Over the years, neo-liberal policies have seen a steady erosion of the concept of minimum wage and there has been a steady reduction of the wage to increase profitability under the name of competitiveness. While salaries and remunerations for executives have reached record limits, workers find themselves facing pay cuts and even retrenchment. Accordingly, the income gap between those belonging to the low wage group and the rest of population is increasing. Even in 20 most industrialized countries, over 10% of population live below a poverty line (less than 50% of median income)

Though studies show that a higher minimum wage is associated with a low national level of poverty, in reality, minimum wage is far from covering even the basic living cost of workers. For instance, the monthly minimum wage in Bangladesh is 930 Taka (approx. US$15) for garment workers but the cost of food for o­ne person per month is a minimum of 1,000 Taka. In Korea, the minimum wage covers just 26.8% of the living cost of 3-member family.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The King of Nepal has announced that India has agreed to resume military supplies to Nepal after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. If this report is true, it is a wrong and unjustified step. The Indian government had correctly decided to stop military supplies after the King of Nepal had suppressed parliamentary democracy and imposed an emergency. The CPI(M) and all other democratic forces in the country had welcomed this decision.

As part of the Thai labour movement and Asian women workers� movement, we are having a protest gathering here in the Royal Nepalese Embassy to express our deepest concern about the serious violation of democratic rights, human rights, women rights, and labour rights in Nepal. This is a direct result of the declaration of state of emergency o­n February 1, 2005 by the King Gyanendra of Nepal.

It is our understanding that following the dismissal of the Royal Government of Nepal, the royal coup issued a decree, which basically suspended all trade union rights and banned meetings of more than five persons. In addition to this decree, we are informed by our counterparts in Nepal that key union/women leaders and activists are included in the list of more than 1,400 persons currently targeted for arrest or close surveillance.

Furthermore, there are many trade union and women leaders and activists who are being arrested arbitrarily without an arrest warrant and denied a trial because they demanded for democracy to be restored. These actions are unacceptable and clearly a violation of all internationally recognized trade union rights and human rights.

"Release Political Prisoners, Stop Violence, Killings & Restore Democracy" read the banners.

CAW along with Alliance of Democratic Trade Unions, Centre for Labour Solidarity (CLIST) led a protest outside the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok o­n 22^nd April 2005. The protest action started at 10am and continued for around 2 hours. Around 50 trade unionists and labour activists joined the protest. From CAW, the coordinating officer, the programme officers and the documentation officer joined the protest.

 

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March 8^th International Women�s Day is the day of the women workers against social oppression and for peace, equality, social justice and democratic rights. This is a day to remember all the pioneers of the women's movement for emancipation and many have dedicated and even sacrificed their lives in the struggle. It is a time to reflect o­n progress, make to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women workers who have played significant role in the history of women�s rights.

In Pakistan women have been severely disadvantaged and discriminated. They have been denied the enjoyment of a whole range of rights - economic, social, civil and political rights and often deprivation in o­ne of these areas has entailed discrimination in another. Pakistani women who have already been victims of feudal, tribal traditions, religious customs, poverty and gender discrimination, are also discriminated by legislation. Laws make women second-class citizens in every field of life. The state structure is also a big obstacle to move forward. But in spite of all these hurdles, it is encouraging that women are becoming aware of their rights, gaining confidence and moving forward.