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2 October, 2008
On the Global Labour Movement’s Day of Action for Decent work, 7 October 2008, ICEM is intensifying its campaign aimed at improving the working conditions of temporary, short-term contract workers, and staff employed through labour agencies.
Two new major tools to assist unions around the world in their efforts to fight precarious work are launched: a new website and an in-depth guide on contract and agency labour (CAL) world-wide. Both are in support of the ICEM’s call to its affiliates to concentrate on organising CAL workers.
Action on these “new forms of employment” is increasingly needed, since research reveals that the phenomenon of contract and agency workers - employed through subcontracting companies, or as individual subcontractors themselves, or working on temporary contracts, often through agencies - is growing around the world.
A new site (http://cal.icem.org) on contract and agency labour, which will soon also become multi-lingual, is launched by the ICEM today. Aiming to become a first port of call for all ICEM affiliated trade unions, and their members, as well as other trade unionists searching for practical and useful information, the site will continuously provide campaign materials, brochures and guidelines, best practice examples, case studies, and more.
Prominently featured on the site is the new “ICEM Guide on Contract and Agency Labour”. Describing numerous CAL situations from around the world – both in developing and developed countries – the guide contains both good and bad stories, the latter outlining some of the horrendous working conditions that workers in precarious employment find themselves in.
The guide also provides an overview of some of the recent changes on this issue in national and international labour laws and standards. It further deals with combating this phenomenon at company level. Useful and often encouraging examples from different parts of the world are provided throughout the guide, as well as various strategy options.
Also on the new ICEM CAL site is the “Short Guide for Negotiators on How to Deal with Contracting Out, Outsourcing and/or Agency Labour,” an instrument to assist trade unionists at the plant level. It provides practical suggestions on what to do when (or before) the issue comes up. This short guide is also available in French, Spanish, Russian and Japanese.
“We join with other Global Union Federations and the International Trade Union Confederation in making this Global Day of Action a turning point for workers victimised by the forces of globalisation,” said ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda. “And for the ICEM, that means more emphasis on bringing workplace rights and protections to contract and agency workers.”