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27 August, 2007
The main points at the ICEM Latin American and Caribbean Regional Conference, held on 27 and 28 June in Salvador, Brazil, were presentations on the different industrial sectors and regional networks, on Contract and Agency Labour, and on women issues.
The BASF South American network was a particular highlight. The network has regular meetings at regional level, and all its costs are borne by BASF. Also, Elena Gutierrez from ICEM affiliate SITRAPEQUIA in Costa Rica reported on the workshop on HIV/AIDS and women workers held in May in Sao Paulo.
Re-elected ICEM Vice President Sergio Novais
from CNQ/CUT Brazil
A new and expanded regional committee was elected which includes all countries and industries, as well as 30% women members. Certain amendments to the regional statutes were also approved. The region welcomed the prospect of new energy, women's and mining projects, as well as the continuation and expansion of the work on networks. Sergio Novais, CNQ/CUT of Brazil was re-elected as regional vice president.
The ICEM regional conference was preceded by the regional Contract and Agency Labour (CAL) conference on 25 and 26 June, also in Salvador, organised with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES). The conference was attended by some 60 representatives from ICEM affiliates in Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil.
The main conclusions of that meeting included that:
• a company's core functions must not be outsourced;
• the number of contract workers should be limited, and the terms of their contracts have to be limited;
• trade unions must be consulted in contracts that affect permanent workers' terms and conditions;
• contract workers should have the same terms and conditions as permanent workers;
• outsourcing must not lead to redundancies of permanent workers;
• contract workers must not finish work started by a permanent worker;
• collective agreements must include mechanisms for trade unions to monitor the use of contract workers;
• international organisations such as ILO, OECD, Global Compact, the Interamerican Court can be called for issues relating to Contract and Agency Labour;
• trade union representation of contract workers in the main company must be guaranteed;
• CAL must be included in networks, global agreements and social dialogue, and
• ICEM should launch a campaign against outsourcing permanent jobs.