The latest data by the unemployment agency Adem has decreased by 12% over the last year. At the end of 2018 there were 15,186 unemployed in the grand duchy. Five out of every one hundred employee was out of a job. Earlier this month Adem announced jobseekers are now allowed to register online instead of signing up in person at one of the seven regional agencies.
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[close]Uber drivers that are members of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) are going to strike by not using the app for 24 hours and hence being not available for work. The Uber drivers demand an end to deactivation of drivers and want more respect for workers’ rights. Uber lost a court battle two years ago when an employment tribunal found against its classification of drivers as independent contractors, although the company continues to appeal against that ruling. Uber‘s continued appeals have meant that ruling has not yet been implemented.
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[close]The problems at Uljanik shipyard, that is dealing with serious financial troubles, are far from over. After another wave of strike actions last month (see our December newsletter) delayed wages are still not paid. Trade unions now urgently asked the economy ministry to organise a meeting with the management board and the finance ministry in order to find a way to pay delayed wages shipyard workers. Not only did the company miss the deadline for the payment of the December wages, many works still await payment for September, October and November.
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[close]According to trade union federation CGTP, the privatisations that were carried out in the last decades harmed workers and worsened the quality of public services. During a meeting the union stated that workers in companies involved in privatisations had lost rights and working conditions and that privatisations led to an increased inequality between the coastal areas and the inland areas where essential public services have been cut down.
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[close]The fund that compensates victims of asbestos decided to pay also indemnification to family members left behind. At the same time the group of victims liable for compensation was enlarged. Originally only those whose mesotheliom has not been recognized as an occupational disease such as hobbyists were supported. From now on persons whose disease has been recognized as an occupational disease can also apply for compensation. Each year about 12 persons fall victim to lethal asbestos cancer.
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[close]A long-running industrial conflict at the Spanish Post, that included multiple strike actions and protests, has ended with a new two-year collective agreement. Unions UGT, CCOO, CSIF and Sindicato Libre are satisfied with the new agreement that is believed to be one of the best agreements in the history of the Spanish post. Key elements of the new agreement include: a wage increase of 11,74%, 12,000 new permanent job vacancies, the decrease of temporary employment at the Spanish post from 30% to 8%, a voluntary early retirement scheme and the elimination of the compulsory nature of Saturday shifts
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[close]A weeklong strike by coal miners at the state-owned coal and power complex CE Oltenia (CEO) ended with a pay deal. The strike at CEO, that provides about 30% of the electricity that the country needs, started when negotiations on the unions demand for a 45% wage increase failed. After a local court declared the strike illegal the union and company management reached a deal that put an end to strike. Besides an agreement on a wage hike the mining company has agreed not to punish the workers who participated in the strike.
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[close]Several media outlets reported there had been a potential leak of dangerous substances at the construction site on the R7 dual-carriageway. However, no dangerous substances were measured in the air. The health problems of workers have also not been confirmed. The police will now check whether a crime such as scaremongering has been committed because the incident looks like false alarm.
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[close]The Glasgow city council confirmed there is a 500 million pounds agreement in principle on payments to resolve historical unequal pay claims. The women have been fighting for twelve years to get the compensation for the years that they did not receive equal payments for their work for the city council. Besides legal cases they brought to court the women also organised massive demonstrations and a 48-hour women’s equal pay strike last year. The council aims to pay the 500 million pounds bill by borrowing money and mortgaging some of its buildings.
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[close]It has proven very difficult to tackle the problem of the exploitation of migrant workers in the country’s agricultural sector. After multiple strike action by migrant workers who were protesting harsh working conditions and underpayment in September 2011 the country passed a law that introduced "unlawful mediation and labour exploitation" as an offense carrying up to eight years in prison. Up until then, people who exploited migrant workers didn't risk much more than a 50 euro fine. In 2016, the law was extended to employers in a bid to drive down the demand for intermediation. But despite the new laws the problem has persisted due to the workers' extreme vulnerability and their exposure to blackmail, if they're undocumented or their residence permit is directly dependent on their employer. A young Cameroonian migrant has come forward with a whole new approach to tackle the problem, he hopes that consumers’ choices in time will put an end to exploitation of migrant workers. With the introduction of an ethical label for products like tomato sauce consumers will be able to identify ethically-sourced products.
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