this.
At the same time, global networks of ICEM unions should be established in each company or across the industry. The ICEM already has several global agreements and union networks in other industrial sectors.
The use of child labour in the diamond, gem, ornament and jewellery sectors must be ended, the union leaders emphasised in Bangkok. In particular, ICEM-affiliated unions will press all governments to ratify and implement the relevant Conventions of the UN's International Labour Organisation (Conventions 182 and 138).
Last Friday, the conference unanimously endorsed union/employer/government proposals for tackling the major issues facing the industry - notably the question of child labour. Details in ICEM UPDATE 87/2001.
The conference elected Gijs Honing, of the ICEM-affiliated Dutch union FNV Bondgenoten, as the chair of the ICEM's diamond, gem, ornament and jewellery production section.
An ICEM world conference of chemical industry unions is currently under way, also in Bangkok, and continues until tomorrow.
The call came at the end of a world conference of unions in the industry, held in Bangkok on 23-25 November by the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
Global agreements should be signed between the ICEM and major companies in the industry, the conference said - or between the ICEM and employers in the sector as a whole. The ICEM should approach international industry associations on this.
At the same time, global networks of ICEM unions should be established in each company or across the industry. The ICEM already has several global agreements and union networks in other industrial sectors.
The use of child labour in the diamond, gem, ornament and jewellery sectors must be ended, the union leaders emphasised in Bangkok. In particular, ICEM-affiliated unions will press all governments to ratify and implement the relevant Conventions of the UN's International Labour Organisation (Conventions 182 and 138).
Last Friday, the conference unanimously endorsed union/employer/government proposals for tackling the major issues facing the industry - notably the question of child labour. Details in ICEM UPDATE 87/2001.
The conference elected Gijs Honing, of the ICEM-affiliated Dutch union FNV Bondgenoten, as the chair of the ICEM's diamond, gem, ornament and jewellery production section.
An ICEM world conference of chemical industry unions is currently under way, also in Bangkok, and continues until tomorrow.