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24 October, 2002The IMF supports activities of its affiliates in recruiting non-manual workers.
GENEVA: Organising the unorganised is one of the top priorities of the IMF Action Programme 2002-2005. With non-manual occupations in the metal industry constantly on the increase, even out-numbering production workers in some countries, the IMF held a seminar recently focusing on the importance of recruiting these workers.
Discussions at the seminar underlined the fact that while the status of manual and non-manual workers is drawing closer, differences between the two categories exist in terms of recruitment, and even within the second category a distinction has to be drawn between professional/technical workers and those employed in administration jobs. The non-manual workers are more likely to react to an individualistic approach rather than collectivist, thus trade union programmes need also to target individual needs, and one notion which is likely to take on increasing importance is that of services provided by the trade unions.
Also emphasised in the seminar was the need for trade unions to have a focused, targeted message on issues critical to non-manual workers, such as the organisation of working time, overtime, stress, life-long learning, qualifications, career development and pensions. An important mechanism to be used as an information and recruiting tool is the Internet.
A full written report on the IMF Seminar on Organisng Non-Manual Workers is being produced.
Discussions at the seminar underlined the fact that while the status of manual and non-manual workers is drawing closer, differences between the two categories exist in terms of recruitment, and even within the second category a distinction has to be drawn between professional/technical workers and those employed in administration jobs. The non-manual workers are more likely to react to an individualistic approach rather than collectivist, thus trade union programmes need also to target individual needs, and one notion which is likely to take on increasing importance is that of services provided by the trade unions.
Also emphasised in the seminar was the need for trade unions to have a focused, targeted message on issues critical to non-manual workers, such as the organisation of working time, overtime, stress, life-long learning, qualifications, career development and pensions. An important mechanism to be used as an information and recruiting tool is the Internet.
A full written report on the IMF Seminar on Organisng Non-Manual Workers is being produced.