Breaking news

India: Cement unions call for improved health and safety in multinational corporations

The strategic planning meeting saw the participation of representatives from IndustriALL affiliates the Indian National Cement Workers’ Federation and Pragatisheel Cement Shramik Sangh, whose members work in cement manufacturing units across India.

The Indian cement unions stressed that recent fatal accidents in MNC cement units in India involving precarious workers call for increased attention to OHS issues. Companies must respect workers’ lives and act swiftly to improve safety in cement factories. As well as fatalities, other health issues faced by workers, including concerns emerging from carrying heavy bags and the presence of crystalline dust, must be addressed urgently. The unions decided to ensure that there will be a health and safety expert in each union.

The unions stated that the companies have to provide adequate training on health and safety policies and procedures and create awareness of health and safety rights of all workers, including contract workers. Management has to create appropriate institutional mechanisms and commit to involve workers’ representatives in finding solutions to stop fatal accidents and to improve health and safety practices. Further, cement unions resolved to strengthen their participation in national and international actions and campaigns to improve OHS in the cement industry.

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director for mechanical engineering and materials industries said,

“Cement workers are human beings and they are entitled to safe workplaces, to fair working conditions and proper payment. No matter whether they are contract workers or regular workers, all workers who contribute to the wealth of the companies are entitled to fair treatment. IndustriALL Global Union demands that cement producers, multinational and local, respect workers‘ lives!“

Cement unions decided to intensify coordination between permanent and precarious workers and deepen union organizing initiatives both in MNCs and in Indian cement units to bring more precarious workers into the union fold. Unions also stressed that they are open for engaging in constructive social dialogue with management to improve industrial relations and protect workers’ interests.

Apoorva Kaiwar, head of the regional office of IndustriALL in South Asia, was pleased with the results and said,

“The cooperation between our affiliates in the cement sector is our strength in the struggles against powerful employers. We will encourage a broad coalition of cement unions to improve the health and safety conditions and wages for both, permanent and contract workers.”

Source

Disclaimer: All third-party opinions expressed via IASWI accounts linked to and from this page are those of the individuals concerned and do not necessarily represent those of IASWI or its affiliates. No copyright infringement is intended nor implied. To discuss this disclaimer or the removal of appropriate credit for materials of which you hold copyright please contact us. All the third party videos and contents found on workers-iran.org is not hosted on our servers; all third party videos or contents are hosted on a third party site. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and news sources on the www.workers-iran.org do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the IASWI or official policies of the IASWI. These posts are only generated for the purpose of information sharing on the labour related issues.

Leave a Reply