Bahrain: Exploitation of migrants workers, including for political reasons, puts their lives at risk
On the small island of Bahrain, 77% of the workforce is made up of migrant workers, most of whom come from South Asia and work in low-skilled, low-paid jobs. The majority are highly vulnerable temporary workers, concentrated in the construction industry and domestic service sector, where working and living conditions are harsh.
Libya’s Humanitarian Crisis: Solidarity First
According to IOM and UNHCR figures, before the Libyan popular uprising against the dictatorship of Colonel Gadaffi broke out on 17 February, there were 3.5 million migrant workers, including about 1 million Egyptians, in Libya. Today there are still over 1 million, many from sub-Saharan Africa.
A Sporting Chance for Workers: Launch of the Play Fair Campaign in Brazil
An international conference organised by Play Fair and the Building Workers’ International is opening today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Conference will launch the BWI Campaign around the World Cup 2014, as well as the Olympic Games 2016 Play Fair Campaign, and will formalise the strategies and action plans around both campaigns.
Egypt: Decree to Criminalise Strikes a Betrayal of the Revolution
The ITUC has called on the Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf to scrap a proposed decree which would make strikes a criminal offence, with prison terms of up to one year and fines of up to US$ 90,000. The Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU) has described the decree as “a grave and worrisome development”, which has already been approved by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
Syria: Regime’s Promises of Partial Reform Insufficient
Partial reforms promised by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are unlikely to quell the anger spreading across the country, nor satisfy demands for democracy and human rights.