Formal Economy

21 Workers Die at Bangladeshi Factory Fire

Mar 3rd, 2010 | By cawinfo | Category: Formal Economy, Garment industry

Bangladesh unions and international labour rights organisations are calling for immediate action from brands and the government of Bangladesh following a fatal factory fire which killed at least 21 workers and injured a further 50.
The Garib & Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur, Bangladesh has been producing knitwear for Swedish retailer H&M, reportedly a main buyer [...]



Samsung to take responsibility for lethal hazards of semiconductor manufacturing

Mar 1st, 2010 | By cawinfo | Category: Electronic industry, Formal Economy

The families and friends of electronics manufacturing workers at Samsung in Korea have discovered a cancer cluster among young workers exposed to toxic chemicals. The pattern of cancer deaths bears a striking resemblance to the pattern of cancer deaths among IBM “chip” workers in the US and to other electronics cancer clusters around the world.
March [...]



Angry Underpants

Feb 22nd, 2010 | By cawinfo | Category: Formal Economy, Garment industry

Laid-off garment workers take on former boss at own game and strike blow for labour rights.
Factory workers made redundant from swimwear and undergarment giant Triumph International are taking on their former employer at his own game.The workers run a small factory making underwear, which started as a protest gesture but is now an earner in [...]



Occupational Health and Safety Training for Trainers in Thailand

Feb 18th, 2010 | By admin | Category: Formal Economy

Committee for Asian Women organised a three day training of trainers on Occupational Health and Safety for women workers in the manufacturing sector in Ayutthaya, Thailand on 12th -14th February 2010 in collaboration with the Council of Work and Environment related Patient’s network (WEPT). The training was attended by 40 participants from Thailand and Cambodia [...]



Retrenched Ecozone Workers, U4WR Call to Stop Unjust Retrenchment

Feb 17th, 2010 | By cawinfo | Category: Formal Economy, Garment industry

Workers of Panphil Sportswear, Inc. and U4WR, Unity for Workers’ Rights, in the Philippines are calling to stop the unjust retrenchment that has affected 31 workers of the said company.
On the 2nd February, the 31 workers including three officers from U4WR were suddenly summoned by the Plant manager and told that they no longer have to [...]



Garment worker unions demand higher wages

Feb 3rd, 2010 | By cawinfo | Category: Formal Economy, Garment industry

Chuon Mum Thol, President of Cambodian Unions Federation (CUF) has informed that the garment union representatives are to approach the industry leaders and the government with a proposal to hike minimum wages in the sector from US $50 per month to US $93 per month to enable workers to a better living standard. The issue [...]



Workers Suffer as Japan Airlines Goes Bankrupt, Gets Bailout

Jan 28th, 2010 | By cawinfo | Category: Formal Economy

15,700 lay-offs, huge pension concessions roil JAL workforce
These days, it seems like the airline industry can’t catch a break. Faced with in-flight terrorist plots and a recession, airlines are struggling with revenue, security concerns and customer dissatisfaction. And most of all, airline employees have felt the pinch as carriers tighten their budgets.
Those issues have long [...]



Michelin Unionists at Thai Tyre Factory Still Face Discrimination

Jan 25th, 2010 | By cawinfo | Category: Formal Economy, Labour Solidarity

At a factory blockade of a Michelin tire plant in Laem Chabang, Thailand, on 20 March 2009, workers protested against a harsh 35% pay cut. Following the manifestation, 22 union activists were arrested, suspended from their jobs, with management taking out criminal charges against them. (See ICEM news release on that here.)
Those 22 unionists, members [...]



Working Stiffs, Union Maids, Reds, and Riffraff

Jan 6th, 2010 | By admin | Category: Formal Economy

This wonderful book is an encyclopedic guide to 350 labor films from around the world, ranging from those you’ve heard of — Salt of the Earth, The Grapes of Wrath, Roger & Me — to those you’ve never heard of but will fall in love with once you see them. Zaniello describes all the films [...]



The Plight of the Detained Workers of Karnation Industries

Jan 6th, 2010 | By admin | Category: Formal Economy

He looked across his dimly lit room, past the bars that separated him from the rest of the world. He tries to feel hopeful – after two years, he may be able to spend New Year with his family. He wonders though, how he can raise the amount for his bail.
Sixty thousand pesos for his [...]