Read this article in:
8 June, 2000The IMF holds its 7th Asian Electrical & Electronics Seminar in Singapore.
GENEVA/SINGAPORE: Leaders from IMF-affiliated Asian trade unions representing workers in the electrical and electronics industry met in Singapore on May 25-26, 2000, to discuss the economic situation, industry perspectives, system of industrial relations, as well as to debate possible trade union answers and strategies. Even though the perspectives for Asian economies and companies are improving since the so-called Asian crisis, the situation of most workers is not. Due to considerable restructuring and mergers/acquisitions, they still face job losses and a decline in wages, benefits and working conditions.
The 100-plus participants in the seminar, therefore, called on the national governments in the region to:
- agree on regulations for international financial markets to control currency speculation;
- fully ratify and implement the ILO Core Labour Conventions, in particular Conventions Nos. 87 (freedom of association) and 98 (right to organise and collective bargaining);
- ensure that trade union rights are not repressed or restricted and social standards not downgraded in order to attract foreign investment.
The participants also agreed to:
- build up, with IMF assistance, a network of trade union representatives within transnational companies;
- refuse cutbacks in wages and social benefits;
- build up trade union solidarity and assist each other in organising the unorganised, in building trade union structures and to develop and agree common strategies to protect the rights of trade unions and workers;
- stay together in cases of conflicts and strikes and in particular refuse to take over production from plants on strike.
The seminar called on the management of transnational companies in the electrical and electronics industry to agree to regular meetings with IMF Company Councils and to negotiate Codes of Conduct with the IMF and the respective national trade unions.
The 100-plus participants in the seminar, therefore, called on the national governments in the region to:
- agree on regulations for international financial markets to control currency speculation;
- fully ratify and implement the ILO Core Labour Conventions, in particular Conventions Nos. 87 (freedom of association) and 98 (right to organise and collective bargaining);
- ensure that trade union rights are not repressed or restricted and social standards not downgraded in order to attract foreign investment.
The participants also agreed to:
- build up, with IMF assistance, a network of trade union representatives within transnational companies;
- refuse cutbacks in wages and social benefits;
- build up trade union solidarity and assist each other in organising the unorganised, in building trade union structures and to develop and agree common strategies to protect the rights of trade unions and workers;
- stay together in cases of conflicts and strikes and in particular refuse to take over production from plants on strike.
The seminar called on the management of transnational companies in the electrical and electronics industry to agree to regular meetings with IMF Company Councils and to negotiate Codes of Conduct with the IMF and the respective national trade unions.