19 April, 2010
RadioLabour, the online news radio service of international trade unionism, interviewed ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, last week, on the ICEM Global Campaign on Contract and Agency Labour (CAL).
As companies throughout the world, and in every sector, continue to outsource their workforce in the race to lower costs, the significance of the campaign grows. As directly employed jobs are lost to sub-contracting companies or agencies, workers find themselves with little or no job security, inferior benefits, and with substandard working conditions. This is leading to a two-tier workforce with fewer and fewer directly employed workers, and increasing numbers employed through contracts or agencies.
As Warda stated in the interview with RadioLabour presenter, Marc Bélanger, “In some countries, we must unfortunately say that contract and agency labour has almost become the ‘regular’ employment situation”.
Marc Bélanger
Use the audio player below to listen to part of Manfred Warda’s interview with Marc Bélanger, or click here to find the interview on the RadioLabour website.
RadioLabour reports on events of interest to unionists via "The Solidarity Report", a half hour audiocast of international union news every Sunday morning. Part of Manfred Warda’s interview can be heard on yesterday’s Solidarity Report. Marc Bélanger also presents "RadioLabour 5", a five minute global labour news update, every Friday morning.
RadioLabour is an important instrument in the building of international solidarity amongst unionists, also serving as a model and source of expertise for unionists who want to start a service similar to RadioLabour in their country or for their organization. Contact us if you need advice or assistance in developing a labour-based audiocasting service.
Canadian national, Marc Bélanger, producer and host of RadioLabour, is a labour union educator. He worked for the Workers' Activities Programme of the training centre of the ILO in Turin, Italy, from 2000-2008. He was head of the Programme from 2007-2008. The Programme operates the largest international union education school in the world.