in the news 26 April – 3 May 2018

CHINA

* China’s RMG industry faces tough times
http://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/global/chinas-rmg-industry-faces-tough-times-1525153475

VIETNAM

* Huge fire at Long Giang Industrial Park
The fire broke out at the warehouse of a textile company named KANGNA VN CO., LTD. in Long Giang Industrial Park of the southern province of Tien Giang at 4.15 PM this afternoon….
http://www.vir.com.vn/huge-fire-at-long-giang-industrial-park-58798.html

* Labour Code revision opportunity to promote gender equality
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/426973/labour-code-revision-opportunity-to-promote-gender-equality.html

* Textile-garment exports seen at $35b this year
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/199673/textile-garment-exports-seen-at–35b-this-year.html

CAMBODIA

* Labour unions call for minimum wage increase
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50485546/labour-unions-call-for-minimum-wage-increase/

* Workers to receive unpaid wages
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50485230/workers-to-receive-unpaid-wages/

* Workers appeal back pay ruling
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/workers-appeal-back-pay-ruling

* Government delivering on its promise to female garment workers
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50485615/government-delivering-on-its-promise-to-female-garment-workers-2/

* May Day rally held in Phnom Penh
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/labour-advocates-hold-may-day-rally-phnom-penh

* Workers celebrate labor day at CDC park
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50485313/workers-celebrate-labor-day-at-cdc-park/

* Many garment worker truck drivers lack licences
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50485840/many-garment-worker-truck-drivers-lack-licences/

* Sipar continues to expand in-factory library programme
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50484215/sipar-continues-to-expand-in-factory-library-programme/

MYANMAR/BURMA

* Myanmar workers demand wage hike, rights to mark Labour Day
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-workers-demand-wage-hike-rights-mark-labour-day.html

* Minimum wage to rise to 4,800 kyat within few days: Labour permanent secretary
http://www.mizzima.com/business-domestic/minimum-wage-rise-4800-kyat-within-few-days-labour-permanent-secretary

* Labourers to receive wage hike
http://www.mizzima.com/business-domestic/labourers-receive-wage-hike

* Garment worker health and safety guidelines launched
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/garment-worker-health-and-safety-guidelines-launched.html

* Government to cooperate with ILO on work safety, health for young
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/government-cooperate-ilo-work-safety-health-young.html

BANGLADESH

* Workers should stand against militancy: Inu
….Demanding a minimum wage of Tk 18,000 for garment workers, JSD general secretary Shirin Akhter, also a women rights activist, said,
“Labour is not a cheap thing; owners should pay them the highest.”…
http://www.unb.com.bd/bangladesh-news/Workers-should-stand-against-militancy-Inu/69642

* RMG workers block Dhaka-Aricha highway demanding arrears
http://www.unb.com.bd/bangladesh-news/RMG-workers-block-Dhaka-Aricha-highway-demanding-arrears/69633
&
http://www.newagebd.net/article/40225/rmg-workers-block-dhaka-aricha-highway
&
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/garment-workers-protest-wages-savar-dhaka-may-day-1570345
&
http://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/rmg-workers-block-dhaka-aricha-highway-over-arrears-1525176380

* Savar garment factory workers protest for due salaries
http://www.unb.com.bd/bangladesh-news/Savar-garment-factory-workers-protest-for-due-salaries/69210

 

* Most labour disputes in RMG
https://www.thedailystar.net/editorial/most-labour-disputes-rmg-1570750

* Bangladeshi RMG workers do excessive overtime, earn little
http://www.newagebd.net/article/40141/bangladeshi-rmg-workers-do-excessive-overtime-earn-little
&
http://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/poor-wages-force-rmg-workers-to-rely-on-overtime-1525059919

* Tk 18,000 minimum wage demanded as Bangladesh observes May Day
https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2018/05/02/tk-18000minimum-wage-demanded-as-bangladesh-observes-may-day

* May Day observed
Minimum wage of Tk 18,000 demanded…
http://www.newagebd.net/article/40211/may-day-observed
&
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2018/04/30/historic-may-day-observed-tuesday/
&
http://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/174905/May-Day-being-observed

 

* Arrears behind highest number of labour unrest in 2017: survey
http://www.newagebd.net/article/40238/arrears-behind-highest-number-of-labour-unrest-in-2017-survey
&
http://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/wage-arrears-trigger-majority-labour-unrest-in-2017-survey-1525148599

* Learning lessons from Rana Plaza collapse, Tazreen fire
Institutionalising universal workplace injury insurance
http://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/views/institutionalising-universal-workplace-injury-insurance-1525104074

* Post Rana Plaza: Are workers being allowed to organise?
https://www.dhakatribune.com/feature/2018/04/30/post-rana-plaza-workers-allowed-organise/

* After Rana Plaza: much done, a lot still remains, the rest just flounder
http://www.unb.com.bd/bangladesh-news/After-Rana-Plaza-much-done-a-lot-still-remains-the-rest-just-flounder/69266

* RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE – TIB for special tribunal to try people responsible
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/tib-special-tribunal-try-people-responsible-1568332

* INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
No justice yet due to lack of political will: TIB
http://www.newagebd.net/article/39950/no-justice-yet-due-to-lack-of-political-will-tib

* Five Years After the Disaster: Rana Plaza Victims Still Hurting
https://arbetet.se/2018/04/23/five-years-after-the-disaster-rana-plaza-victims-still-hurting/

* Why Won’t We Learn from the Survivors of the Rana Plaza Disaster?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/style/survivors-of-rana-plaza-disaster.html

* ILO: Improve workplace safety for the next generation
https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/04/28/ilo-improve-workplace-safety-next-generation/

 

* Fire at city garment factory
http://www.newagebd.net/article/40126/fire-at-city-garment-factory
&
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/fire-breaks-out-rmg-factory-capital-1569679
&
https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2018/04/29/fire-at-rampura-garment-factory

* Govt awards 10 RMG factories for workplace safety
http://www.newagebd.net/article/40074/govt-awards-10-rmg-factories-for-workplace-safety
&
http://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/174811/10-apparel-companies-awarded

 

* The state must protect workers’ rights
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-state-must-protect-workers-rights-1570009

* Labour rights activists urge women leadership initiatives
https://www.dhakatribune.com/labour/2018/04/29/labour-rights-activists-women-leadership-initiatives/

* Superiors, trade union leaders often abuse female workers: study
http://www.newagebd.net/article/40175/superiors-trade-union-leaders-often-abuse-female-workers-study

* Garment sector saw highest industrial disputes in 2017
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/garment-sector-saw-highest-industrial-disputes-2017-1570120

* If we can dream it, we can do it
https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/04/28/can-dream-can/

INDIA

* Huge Fire Engulfs Ludhiana Factory, 100 Fire Engines Used
https://www.ndtv.com/ludhiana-news/huge-fire-engulfs-ludhiana-factory-100-fire-engines-used-1843761
&
http://www.india.com/news/india/ludhiana-major-fire-breaks-out-in-garment-factory-no-casualties-reported-3023341/

* Huge fire in Mathura cotton factory, properties worth crores gutted
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/apr/30/huge-fire-in-mathura-cotton-factory-properties-worth-crores-gutted-1808032.html
&
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/huge-fire-in-mathura-cotton-factory-properties-worth-crores-gutted/articleshow/63964373.cms

 

* ‘Many garment workers forced to toil for 14 hours even on May Day’
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/many-garment-workers-forced-to-toil-for-14-hours-even-on-may-day/articleshow/63992602.cms

* Will take action against those not abiding by minimum wage norms for labours: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2018/may/01/will-take-action-against-those-not-abiding-by-minimum-wage-norms-for-labours-delhi-cm-arvind-kejriw-1808780.html

* ‘State should oppose Centre’s new labour rules’
‘The amendment will be detrimental to workers as they will lose job security’

Tamil Nadu government must oppose the recently amended Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules of 2018, which enables all industries to hire workers on a contractual basis for a fixed term, said S. Selva Gomathi, managing trustee, Justice Shivaraj V. Patil Foundation, here on Tuesday.

Speaking at an awareness campaign launched for securing the rights of garment factory workers, particularly women, she said that the new amendment would prove detrimental to the workers as they will lose job security…..
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/state-should-oppose-centres-new-labour-rules/article23742912.ece

* Rallies, rights pledge mark May Day celebrations
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/rallies-rights-pledge-mark-may-day-celebrations/article23741820.ece

* Labour unions protest in Mumbai, ask Centre to revise minimum wages
https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/labour-unions-protest-in-mumbai-ask-centre-to-revise-minimum-wages/story-ra3jY67pfY85iHgzz7qX2N.html

* Textile mills hopeful of announcement on hank yarn soon
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/textile-mills-hopeful-of-announcement-on-hank-yarn-soon/article23700486.ece

* Hank yarn: mills expect announcement
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/hank-yarn-mills-expect-announcement/article23704500.ece

* PAU ready with Bt cotton variety, goes for trials over 3,000 acres
https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/pau-ready-with-bt-cotton-variety-goes-for-trials-over-3-000-acres/story-E7DQIFFqCgSActask1w2xI.html

PAKISTAN

* Six years on, ‘Mother Baldia’ continues the fight for justice and labour rights
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311505-six-years-on-mother-baldia-continues-the-fight-for-justice-and-labour-rights

* MQM should answer for the Badlia factory fire: Bilawal
https://dailytimes.com.pk/234964/mqm-should-answer-for-the-badlia-factory-fire-bilawal/

* Textile mill fire brought under control after daylong battle
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/309999-textile-mill-fire-brought-under-control-after-daylong-battle

* Despite fire-fighting at full steam, blaze at textile mills continued past 24 hours
https://dailytimes.com.pk/233399/despite-fire-fighting-at-full-steam-blaze-at-textile-mills-continued-past-24-hours/

* Efforts to douse third degree blaze at textile mill fail
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1697043/1-efforts-douse-third-degree-blaze-textile-mill-fail/

* Huge fire in F. B Area factory
https://www.dawn.com/news/1404054

 

* ‘May Day is the flag of revolt against the atrocities of capitalism’
https://dailytimes.com.pk/234962/may-day-is-the-flag-of-revolt-against-the-atrocities-of-capitalism/

* Unions ask govt to ensure safety, health at workplaces
https://www.dawn.com/news/1404966/unions-ask-govt-to-ensure-safety-health-at-workplaces

* Labour Health & Hospitality
https://nation.com.pk/01-May-2018/labour-health-hospitality

* Rally demands abolishing contract system to ensure job security
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311503-rally-demands-abolishing-contract-system-to-ensure-job-security

* Labour Day rallies pledge support to workers
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311636-labour-day-rallies-pledge-support-to-workers

* Workers’ unending woes highlighted on Labour Day
https://nation.com.pk/02-May-2018/workers-unending-woes-highlighted-on-labour-day

* Workers’ exploitation continues as country marks Labour Day
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311392-workers-exploitation-continues-as-country-marks-labour-day

* Workers put forth long-standing demands on Labour Day
https://www.dawn.com/news/1405048

* May Day rallies highlight unkept promises
https://www.dawn.com/news/1405090/may-day-rallies-highlight-unkept-promises

* Never-ending struggle: Sindh’s workers march for their rights
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1700092/1-never-ending-struggle-sindhs-workers-march-rights/

* Labourers ignored on their own day
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1700293/1-labourers-ignored-day/

* Labour Day: Making it Meaningful
https://nation.com.pk/01-May-2018/labour-day-making-it-meaningful

 

* 60m labour force denied fundamental rights: Report
….
Home-based Workers:
An ILO report published in 2017 Pakistan’s Hidden Workers: Wage and Conditions of home-based workers and the informal economy, highlighted the vulnerability of home based workers.
Majority of them are women and they lack protections and access to collective bargaining.
The wage rate is generally set by middlemen and they are chronically and significantly underpaid.
It is estimated that there are 5 million home-based workers and they are deprived of all legal benefits available under the labour laws….
https://nation.com.pk/02-May-2018/60m-labour-force-denied-fundamental-rights-report

* Opposition leaders slam govt over ‘anti-worker’ policies
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1700136/1-opposition-leaders-slam-government-anti-worker-policies/

* Rallies, protests call for rights of working class
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1700125/1-rallies-protests-call-rights-working-class/

 

* High cost of living and labour class
https://www.dawn.com/news/1404942

* ‘Need to register labourers in non-formal sector’
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1699338/1-need-register-labourers-non-formal-sector/

* No country for labour
Thousands of workers remain unrecognised under labour laws, while contract system weakens those employed in industries despite SC ruling against it…
https://dailytimes.com.pk/234508/no-country-for-labour-3/

* SC approached to overturn verdict suspending raise in wages
https://www.dawn.com/news/1404740/sc-approached-to-overturn-verdict-suspending-raise-in-wages

* Lacking competitiveness, Faisalabad’s weaving industry collapsing
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1700186/2-high-production-cost-lacking-competitiveness-faisalabads-weaving-industry-collapsing/

* Textile sector rejects budget 2018-19
https://dailytimes.com.pk/233875/textile-sector-rejects-budget-2018-19/

* agri lands parched, large crop damage, cotton sowing disrupted
https://www.dawn.com/news/1404885/agri-lands-parched-large-crop-damage-cotton-sowing-disrupted

* Cotton growers urged to use certified seeds
https://nation.com.pk/30-Apr-2018/cotton-growers-urged-to-use-certified-seeds

OTHER

* Campaign launch: Turn around, H&M!

https://turnaroundhm.org/
&
https://cleanclothes.org/news/2018/04/30/campaign-launch-turn-around-h-m

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latest tweets (& news)

Convention on the Rights of the Child
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

I wonder who they are
The men who really run this land
And I wonder why they run it
With such a thoughtless hand

What are their names
And on what streets do they live
I'd like to ride right over
This afternoon and give
Them a piece of my mind
About peace for mankind
Peace is not an awful lot to ask
    David Crosby

I wonder who they are
The people who are buying these clothes
I'd like to know what they've paid for it
How much the makers have paid for this
Fairer income is not an awful lot to ask
Better working conditions is not an awful lot to ask
    A. Searcher

For more and other (labour) news you can follow on twitter: @asearcher2