YCW Philippines: The Law, the Reality and the Limit of Contractualization – What Every “Endo” Worker Should Know
If you are a recent graduate or a young worker from the province, looking for your first job or having been looking for work for a long time in the Manila metropolitan area, offers may exist, but these are usually contractual agreements. Some of you may be hesitant to take on these positions, while some have no option but to accept the job. This reality is reflected in many testimonies of YCW members in Valenzuela City.
YCW Philippines, together with other trade unions and organizations, is calling for an “ENDO” of the contractualization system in the Philippines. Contractualization is actually bad not just for workers but for all Filipinos. It may take a decade of struggle, but right now, we can already do something about it.
Corporate Accountability In Global Value Chains Now: We Need Climate Justice And Respect For Human Rights!
“As for hygiene and safety, they don't give us enough protective equipment, and when we ask for new equipment, it's deducted from our wages. There's no toilet paper in the toilets. Sexual harassment and harassment at work are invisibilized. There is no union in the company, there are only a few people who call themselves ambassadors and are appointed by the employer.”
This is part of Helen's (24) story. She works for a textile company located in a free trade zone in Central America. Her company produces clothing for brands sold all over the world, including, of course, Europe. However, the industrial sewing machines are sold by European, Chinese and North American companies. This is an example of our globalized economy, which is clearly in need of adequate laws concerning international value chains.
YCW Namibia Resuming Training for Action
In August 2023, Ana Cecilia Salazar from the IYCW International Secretariat and John Ofori, PANAF coordinator, visited the Namibia YCW national movement. Their aim was to support new processes and promote YCW grassroots groups and the continuity of work with young workers.
The two international leaders first wanted to discover the context in which young workers lead and cope with life in their country, and one of the life testimonies they heard came from a Namibian YCW woman activist:
Guatemala YCW: Training in screen printing and sublimation to give young people access to employment
Access to employment is one of the most fundamental rights, a guarantee of dignity and an essential means of subsistence for every human being. However, in a post-conflict country marked by poverty and low school enrolment, access to this essential right remains a distant goal. The Guatemalan labor market is almost entirely dependent on the informal economy, and the few formal jobs available are under constant threat from labor flexibility. Non-compliance with labor legislation, the weakness of labor-related institutions and the partisan politicization of access to employment exacerbate the job crisis. These problems are at the root of phenomena such as rampant crime and mass migration.
YCW Germany: A National Action Group on Gender Equality
As in every other part of the world, gender inequality is a reality in Germany, a European country with a population of over 83 million. Before the German YCW held its National Action Days in 2017, the movement had already pinpointed gender as one aspect leading to inequalities in society and felt the need to deepen its analysis on the issue. Its concrete starting point was the reflection in its action group on precarious work, which had identified the connection between precarious work and gender. Decision was made to set up a national action group on gender equality.
- The International YCW wishes you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024 !
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- Third Issue of IYCW Bulletin: "From Peru, in the midst of war, Moving towards the Centenary of the IYCW"