| Swiss NGOs back Triumph workers in RP, Thailand |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Brady Eviota, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau | |||
| Friday, 19 March 2010 16:44 | |||
|
BERN, Switzerland - Swiss NGOs and women's groups have taken up the controversial dismissal of up to 3,600 workers in the Philippine and Thailand factories of the Swiss underwear and lingerie giant Triumph International. In fact, the Triumph workers layoffs was among the issues carried in the March 13 demonstration held here as part of the Third International Action of the World March of Women (WMW). Some 8,000 women from more than 50 women’s groups, unions and associations marched here against poverty and violence towards women. The Berne Declaration (or Erklärung von Bern), a Swiss non-governmental organization with more than 20,000 members and with offices in Zürich and Lausanne, claimed that Triumph International dismissed the workers for their union activities. Regula Eckerle of the Regionalgruppe Bern said they believe the workers, of which around 1,660 worked for the Manila factories of Triumph International (Philippines) Ltd. und Star Performance Inc., were unjustly dismissed and should be reinstated to their jobs. ‘Protest underwear’ At the march, Berne Declaration members sold “Protest Underwear” which they said were sewn by the laid-off workers of Triumph. At 20 Francs each, the dismissed workers will receive 15 Francs (about P600) from each piece sold to earn income while out of work and to support their union. It has held protests before the Triumph main offices in Zurzach, Zürich and has sponsored meetings between Swiss economics department officials and union representatives from the Philippines and Thailand. Berne Declaration also supported protests before the Swiss embassies in Bangkok and Manila to alert Swiss authorities to the conduct of Swiss companies or their retailers worldwide. Jake Clemencio, a Filipino member of the Bern Declaration, said the biggest Swiss trade union, Unia, which has over 200,000 members nationwide, also carries the issue of the dismissed Filipino women workers. “We are in fact saying that Filipino women workers should also have the same rights and privileges in our society, especially in the globalized society,” said Clemencio. The Berne Declaration said the fight of the dismissed Triumph workers is also supported by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), the Asian Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC), the Committee for Asian Women (CAW), and TIE Germany. “(We) urge Switzerland to take a leading role in promoting equitable development and encourage Swiss corporations to act in a socially and ecologically responsible manner around the world,” it said in its website. (03/18/2010)
|
Related Items
Newsflash
| A human rights group warned Friday in their annual report that the year 2006 is the 'worst' for human rights in the country. The group Karapatan said that 185 activists have been killed in the last 11 months, a record since the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown in 1986. (Philippine Star, Dec. 1, 2006) |
Bookmarks
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Migrante Europe.
