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19 June, 2000IMF general secretary expresses concern to the Executive over the situation of African workers and on worldwide anti-trade union behaviour.
BIRMINGHAM: Marcello Malentacchi, general secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation, focussed extensively on the situation on the African continent when reporting today, June 20, to the IMF's Executive Committee, which is meeting in Birmingham, UK.
What with war, genocide and disease without precedent in any other part of the world, and an economy in retreat in real economic terms in the latter part of the 20th century, Africa is depending more than ever on foreign aid. Malentacchi said that IMF unions in Africa have a particularly heavy burden to bear, which should be kept in mind when considering future IMF programmes. "It is an issue worthy of reflection when we focus on the debate on trade and sustainable growth and development at the Central Committee."
The IMF general secretary asked if there could be sustainable growth and development without the trade unions. More than 93 per cent of the growth in new jobs in Africa in the 1990s was in the informal sector, where workers do not have any kind of collective representation.
Also in his remarks to the Executive, Malentacchi referred to the recently published global report of the International Labour Organisation on workers' rights entitled "Your Voice at Work." The publication, part of the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work adopted in June 1998, monitors the observance by its member states of ILO conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining and lists those countries in violation. The report states that intimidation, threats and even murder are still the fate of many workers who attempt to organise in a number of countries throughout the world.
One revealing example of anti-trade union behaviour dealt with the impact of globalisation. The report notes that "over the past 30 years, vastly increased financial flows, the integration of markets and the liberalisation of trade have served to intensify competition between and within countries. Long-established practices and deeply felt values are being tested against the criteria of survival in a fiercely competitive global market, and it is feared that these developments will place downward pressure on freedom of association and collective bargaining rights."
Following today's Executive Committee meeting of the international metal trade union will be the meeting of its Central Committee on June 21-22.
What with war, genocide and disease without precedent in any other part of the world, and an economy in retreat in real economic terms in the latter part of the 20th century, Africa is depending more than ever on foreign aid. Malentacchi said that IMF unions in Africa have a particularly heavy burden to bear, which should be kept in mind when considering future IMF programmes. "It is an issue worthy of reflection when we focus on the debate on trade and sustainable growth and development at the Central Committee."
The IMF general secretary asked if there could be sustainable growth and development without the trade unions. More than 93 per cent of the growth in new jobs in Africa in the 1990s was in the informal sector, where workers do not have any kind of collective representation.
Also in his remarks to the Executive, Malentacchi referred to the recently published global report of the International Labour Organisation on workers' rights entitled "Your Voice at Work." The publication, part of the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work adopted in June 1998, monitors the observance by its member states of ILO conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining and lists those countries in violation. The report states that intimidation, threats and even murder are still the fate of many workers who attempt to organise in a number of countries throughout the world.
One revealing example of anti-trade union behaviour dealt with the impact of globalisation. The report notes that "over the past 30 years, vastly increased financial flows, the integration of markets and the liberalisation of trade have served to intensify competition between and within countries. Long-established practices and deeply felt values are being tested against the criteria of survival in a fiercely competitive global market, and it is feared that these developments will place downward pressure on freedom of association and collective bargaining rights."
Following today's Executive Committee meeting of the international metal trade union will be the meeting of its Central Committee on June 21-22.