human rights

ITF policy puts decent jobs for young transport workers at the heart of supply chains

Mark_D — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:27:09 +0000

ITF policy puts decent jobs for young transport workers at the heart of supply chains

The ITF’s Youth Employment and Decent Work in Supply Chains policy sets an authoritative framework for ensuring decent jobs throughout supply chains

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has launched its policy on Youth Employment and Decent Work in Supply Chains to support affiliated trade unions, young transport workers and employers in taking practical steps to ensure decent jobs for young workers.

The policy, which includes a practical checklist and monitoring indicators, is the result of the work of the ITF Young Transport Workers’ Committee and was endorsed by the ITF Executive Board in Berlin last week.

“This policy reflects the voices, experiences and priorities of young transport workers across the organisation,” said Nick Loridan, Co‑Chair of the ITF Young Transport Workers’ Committee and member of the ITF Supply Chain Accountability Working Group.

“It combines strong principles with practical tools to help unions and employers promote youth employment and create decent jobs for young workers, whether they are already in the sector or entering the transport industry.”

The policy sets out clear principles and actions to improve access to decent jobs, ensure job security, and improve health and safety, equality, and career development for young transport workers. It also outlines ways to strengthen collaboration between unions, employers and policymakers, alongside identifying priority areas for action and wider policy measures for adoption in order to ensure the long-term success of youth employment strategies.

The policy includes a checklist outlining concrete steps employers can take on recruitment, training, retention, safety, wellbeing and inclusion to promote quality youth employment across supply chains.

Crucially, it also includes monitoring indicators, specifically designed to help trade unions, employers and stakeholders track progress, measure impact and strengthen accountability on youth employment and decent work outcomes for young workers.

ITF Director of Young Transport Workers, Baker Khundakji, said: “We encourage all young transport workers and ITF‑affiliated unions to actively use this policy, the checklist and the indicators to organise and educate young workers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements and workplace policies, hold employers accountable, and to work together to promote decent work for young transport workers across supply chains.”

The full policy, checklist and indicators are available here.

Mark_D 22 Apr 2026

supply chain

global supply chains

human rights

labour rights

ITF celebrates anniversary of landmark global treaty for seafarers

Mark_D — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:56:37 +0000

ITF celebrates anniversary of landmark global treaty for seafarers

The ITF played a leading role in securing the now 20-year-old Maritime Labour Convention – and it continues to advocate for its implementation and updating to protect seafarers’ rights

Before 2006, the global protection of seafarers’ rights rested on a patchwork of more than 60 maritime labour conventions and ‘recommendations’: few were ratified, some overlapped, and many were outdated by the rapid changes taking place in the global shipping industry.

From the perspective of protecting seafarers’ rights, these gaps were not simply legislative loopholes – their cost could be counted in the human and labour rights abuses faced by the workers who play a central role in keeping the world and its trading relationships moving forward.

In a uniquely international industry, the aim of bringing disparate, unenforced rules into a unified, global treaty – the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) – was no mean feat. And it was one that required cooperation and coherence from seafarers’ trade unions, governments and ship owners.

The result of this landmark effort is one of the most significant global labour treaties ever created: a convention with ‘teeth’ that offers a unique level of enforcement, with ratifying states able to detain vessels regardless of the flag they fly, and one that has fundamentally altered the working conditions of seafarers everywhere – and which, crucially, continues to be improved and enhanced through concerted advocacy on behalf of seafarers.

“The significance of the Maritime Labour Convention simply cannot be overstated – it is without doubt one of the world’s most important international labour treaties,” said ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton.

“The concerted advocacy that took place to bring the MLC into being is one of the most important international efforts made by the ITF in its long and storied history – one that also demonstrates social dialogue at its best, with trade unions working alongside business and governments to produce genuinely enforceable, global rules to protect workers.

“But as global shipping continues to evolve, so too does the ITF’s mission to protect seafarers and, in turn, the need for the MLC to continuously improve.”

The ITF was at the forefront of the efforts to bring the MLC into being – alongside the International Chamber of Shipping, representing ship owners, and the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO). To this day, the ITF and its affiliated maritime trade unions continue to work closely with these partners.

Today, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, an independent UK charity supported by the investment income of the ITF International Assistance, Welfare and Protection Fund, also announced that it is awarding EUR500,000 (USD 587,213) of funding to the ILO to support institutional capacity building to enhance protection of seafarers’ rights in the Middle East.

Former Nautilus UK General Secretary and ITF Seafarers’ Section Chair, Brian Orrell, played a leading role in the ITF’s efforts to secure the MLC.

“While the objective of creating a unique single maritime instrument to replace all those existing at the time was ambitious, the work of the ITF with shipowners and governments was instrumental in securing unanimous adoption twenty years ago,” he explained.

“That the MLC 2006 remains as relevant and important today as it was twenty years ago rests with the foresight of the ITF in securing an agreement – a first within any ILO instrument – on a rapid amendment procedure enabling the instrument to be more easily reviewed and updated. Looking back over the past twenty years, the importance of these procedures in ensuring that the rights of seafarers were delivered has been demonstrated time and again.”

The ability to amend the MLC has proved pivotal. Regularly referred to as a ‘bill of rights’ for seafarers, it sets a floor or minimum level for international standards on seafarers’ labour rights. Amendments made after the MLC came into force in 2013 – via the same formula of tripartite negotiations – include the coverage of vital issues for seafarers such as abandonment, violence and harassment, protecting victims of piracy and, most recently, the 2025 classification of seafarers as ‘key workers’, among others.

“It’s crucial to remember that the MLC is a ‘living instrument’ which must be continuously improved,” said Mark Dickinson, Nautilus International General Secretary, ITF Seafarers’ Section Second Vice Chair, and Seafarer Vice-Chairperson at the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC.

“Just as the maritime industry continues to evolve and new threats to seafarers’ rights and working conditions emerge, so too must we come together to ensure the MLC adapts to ensure that seafarers are protected at all times, in all their areas of work.

“After 20 years of the MLC, it’s important that we look back and reflect on a landmark achievement – but it’s even more important that this legacy is reflected in our ongoing work to ensure the MLC continues to protect every seafarer, everywhere.”

ENDS

Mark_D 20 Feb 2026

abandonment

human rights

maritime labour convention

ASOS and ITF team up to protect workers’ rights with new transport supply chain agreement

Mark_D — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:13:05 +0000

ASOS and ITF team up to protect workers’ rights with new transport supply chain agreement

Landmark deal extends ASOS’ commitment to workers’ rights into global transport and logistics.

ASOS, the global fashion destination, has signed a legally-binding agreement with global trade union federation, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), to protect transport workers’ rights and enhance the safety, resilience and sustainability of its supply chains.

The partnership builds on ASOS’ long-standing leadership in embedding human rights across its business and supply chains, extending this commitment into transport and logistics.

Under a legally-binding human rights due diligence (HRDD) agreement, ASOS and the ITF will cooperate in conducting HRDD in ASOS’ transport operations and logistics, ensuring respect for human rights and sustainability throughout ASOS’ supply chains. ITF will support ASOS in its HRDD policy design, the identification, avoidance and mitigation of risk, and the determination of remedies if rights are violated.

ASOS and ITF will also engage with ASOS' brand partners to share resources and educational tools on HRDD relating to transport and logistics.

ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton, said: “ASOS has been leading the charge from businesses that demand better protection for people and planet through human rights due diligence. So, we’re delighted to team up with ASOS in order to raise the bar globally for the transport workers who keep our world moving.

“Agreements like this are helping the ITF to shift the dial on the protection of transport workers’ rights. But we can only do this in tandem with pioneering, progressive businesses like ASOS, who are ready to push far beyond the minimum of what’s legally required of them.”

ASOS and the ITF will also work together on climate change and gender equality – key issues affecting transport and logistics workers in both directly operated and subcontracted transport operations in ASOS’ global supply chain.

ASOS Chief Executive Officer, José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, said: “Enhancing the human rights of everyone involved in our value chain – from designing and making clothes, to warehousing, shipping and delivery – has been a core mission for ASOS for close to a decade. Our new agreement with ITF will enable us to take our work even further and extend our action to protecting and improving the human rights of workers in our transport and logistics supply chain, reducing risk and improving supply chain resilience while delivering positive change for the people supporting our business.”

Under the agreement, the following key elements will form the basis of the conduct of HRDD in ASOS’ transport operations and logistics:

Meeting or exceeding the policies and practises outlined in the ITF Supply Chain Human Rights Principles and the ITF’s Eight Principles for Decent Work in Warehousing, Distribution and Logistics
A monitoring and compliance mechanism based on worker-centred HRDD approaches, including the ITF’s HRDD Guidance
Providing for or cooperating in remediation for rights violations, including when appropriate through collective bargaining with the ITF and/or its affiliated trade union members
Creating an enabling environment for mature industrial relations in ASOS’ own operations and supply chains; where possible, granting the ITF and its affiliates access to transport and logistics suppliers and workplaces within ASOS’ supply chains

In addition, ASOS will consider the ITF as a ‘stakeholder’ for any relevant legislation, as regards the human rights of transport and logistics workers in ASOS’ directly operated and subcontracted supply chain transport operations. ASOS also commits, where possible, to join the ITF in its national and international advocacy for high standards in transport supply chains.

“There’s no doubt that ASOS is leading the way in ensuring rights are protected in the ‘goods not for resale’ (GNFR) part of its supply chain,” added Cotton. “Many businesses are far too slow at prioritising GNFR and what it can mean for protecting millions of workers worldwide from rights abuses. But when a retailer like ASOS takes a lead on this, it sends a clear message for other business to step up to the plate.”

Notes

Under the terms of the agreement, ASOS and the ITF will form a joint technical working group which will meet twice-yearly to ensure that the mutual responsibilities and goals of the agreement are met
ASOS is one of 50 business and investors to call for a new UK human rights due diligence law, see here
See here for the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; here for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct; here for the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy; here for the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
See here to access the ITF’s Supply Chain Human Rights Principles
See here to access the ITF’s Maritime HRDD Guidance
See here for the ITF’s supply chain due diligence agreement with TFG Group, and here for the ITF’s agreement with New Look

About ASOS: Founded in 2000, ASOS has 18m active customers in over 200 markets. We bring fashion lovers around the world the best and most relevant fashion through our unique own brands including ASOS DESIGN, ARRANGE, COLLUSION, Topshop, and Topman, styled with the most exciting products from local and global partner brands. With our expert in-house design team and agile and flexible commercial model, including ASOS Fulfilment Services, Partner Fulfils, and Test & React, we make the latest trends accessible to all and give customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be.

About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation of transport workers’ unions recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives, connecting trade unions and workers’ networks from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice of 16.5 million transport workers who move the world.

Media contact, ITF: Mark Dearn +44 7738 832 413 media@itf.org.uk

Media contact, ASOS: press@asos.com

Mark_D 08 Sep 2025

IMO, ILO, ICS, ITF unite in call to protect seafarers against criminalisation

Mark_D — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:48:23 +0000

IMO, ILO, ICS, ITF unite in call to protect seafarers against criminalisation

Global maritime leaders reaffirm commitment to fair treatment, due process, and coordinated action to protect seafarers’ rights

Seafarers detained in connection with their professional duties must be treated fairly and with dignity, with full respect for their human rights, high-level participants from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have urged following a joint event at IMO Headquarters in London, United Kingdom.

Participants urged commitment to due process and the fair treatment of seafarers to allow them to be swiftly repatriated to their families in accordance with the IMO/ILO Guidelines, acknowledging that unfair criminalisation of seafarers continues to be of significant concern to seafarers and the wider industry, and reduces industry confidence.

“Global trade depends on the people – the seafarers – who are onboard ships day in, day out. The wellbeing of seafarers must remain a shared global priority. Stronger legal protections, increased awareness and continued collaboration across the maritime community are essential,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

“Ratification and enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) are crucial to protect seafarers against criminalisation. Let’s continue to join forces to ensure that good practices on the implementation of the IMO/ILO guidelines are shared and prosecutors and judges are made aware of the particularities of the work of seafarers, essential to ensure their fair treatment.

"ILO remains committed to use all the mechanisms at its disposal to support seafarers faced with these dreadful situations.” said Corinne Vargha, ILO Director, International Labour Standards Department.

“I look forward to carrying on the vital work that my predecessor Guy Platten has been leading and continuing to collaborate with our partners at the IMO, ILO and ITF – it is of the utmost importance. Strengthened cooperation across the maritime industry is vital to safeguard our seafarers against unfair criminalisation – seafarers should not be the victims of such actions and must be supported.

"This is for the betterment of the whole maritime sector and the movement of global trade,” said Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping.

“Seafarer criminalisation is a growing crisis that demands urgent and coordinated action. We need to move beyond policy and into implementation because while the Guidelines exist, too many governments are still falling short. As industry leaders, we have a shared responsibility to push for enforcement, to collect the data, and to hold the industry accountable.

"This crisis demands joint, sustained action from all industry stakeholders to ensure seafarers are treated fairly and protected. The power to protect seafarers lies in our joint voice, with the IMO, ILO, ICS and ITF united – we can drive the change that seafarers need and deserve," said Stephen Cotton, ITF General Secretary.

The event heard case studies from people directly involved in cases including from the seafarer, port, supply chain and shipowner perspective.

IMO and ILO, with the support of industry partners in the ILO–IMO Tripartite Working Group, have adopted Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained in Connection with Alleged Crimes. The Guidelines were approved by the IMO Legal Committee (LEG 112) in April. They cover issues related to due process, protection from arbitrary detention, coercion or intimidation, and ensuring that wages, medical care and repatriation rights should remain intact during any legal proceedings. They aim to improve coordination among countries, including port States, flag States, coastal States, States of which the seafarer is a national, as well as shipowners and seafarers.

Future actions

Participants urged further practical and concrete outcomes, including robust policies, targeted training programmes, enhanced enforcement and monitoring, and the sharing of best practices across jurisdictions.

Judiciary Engagement: Recognising that many judicial systems may lack the expertise to handle maritime cases swiftly and fairly, participants encouraged the training of judicial authorities in maritime law and seafarers’ rights to ensure timely and just outcomes.
Stronger Industry Coordination: Emphasis was placed on greater coordination between Member States and industry to enable consistent implementation of legal protections and to support the rapid release and repatriation of detained seafarers.
Role of Insurers: Insurers, including P&I Clubs, were urged to provide legal support coverage and uphold seafarers’ welfare in cases of unfair treatment of seafarers.
Logistics and supply chain stability: Participants highlighted how seafarer criminalisation disrupts crew changes, undermines maritime reliability, and creates reputational and operational risks throughout the global supply chain. Maritime and logistics companies were urged to:
- Support clear protection protocols.
- Advocate for consistent treatment across jurisdictions.
- Invest in awareness and welfare initiatives across shipping and port networks.
Addressing seafarer abandonment and detention-related costs: There was strong consensus that seafarers - key workers essential to global trade - must not bear the burden of legal uncertainty, detention, or abandonment due to systemic gaps or negligence.

The event in full can be watched here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygwHyMHtSgw

Media contacts:

ITF – media@itf.org.uk

IMO - media@imo.org

ILO – Beatriz Vacotto: vacotto@ilo.org Haq Tariq: haq@ilo.org

ICS - Katerina Dimitropoulos: katerina.dimitropoulos@ics-shipping.org

Mark_D 18 Jun 2025

ITF calls for workers’ rights and democracy in Korea

Sian Manaz — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:22:57 +0000

ITF calls for workers’ rights and democracy in Korea

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) strongly condemns President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to illegally impose martial law in South Korea. The ITF’s 16.5 million transport workers stand in unswerving solidarity with Korean workers in their continued fight to defend their democracy.

The world watched in shock as President Yoon Suk Yeol illegally imposed martial law on Tuesday. Using language reminiscent of the military dictatorships of the 1980s, Yoon justified this move as necessary to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and maintain constitutional order.”

The move failed to meet the criteria called for in the constitution (Article 77) namely the existence of a state of war or similar national emergency, and has since been overturned.

“President Yoon’s anti-democratic crackdown is a brazen violation of international human rights and democratic principles,” said ITF President Paddy Crumlin. “Banning workers’ rights to strike, prohibiting political activity, and silencing protests are tactics of authoritarian regimes, not democratic leaders. These actions are nothing short of an assault on the fundamental freedoms of Korean workers.”

The Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) is calling for Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation with strike action and protests taking place demanding the protection of democracy. South Korean opposition parties have submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon over the short-lived declaration of martial law.

Paddy Crumlin, ITF’s President said: “The ITF is very proud to stand today with trade unions in South Korea who are taking such a strong stance against militarism, and in defence of their rights. Internationally, trade unions join together today and every day to say, ‘No surrender to despots, victory to Korean workers.’”

ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said: “The ITF unequivocally condemns this attack on democracy by President Yoon Suk Yeol. Trade unions have throughout history been the voice of workers, calling for the rights of workers to be respected and fighting back against attempts to silence their voice. Workers in South Korea are continuing that tradition right now, by fighting to defend human rights and in opposing unlawful martial law.”

ITF affiliates the KPTU-Korean Railway Workers' Unions and the KPTU-Seoul Transit Corporation Labor Union have strike action planned for 5 December against dangerous and unequal workplaces. The KPTU and its transport sector affiliates have declared their intention to continue collective action together with other unions until Yoon has stepped down.

Sian Manaz 04 Dec 2024

ITF fights for labour rights at the International Labour Conference

Mark_D — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 12:32:38 +0000

ITF fights for labour rights at the International Labour Conference

The ITF joined trade union allies from around the world in Geneva to call for action on serious breaches of workers’ rights

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) was in Switzerland in June for the annual meeting of what’s become known as the ‘international parliament of labour’ – the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) International Labour Conference (ILC).

This key event in the global labour calendar brings together representatives from governments, trade unions and employers to establish, adopt, and monitor international labour standards and to set the policy agenda of the ILO.

The ITF joined a number of ITF-affiliated transport trade unions from across the world in Geneva, as well as fellow global union federations under the banner of the Council of Global Unions (CGU), currently chaired by UNI Global Union General Secretary, Christy Hoffman.

ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton addressed the Conference and called for unity in confronting the overlapping crises facing working people around the world.

“Globally we are facing converging economic, political, social and climate crises that are threatening working people and have the potential to exacerbate existing inequalities,” he said.

“We are seeing a decent work shortage in transport and across the global economy - workplaces are becoming increasingly unsafe, employment increasingly precarious, standards of living are falling and workplace rights – including the fundamental right to strike and right to collective bargaining – are under attack. Democracy around the world is being threatened – no social justice can exist in societies where there is a violation of basic human rights, which is why I want to put on record our full support for the Global Coalition on Social Justice.

“Together, we have a collective responsibility to respond to these crises – to build better workplaces and ensure inclusive and effective labour protection for all workers.”

This year’s Conference also took the initial step towards establishing the first-ever international labour standard governing biological hazards in the world of work. The ITF Legal Department’s Helen Breese participated in the deliberations representing the voice of transport workers in these critical standard-setting negotiations.

The below interventions were made at the ‘Conference Committee on the Application of Standards’, which examines whether or not ILO conventions are being properly applied, with governments given the opportunity to respond. The Committee makes recommendations on steps governments could take, or for technical assistance on the engagement of ILO missions.

Ecuador: Fishers among self-employed and informal workers without trade union rights

The ITF explained to the Committee that self-employed and informal workers in Ecuador do not enjoy trade union rights under the country’s Labour Code – a breach of ILO Convention 87 (C087), Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise.

In Ecuador, fishing is a billion-dollar industry, with the country home to the largest tuna fleet in the Pacific Ocean and the second biggest tuna industry in the world.

But fishers, who regularly change vessels and have contracts issued for each trip – which usually last 20-40 days – are classed as self-employed. This means that workers in the wild-capture tuna fleet in Manta have been unable to establish their union – the Sindicato de Marineros de Manabi – despite years of trying.

Worse still, fishing is classed as one of the world’s most dangerous industries. Only two weeks before the Geneva meeting, four fishers died in a vessel fire in Manta, while a vessel observer was killed in April in a trawler collision.

“These fishers need and deserve a union to be able to bargain collectively - at the most appropriate level suitable to this most particular industry,” ITF Legal Director, Ruwan Subasinghe, told the Committee.

Eswatini: Quash convictions, drop charges against trade unionists

In an emotional intervention, ITF Legal Director Ruwan Subasinghe explained that he was sat behind the wife of trade union lawyer, Thulani Maseko, when she came to the ILC in 2015 to appeal for his release from jail.

Maseko was jailed for two years for speaking out on the injustices a worker faced in Eswatini’s judicial system. He was eventually released in 2017 after serving his full sentence – but Maseko was shot dead in his house last year in what is believed to be a political killing.

The dire situation faced by trade unionists in Eswatini, and the failure to uphold Convention 87 (C087) on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, sadly continues.

At the end of 2022, ITF-affiliate, the Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers’ Union (SWATCAWU) called a “job stay away” with demands to improve working conditions and to release jailed political leaders. Only a few weeks later, SWATCAWU General Secretary, Sticks Nkambule, survived an assassination attempt. The next day, heavily armed state forces raided his home and village.

Fortunately, Nkambule escaped, but he has been in exile ever since, with the SWATCAWU office now under constant surveillance and subject to regular forced entry from armed police.

“This is no way for trade unionists to conduct their activities in full freedom,” Subasinghe said.

“The Government of Eswatini must refrain from the violent treatment and harassment, including judicial harassment, of trade unionists.”

The consensual conclusions adopted by the Committee in this case called on the Government to drop all charges against Nkambule and to ensure his safe return home from exile.

Philippines: a culture of impunity for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances

Speaking to Conference Committee on the Application of Standards on behalf of Building and Woodworkers International (BWI), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and IndustriALL, BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson outlined the continuing failure to realise Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (ILO Convention 87, C087) in the Philippines.

Yuson said he wanted to explain, “the risks my brothers and sisters back home face from being a trade unionist”, including a number of cases which occurred after an ILO visit to the country. In 2023, the ILO dispatched a ‘High-Level Tripartite Mission’ (HLTM) to the Philippines – missions are made up of governments, employers and workers’ groups, and they investigate violations of international labour standards and labour rights.

Yuson said that since the Mission, 24 trade union leaders are still jailed “on trumped-up charges”, two of whom were arrested after the Mission. There have also been three new cases of abduction or enforced disappearance, while a large number of representatives from sectoral trade unions and labour movement campaign organisation, SENTRO (Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa), are subject to ongoing ‘red-tagging’, surveillance and profiling.

Yuson explained that since the Duterte regime took office in 2016 – sparking a surge in red-tagging and extrajudicial killings – 72 trade unionists have been killed.

“I cannot make this intervention without restating their stories,” Yuson said. “Alex Dolorosa was reported missing in April 2023, and his body was later found days later with multiple stab wounds. Jude Thaddeus Fernandez was gunned down in September 2023.”

While killings have declined under the new Marcos administration, rogue state forces still operate under a culture of impunity.

“It is imperative that the government immediately address and investigate the labour rights violations, as well as implement effective reforms to protect trade unionists in the country and all workers’ right to organise,” he said Yuson.

Tunisia: Collective bargaining restrictions affecting 40 trade unions

Kemal Özkan, Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL, spoke to the International Labour Conference Committee about workers’ rights abuses in Tunisia on behalf of IndusrtiALL, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and Building and Woodworkers International.

“In Tunisia, union leaders face dismissals and transfers from jobs because of their union work,” Özkan said. “Union leaders are subject to fabricated court cases because of their union activities, and some have been jailed. The case of brother Anis Kaabi from the transport sector, who spent 14 months in prison, is a blatant example of such violations.”

UGTT (Union Générale Tunisienne du Travai – Tunisian General Labour Union) is struggling to achieve genuine social dialogue and respect for freedom of association in Tunisia. However, since 2021, the Government of Tunisia has indirectly suspended the work of the National Council of Social Dialogue by failing to appoint its own representatives to the Council.

Government circular Nr.20, issued in 2021, restricts collective bargaining for around 40 trade unions and prevents the implementation of agreements between unions and respective ministries.

At the same time, the Government is unilaterally amending labour laws and excluding UGTT from discussions, while also cancelling concessions enshrined in international law that allow workers holding a trade union position to work full time for UGTT: trade unionists Tahar Berberi, Bassam Ben Treka and Mohamed Bedera have all been asked to pay huge financial compensation to the Government, with Berberi – a former IndustriALL vice-president – facing a trial and blocked from travelling abroad due to his union work.

The Government crackdown has also targeted international trade unionists. European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary, Esther Lynch, was ordered to leave the country after protesting the trade union crackdown – she had travelled to Tunisia alongside other international union leaders to show solidarity to UGTT.

These examples leave severe concerns about the failure of Tunisia to respect the ILO Convention 87 (CO87) on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and Convention 98 (CO98) on The Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.

Özkan said: “We call on the government of Tunisia to implement all the signed agreements between the government and the UGTT and social partners, end all forms of harassment of trade union leaders, respect the national and international agreements and well-established national practices on union representation.”

Turkey: Borusan dockers, chronic failure to protect workers from anti-union dismissals

In March this year, Turkish union Liman-İş started organising at the port of Borusan, in the country’s Bursa province. The organisers’ efforts met with success - 85% of the port’s workers joined the union.

Only three weeks later, six workers were dismissed for the sole reason that they joined Liman-İş - in direct contradiction of Convention 87 (C087) on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise.

But after their union brothers and sisters organised a four-day work stoppage, the workers were reinstated, and the company – Borusan Logistics – vowed to stop blocking union organising.

“This is when things deteriorated,” International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Legal Director, Ruwan Subasinghe, explained to the Committee. “Almost immediately, the employer began to threaten workers and demand that they resign their union membership.”

By the next month, May, 37 workers – all lead organisers or union contacts - were put on leave. Less than two weeks later, they were all sacked via SMS after refusing to resign their union membership – with the ITF coordinating global solidarity action soon after.

"These 37 workers and their families are only a fraction of the people affected by Turkey’s longstanding failure to protect workers against anti-union dismissals in the private sector,” said Subasinghe.

“Turkey must, as a matter of urgency, adopt effective and sufficiently dissuasive sanctions against anti-union dismissals and ensure that workers who have suffered such prejudice, including the 37 dockers, are entitled to reinstatement in employment and full compensation in financial terms.

“Adequate protections against anti-union dismissals are not only necessary to protect workers rights and their livelihoods, they are essential to ensure the very existence of trade unions.”

Image credit: Violaine Martin/ILO. Image used unedited, under license.

Mark_D 01 Jul 2024

Data analytics in action: how ITF Inspectorate data holds companies responsible for protecting rights in maritime supply chains

Mark_D — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:05:01 +0000

Data analytics in action: how ITF Inspectorate data holds companies responsible for protecting rights in maritime supply chains

Comment article by Seth Payer, Head of Data and Research at the International Transport Workers' Federation

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has a unique and powerful influence on the wages and conditions of seafarers working on Flag of Convenience ships, through negotiating ITF agreements with shipowners.

ITF’s Inspectorate – made up of 133 Inspectors covering more than 120 ports across 59 countries – police and enforce these agreements. They can legally board a vessel with an ITF agreement to carry out an inspection to check that the terms and conditions of the agreement are being complied with. Inspections are also carried out on vessels without at ITF agreement and seafarers/crew can reach out to any ITF Inspector.

ITF Inspectors educate seafarers about their human and trade union rights. In 2023, ITF Inspectors completed over 10,500 inspections/cases, supporting thousands of seafarers on a varying number of issues including wage claims, repatriation, medical, lack of food and water cases, among others.

Inspectors are trained to look for exploitation, hours of work/rest – even for signs of forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery.

Information from each inspection is stored in a global database with over 15 years of data and nearly 200,000 inspection reports.

The global database holds information on problems faced by seafarers, including unsafe vessels, poor safety practices, unpaid wages, poor on-board conditions, fatigue, criminalisation and abandonment.

Combined with data related to vessels and trade, this information equates to hundreds of millions of rows of data points and around five terabytes of data.

New skills in data management, processing and interpretation are used to aggregate and analyse this data set.

The collection and analysis of this inspectorate data sits at the heart of the ITF’s approach to Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). The ITF’s HRDD model is based around the internationally recognised principles of identification, prevention and mitigation of human rights abuses, particularly within the maritime industry.

The Inspectorate data also sits behind analysis that forms the foundation of the ‘ITF Rights Check’. The confidential ITF Rights Check informs companies of any violations of standards throughout companies’ maritime supply chains and specifically on ships carrying their cargo, and establishes a dialogue between the company and the ITF on prevention and mitigation of further human rights abuses.

ITF Inspectorate data provides real-time insights into compliance with labour standards, wages, working conditions, and other relevant factors that directly impact seafarers' well-being. There is no other organisation generating similar data or doing similar work.

This data plays a crucial role in the ITF’s HRDD approach within the maritime industry, and it is pivotal in ensuring that companies comply with international labour standards and regulatory requirements. By regularly monitoring and analysing inspectorate data, companies can assess their performance against established benchmarks, identify areas of non-compliance, and take corrective actions to address deficiencies.

Cooperation agreements between the ITF and cargo-owning companies based on data-driven approaches will allow companies to demonstrate due diligence in their supply chain management practices, mitigating legal and reputational risks associated with human and labour rights violations. By working with the ITF on their efforts to monitor, prevent, and address labour rights abuses, companies can enhance transparency and improve standards for seafarers.

As mandated reporting requirements increase, the importance of this data will increase. By harnessing the power of inspectorate data and advanced analytics, the ITF is generating valuable insights into labour conditions. These insights are driving meaningful change and will ensure not only that companies comply with international labour standards, but also that the rights of the seafarers who move our world are respected.

Mark_D 15 Apr 2024

UNRWA defunding is disproportionate and dangerous, governments must urgently renew and strengthen funding

Zeyn_M — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 09:31:17 +0000

UNRWA defunding is disproportionate and dangerous, governments must urgently renew and strengthen funding

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) strongly condemns the recent funding suspensions by 16 governments and attacks on the credibility of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and calls for an urgent renewal and strengthening of funding.

The assault on UNRWA's funding jeopardises the lives of millions in Gaza and millions more refugees in neighbouring countries. Withdrawing funding from UNRWA in this critical moment risks exacerbating an already dire humanitarian catastrophe, including a serious risk of famine to the 5.9 million Palestine refugees eligible for UNRWA services in the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and in besieged Gaza.

Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the ITF said: “UNRWA plays an indispensable role in providing essential services such as education, healthcare, and social services to over 2 million Gazans, and millions more Palestinians refugees. By withdrawing support, countries risk further marginalising and jeopardising the lives of those already under siege and under incredible hardship.”

The suspensions follow allegations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas attacks in Israel in October. The highest investigative body in the UN system, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), is now investigating these allegations. UNRWA quickly terminating the contracts of the accused staff members and appointed an independent Review Group to “assess whether the Agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made”. The panel is due to deliver its report in April.

UNRWA provides essential government services in Gaza, including running 278 schools for 280,000 children and 22 primary healthcare centres, while also providing food to the approximately 2 million people who have been under siege by Israel since early October.

The recent attacks on UNRWA come in direct contradiction to UN Security Council Resolutions 2712 and 2720 focused on restoring basic services and accelerating humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the Order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Gaza Genocide Convention case filed by South Africa against Israel which issued binding provisional measures aimed at addressing the plausible evidence of genocide in Gaza. This ruling also highlighted the need for immediate action to address the ongoing human rights crisis in Gaza. Withdrawing funding from UNRWA undermines international law and undermines efforts to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable populations.

“This action is not only a violation of Palestinian refugees' rights but is also a betrayal of the principles of justice and solidarity on which international relations are built. The ITF urges governments around the world to reconsider their decisions and renew their commitments to UNRWA. It is only through international solidarity and cooperation that we can ensure the continued provision of vital humanitarian assistance to those in desperate need,” said Cotton.

The ITF stands united with other global unions and organisations in advocating for the restoration of funding to UNRWA and in supporting the rights and dignity of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and across the region.

Echoing the International Trade Union Confederation we urge the international community to:

Condemn the attacks on UNRWA and work collaboratively to rectify the unjust and harmful withdrawal of financial support.
Pressure governments to reverse their decisions to withdraw funding from UNRWA.
Recognise the gravity of the situation and take immediate steps to renew and strengthen funding commitments to UNRWA.

Zeyn_M 26 Feb 2024

human rights

Arab World

ITF joins global unions in calling for tougher EU action against Myanmar regime

Zeyn_M — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:17:32 +0000

ITF joins global unions in calling for tougher EU action against Myanmar regime

On the third anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has joined global unions to call on the European Union (EU) to re-evaluate its dealings with Myanmar. Over the past three years, the military regime has killed more than 4,000 people, arrested almost 26,000, and suspended civil society organisations, including free trade unions.

The letter, addressed to the EU leadership, calls for an urgent re-evaluation of funding and support for projects in the country which have been condemned as shams by Myanmar's now banned trade unions.

Signatories of the letter were General Secretaries of the following organisations, which are members of the Council of Global Unions: UNI Global Union, EI, ITUC, BWI, EI, IAEA, IndustriALL, IFJ, ITF, IUF, PSI, TUAC

Letter:

As representatives of the trade unions of the world, we are writing to you to request that the EU reevaluate its policies towards Myanmar, in particular the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade policy, and support for the Multistakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar Apparel Industry programme (MADE in Myanmar).

EBA was introduced in 2013 as recognition of Myanmar’s journey towards democracy. On the third anniversary of the military coup, we believe it is now obvious that this journey has gone into reverse and that EBA should be withdrawn.

MADE in Myanmar is supported financially by the EU in partnership with EU garment brands, and claims to support labour rights organisations and trade unions and address workers’ grievances. Myanmar’s trade unions – which were banned by the junta - have condemned this programme as a sham, designed to whitewash labour rights abuses and provide political cover for garment brands who find Myanmar a cheap and convenient sourcing location. The regime continues to arrest trade unionists and use military force to suppress protests and worker activism.

The military regime has killed more than 4,000 people, arrested almost 26,000, and suspended civil society organisations, including free trade unions. Many state employees, including 200,000 teachers, refused to work for the regime and joined the Civil Disobedience Movement. Many were killed or imprisoned, while others have lost their jobs and are experiencing extreme hardship. The EU acknowledges this in its recent 10.5 million Euro aid package to address the hunger crisis.

The EU condemned the coup in February 2021, and has imposed targeted sanctions on named individuals and organisations linked to the worst abuses. In January 2023, ahead of the second anniversary of the coup, the EU warned that further measures would be taken if the situation did not improve. We believe it is past time to take those measures.

Myanmar’s trade unions say that the banning of their organisations, and the absence of freedom of association, means workers face conditions of modern slavery. This finding was confirmed by the ILO Commission of inquiry, which reported far-reaching violations of freedom of association and forced labour Conventions. This means that clothing made in conditions of modern slavery is being sold to EU consumers by EU companies, with EU financial and political support.

Before the ILO report was released, the EU said it would consider its policies in light of the report’s findings. The report is unequivocal, and details violence against trade union leaders,
the issuing of arrest warrants and the cancellation of passports, instances of forced labour, the use of human shields, forced recruitment to the military and the imposition of martial law. Given the impossibility of conducting due diligence in an environment where freedom of association is not possible, the MADE in Myanmar programme is untenable.

The military junta is widely considered to be in a precarious position, losing territory to armed groups and facing sustained resistance in the areas it does control. Due to the refusal of many civil servants to work for the junta, the state barely functions. The regime desperately needs foreign exchange to buy fuel for transport and electricity generation, weapons and ammunition.

By supporting trade with Myanmar through EBA, and EU investment through MADE, the EU provides a vital lifeline to a despotic regime that is on its last legs. An extension of sanctions, the withdrawal of trade preferences and an end to support for EU brands in Myanmar would dramatically weaken the regime and hasten the return to democracy.

The National Unity Government (NUG), formed by the parties elected democratically in November 2020, is ready to resume the journey to democracy as soon as the regime falls. The NUG has formed a tripartite structure, with the main trade union federation and a democratic employers’ association, that pledges to implement the recommendations of the ILO report when democracy is restored.

This structure, which reflects EU values, deserves to be supported. The EU must send a clear message that doing business with a repressive regime while a democratic alternative waits in the wings is not acceptable. We urge you to withdraw EBA and the MADE in Myanmar programme.

Yours sincerely,

General Secretaries of the following organisations, which are members of the Council of Global Unions: UNI Global Union, EI, ITUC, BWI, IAEA, IndustriALL, IFJ, ITF, IUF, PSI, TUAC

Zeyn_M 01 Feb 2024

human rights

Asia Pacific

ITF calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridor for lifesaving aid in Gaza

Sian Manaz — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:36:21 +0000

ITF calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridor for lifesaving aid in Gaza

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is calling for an immediate, United Nations enforced and guaranteed, ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel, and genuine efforts towards a sustainable peace, including the immediate return of all hostages and establishment of humanitarian corridors to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe and loss of civilian lives.

As transport unions we have a proud history of standing on the side of oppressed people. Our Constitution and policies are built on principles of peace, justice, equal opportunity, anti-imperialism, democracy and sovereignty. We have a moral responsibility to objectively identify injustices and to work with all parties in the process of building a true and lasting peace. We ask all ITF affiliated unions to join us in speaking out for peace and taking action in the face of injustice as we have done historically.

The ITF refers to its statement on 9 October and reiterates that the only viable path to lasting peace is an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine and a two-state solution.

Almost 8,000 people have been killed since 7 October including 1,400 Israelis by Hamas and over 6,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli armed forces, with thousands feared missing beneath the rubble.

The situation in Gaza is dire. Israel has disconnected essential services including water, fuel and electricity and is blocking access to lifesaving aid and supplies. Hospitals are reportedly ceasing to function as water and fuel run out. Mosques, churches, schools and hospitals have been destroyed and 1.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes to escape the bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces.

The ITF supports the UN call for an unconditional humanitarian corridor into Gaza to provide immediate, adequate life-saving aid. Israel’s 16-year blockade of Gaza has left eight in 10 people dependent on international aid, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The UN estimates that about 100 trucks a day are needed to provide the essential needs in Gaza. Current aid entering Gaza falls far below what is needed.

Without immediate humanitarian aid corridors being opened to deliver lifesaving food, water, fuel and medical supplies, all lives in Gaza are at risk including innocent children, women and the elderly.

All governments and the international community must act for peace and cooperate with a view to preventing and halting international crimes. The historical context and root causes of the current crisis remain the fundamental issue that must be addressed. Lasting peace must be based on UN Security Council Resolution 242 and 338, with an end to the illegal occupation and a two-state solution.

The ITF is calling for:

An immediate ceasefire in Palestine and Israel to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and further loss of civilian lives.
The immediate and unconditional release of all civilian hostages, in accordance with international law.
Humanitarian aid corridors and the delivery of life saving aid to meet the needs of millions of people in Gaza.
All parties to respect international law to protect civilian lives.
The International Criminal Court and UN to activate mechanisms to prevent and end international crimes.
A political resolution and support from all governments for peace with the realisation of a two-state solution with an end to the siege of Gaza, illegal settlements and the occupation based on UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
We also reiterate demands from the global unions statement on 11 July to:

- Demand that the UN intervenes to protect the lives of the people of Palestine, including through the use of Peacekeeping Forces.

- Call on the global labour movement, under the leadership of the global unions, to consider and pursues all possible options to target and pressure companies, employers and investors that are involved in, or that facilitate the expansion and continuation of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.

We offer solidarity and support to the children, civilians and trade unionists affected by violence in Palestine and Israel, and to all members of our affiliates affected by this conflict.

Sian Manaz 26 Oct 2023

palestine

Arab World

Rights