English

Español

Français

Aerospace

Automotive

Base metals

Chemical, pharmaceutical and bio-science

Energy

Glass, cement, ceramic and associated industries

ICT, electrical and electronics

Mechanical Engineering

Mining and DGOJP

Pulp and paper

Rubber

Shipbuilding and shipbreaking

Textile, garment, shoes, leather and textile services

Sectors

Action Plan 2025-2029

Action on textile and garment industry

Clean up shipbreaking

Ratify ILO C176

United for a just future - time to pay up!

Disinvest from Myanmar

Campaigns

Global Framework Agreements

Union building

White-collar workers

Health & safety

Industry 4.0

Women

Youth

LGBTQI+

Gender, equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI)

Just Transition

Organizing with industriALL

What we do

Affiliates

Statutes

Elected Officials

Executive Committee

Geneva head office

South East Asia

Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus

Latin America and the Caribbean

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional offices

About us

Global worker No1 2022

Global worker No2 2022

Publications

Resources

Press

Globalisation is not just about how things are made, bought and sold. It&#039;s also about people. Transnational companies want cheap and flexible workers. So they have shifted from secure to insecure employment - making all jobs more &quot;precarious&quot;. Precarious work is bad for all workers. It creates cut-price labour that drives down wages for all. It increases the gap between the rich and poor and amplifies the unfair practices that already disadvantage women, young and migrant workers.Good jobs are what trade unions bargain for. Around the world, unions are mobilising, organising and bargaining for better, more secure work. That means challenging the legal and political ruses that allow precarious work to flourish. It means mobilising globally and taking union action against precarious work.

"Precarious Work Affects Us All" is a global union campaign to stop the rise in precarious employment and regain power and justice for working people. On this campaign page you will find links to campaign materials, background information and details on what trade unions around the world are doing to mobilise against precarious work.

Precarious Work Affects Us All

GLOBAL: After years of strong criticism by trade unions, the World Bank has finally instructed its staff to stop using the labour indicators of its &quot;Doing Business&quot; flagship publication that gives higher rating to countries with the lowest workers&#039; protection. These have been used to push developing countries to adopt strict labour market deregulation policies as recipe for development and conditions for eligibility for loans and grants.At a time of global crisis, with the institutions of finance being severely criticised as part of the causes of the present problems that hit most severely workers in all countries of the South and the North, the World Bank is making a significant move that, if concretely translated quickly and effectively in its policy recommendations, can mark an important change with positive effects on employment policies in developing countries. The World Bank communiqué issued on April 27 stresses the importance of &quot;development goals&quot; such as &quot;social safety nets to shield vulnerable parts of society from intolerable risk and protection of rights for workers and households as well as for firms&quot;.The Bank is also scaling up its work on social safety nets, on &quot;issues of access to benefits such as unemployment insurance and social security&quot;. With regard to the Doing Business indicators, the Bank will adjust the scoring in its annual report &quot;regarding provisions for fixed term workers and standards for severance payment, mandatory days of rest and night work and holidays, and minimum wage levels, in order to accord favourable scores to worker protection policies that comply with the letter and spirit of the relevant ILO Conventions, recognizing that well-designed worker protections are of benefit to the society as a whole&quot;. Furthermore &quot;a guidance note will be issued clarifying that the indicators do not represent World Bank policy and should not be used as a basis for policy advice or in any country program documents that outline or evaluate the development strategy or assistance program for a recipient country.  The note will emphasize the importance of regulatory approaches that facilitate the creation of more formal sector jobs with adequate safeguards for employees&#039; rights and that guard against the shifting of risk from firms to workers and low-income families.....We will convene a working group including representatives from the ILO, as the international standard setting body, trade unions, businesses, academics and legal experts.....to advice on revising the EWI and on the establishment of a new worker protection indicator.......and on labour market and employment protection issues -- with a view to creating regulations that help build robust jobs with adequate protection in the formal sector that can withstand future crises.     The development of a new worker protection indicator (WPI).......could cover such matters as how a country is adhering to core labour standards and using law, regulation and other instruments of government to ensure that workers are adequately protected, including in the event of unemployment&quot;.The International Metalworkers Federation will actively monitor, together with the other global unions, the translation of these welcome developments into practice.

After years of strong criticism by trade unions, the World Bank has finally instructed its staff to stop using the labour indicators of its "Doing Business" flagship publication that gives higher rating to countries with the lowest workers' protection.

Surprise: labour market deregulation is no recipe for development!

A three year women's organizing project, developed by the International Metalworkers' Federation has led to greater increases in the number of women members, shop stewards and leaders of Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (SPMI). <h3>Women's membership increases</h3>Widespread precarious employment conditions has resulted in rapid turnover of women workers. However, SPMI managed to increase the number of women members from 29,780 in 2003 to 42,272 in 2006 by organizing new plants and enlisting others into the union.SPMI also focused on changing its union structures to enable increased participation of women. At its Congress in December 2006, SPMI adopted new rules to allow for a minimum of 30 per cent representation of women at all levels of the union and elected women onto its National Board for the first time. The number of women leaders at the branch level also increased from 18 per cent in 2003 (8 out of 43) to 25 per cent in 2006 (27 out of 108). In addition, SPMI established a Women's Directorate to cater for the needs of women members.This IMF project was funded by the Swedish trade union centre LO-TCO and supported by IMF affiliates Sif and IF Metall.<object></object>

Organizing women workers in Indonesia

In 2002, metalworkers around the world took part in two coordinated global days of action calling for the release of more than fifty imprisoned Korean trade unionists, including Korean Metal Workers&#039; Federation (KMWF) President Mun Sung-hyan and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) President and former metalworkers&#039; leader, Dan Byung-ho. <h3>Arrested for union activities</h3>In November 2001, Mun Sung-hyan took part in the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation&#039;s World Congress in Sydney, Australia. Soon after his return to Seoul he was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison. His alleged crime was that he had organised strikes and taken part in other trade union activities. Other Korean trade unionists were also jailed during the government crackdown.Together with its Korean affiliates, the IMF organised two days of action calling for the release of all trade unionists from Korean prisons.<h3>IMF affiliates unite around the globe</h3>An unprecedented level of action was taken by IMF affiliates around the globe including Seoul, Mumbai, Berlin, Washington, Pretoria, Sydney, Tokyo, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok. In total, metalworkers in 65 countries participated.Nine weeks after the first global day of action, Mun Sung-hyan was released from prison. One week after the second day of action the president of the Korean Daewoo autoworkers&#039; union, Kim Il-sup, and vice-president, Kim Sung-gap, were also set free.Early the following year Dan Byung-ho was also finally set free.The release of these trade unionists was a victory for workers around the world who took part in solidarity actions in support of Korean trade unions. Those who were freed went back to work, planning important actions to further the rights of Korean metalworkers.

Release Korean Unionists!

Congress is the highest decision-making body of the IMF and all affiliates hold membership. Congress meets every four years to establish the priorities and actions of the IMF including the <a href="../index.cfm?c=20018&amp;ol=2">Rules</a> that we are governed by. Congress also elects the <a href="../index.cfm?n=732&amp;l=2">President</a> and <a href="index.cfm?n=676">General Secretary</a> and members of the <a href="index.cfm?n=677">Executive Committee</a><h3>IMF World Congress 2009</h3>The 32nd IMF Congress took place in May 2009 in Gothenburg, Sweden  and adopted a new Action Programme for 2009-2013 calling for secure jobs for a secure future in response to the global economic crisis. The Congress also elected a new President, Vice President and General Secretary of the IMF.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="318"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../congress2009" title="32nd IMF World Congress 2009"><img src="" border="0" alt="Gothenburg, Sweden" width="317" height="61" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>IMF World Congress 2005</h3>Held in Vienna, the Congress discussed the various ways in which international solidarity can advance workers' rights. Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules, increasing the participation of women in IMF structures and updated the IMF Action Programme for 2005 to 2009.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="318"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../congress2005/index.cfm?l=2" title="Congress"><img src="" border="0" alt="" width="318" height="57" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>IMF World Congress 2001</h3>The 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia, when a new Action Programme was adopted for 2002-2005.

Congress

The IMF has affiliates in 100 countries. Click on any country below to learn about affiliated organisations.

IMF Affiliates

In 1957, the IMF opened an office in Tokyo for the Japanese metalworkers' unions. In 1960 the IMF opened its Latin America office, now in Montevideo, Uruguay.In 1966, the first meeting of the World Company Councils for the automobile industry was held in Detroit, USA. Today, Company Council meetings are held as the need arises. In 1969, the first IMF regional office opened in New Delhi, India. In 1982, two white South African affiliates were expelled. The IMF was fully committed to supporting the new independent trade unions in South Africa. This support was strengthened with the opening of a new IMF office in Johannesburg in 1984. In 1991, the IMF Central Committee decided to admit trade unions from Central and Eastern Europe as affiliates. In 1993, a 100-point Action Programme was adopted at the IMF Centenary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1998 the IMF opened a regional office for Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaIn 2001, the 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia. A new Action Programme for 2002-2005 was adopted. In 2002, the IMF signed its first International Framework Agreement in the auto industry with Volkswagen. In 2005, the IMF Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules, increasing the participation of women in IMF structures, and updating the Action Programme. In 2002-2003, the IMF and its affiliates successfully campaigned for the release of imprisoned Korean trade unionists.In 2006, the IMF launched an international solidarity campaign in support of the Mexican miners' union.

Milestones in IMF history

The International Metalworkers&#039; Federation is one of the largest and oldest Global Union Federations. The IMF was created in August 1893 when thirty members from metalworkers unions in eight countries met in a small hotel in Zurich with the aim of creating an International Bureau, thus founding the IMF. These early members laid the foundations for international cooperation between all metalworkers&#039; unions of the world.<h3>Organising workers</h3>Data collected by the Bureau at the time showed that social and economic conditions for metalworkers were extremely difficult. Working hours in Europe ranged from 11.5 to 15 hours a day and wages were very low. Only a small number of metalworkers were organised and the structure of unions at the national level was highly fragmented.From the beginning, solidarity between unions extended further than simply exchanging information and was focused on offering mutual support:<ul><li>Within the first three years, British metalworkers contributed 1,000 marks to the Solingen cutlery-makers out on a protracted strike.  </li><li>Swiss metalworkers contributed 100 Swiss francs to moulders engaged in a harsh struggle in Nuremberg. </li><li>German metalworkers later reciprocated in 1897 when British engineering workers were fighting for the eight-hour day and foundry workers in Denmark demanding higher wages were locked out. </li><li>Everywhere, especially in Germany, funds were raised, establishing a tradition of international solidarity that has significantly strengthened metalworkers&#039; unions to this day.</li></ul><h3>Eight hours work, leisure and sleep</h3>The early 1900&#039;s were characterised by rapid economic growth in international trade and investments. Metalworkers understood the important strategic role that the IMF could play in protecting human and trade union rights. In 1893 the first Congress wrote:<blockquote>&quot;Our endeavour must be to fulfil the slogan of the May Day celebrations: eight hours&#039; work, eight hours&#039; leisure, eight hours&#039; sleep.&quot;</blockquote> In 1904, the different unions, which now included representatives from 11 countries, decided to create the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation (IMF). <h3>The goals of the Federation have always been to:</h3><ul><li>encourage metalworkers&#039; organisations to co-operate on trade union matters; </li><li>support unionisation efforts in countries where trade unions are weak; and </li><li>establish guidelines for effectively implementing solidarity actions during labour disputes.</li></ul>

A tradition of solidarity

The International Metalworkers' Federation boasts more than 200 affiliated unions in 100 countries and represents the interests of 25 million metalworkers worldwide.<h3>Congress</h3>Our key decision-making body is Congress, which meets once every four years and agrees to an <a href="index.cfm?n=673">action programme</a> which sets out the long-term aims and goals of our work. All affiliates have the right to send delegates to Congress.Congress also determines the <a href="../index.cfm?c=20018&amp;ol=2">Rules</a> of the organisation, indicating how the IMF is run.<h3>Committees</h3>The Central Committee meets once every two years and is responsible for all decisions made between Congresses.The Congress elects the President and the General Secretary of the IMF and the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of 25 members, including at least six women, and meets twice a year. All regions in the world are represented in the ExComm.The Finance Committee consists of six members from the Executive Committee, plus the IMF President, Vice President and General Secretary. This Committee makes recommendations about financial planning and examines the IMF annual budget.The Secretariat carries out the decisions made by Congress and the Central Committee. It is managed by the General Secretary. The <a href="index.cfm?n=630">IMF headquarters</a> is located in Geneva, Switzerland, where the activities of the organisation are coordinated through a network of <a href="index.cfm?n=631">regional offices</a>.IMF activities are primarily financed by affiliation fees from its member organisations.

Governing bodies

At our 2005 Congress, we adopted an Action Programme setting out four main areas for action, which include:<ul><li>global structures to meet global challenges</li><li>strategies to engage transnational companies</li><li>solidarity and organising</li><li>a social dimension to economic globalisation</li></ul>In our commitment to creating global structures to meet global challenges, the IMF will: <ul><li>continue to build a global union able to co-ordinate and implement actions at all levels, wherever and whenever they are required;</li><li>continue to work with other Global Union Federations and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD to pursue the interests of its affiliates;</li><li>encourage cooperation and build unity between unions; and</li><li>begin building information networks between affiliates and maintain and effective communications system.</li></ul>As we develop strategies to engage transnational companies, the IMF will:<ul><li><div>continue to focus on building and maintaining solidarity among trade unions and workers across the global production chains of metalworking companies and industries;</div></li><li>strengthen links between unions that represent workers across production chains in transnational corporations through the IMF World Company Councils and sector-based networks and action groups;</li><li>negotiate and implement international framework agreements with transnational corporations;</li><li>find and support other mechanisms that engage transnational corporations.</li></ul>As we strengthen solidarity and capacity to organise, the IMF will: <ul><li>defend and promote collective bargaining, assisting affiliates in bargaining on wages and working conditions, and on outsourcing, job security and other issues associated with corporate restructuring;</li><li>promote union building by co-ordinating and supporting projects as well as providing advice to its affiliates on issues such as organising strategies, unions structures and equal rights;</li><li>promote equal rights, including improving the representation of women in IMF structures;</li><li>protect and promote health and safety at work, including campaigning for a ban on asbestos;</li><li>take international solidarity actions in support of social achievements, workers&#039; rights, organising and collective bargaining; and</li><li>organise the unorganised, particularly of women, young workers and non-manual workers and in export processing zones and small- and medium-sized enterprises.</li></ul>To promote a social dimension to economic globalisation, the IMF will:<ul><li>cooperate with and be part of the social movement against globalisation that favours only the transnational corporations;</li><li>demand that all national governments implement internationally recognised Core Labour Standards, including the right to organise and bargain collectively, and that these rights are included in all trade agreements; and</li><li>fight for sustainable economic development and growth as described in the document Strategies for an alternative economic programme, based on the following four pillars: <ul><li>job creation and purchasing power</li><li>debt cancellation and development assistance</li><li>regulations capital movements</li><li>reform of the global institutions of governance</li></ul></li></ul>

Solidarity and organisation: the foundation of our work

Archive

About IndustriALL

Follow us

Contact us