Formal Economy

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 [...]



Four Killed in An Intensified Attack on Workers in the Philippines

Jan 5th, 2010 | By admin | Category: Formal Economy

At the dusk of Arroyo’s nine-year presidency, human rights violations against workers and trade unions heighten.  Four unionists, workers and advocates were murdered, one tortured to death this year, five were abducted and remain missing and thousands were harassed and threatened since she assumed presidency in 2001. Amidst these intensified attacks, in this year for [...]



Students in Mainland China Chilled by Disney’s Sweatshops

Jan 5th, 2010 | By admin | Category: Formal Economy

Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) is delighted to know that Students Disney Watch, initiated by a group of university students Mainland China, was formed in May 2009 concerning the corporate social responsibility of Disney. According the Students Disney Watch, its establishment is inspired by the initiative of SACOM to fight against sweatshops in [...]



Chinese Toy Workers Can’t Share the Joy of Christmas

Jan 5th, 2010 | By admin | Category: Formal Economy

From SACOM:
Christmas greetings!
While customers are buying toys as Christmas presents, Chinese toy workers who are at the bottom of global supply chain cannot share the same joy when they are producing them. To have a closer look at the working conditions of toy workers in China, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbeaviour (SACOM), investigated two [...]