Reflections: How should unions respond to informal workers?

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In Indonesia, many informal workers are unorganised. Why, because they don't know about trade unions. But now our union is responsible for organising them. Half my members are informal workers. They work in the ports, markets, and in farming. Our members in Temanggung, Central Java, for example, work in tobacco farming. They have no fixed working times. After they harvest the tobacco, their juragan (supervisor) will sell it to tobacco factories. Sometimes, they have a good salary. They have an effective job, perhaps for one month. After that, they become jobless again. Their condition will always be always like that. Trade unions must take responsibility for organising informal workers and teach them about trade unionism through discussions or small groups.
Andy William Sinaga, Secretary General FTA SBSI, Indonesia

In my view the union should adapt to the trend in which economic patterns are moving. Since the dominance of capitalism, jobs are changing forms in a way in which profit becomes a dominating factor. In this scenario, quality permanent jobs are being phased out and replaced by contract work, casual and informal work. First, for workers rights against exploitation, surely one must agree that contract, casual and informal workers should all be organised, and second, such membership becomes essential to the existence of the union.
Abner T Ramakgolo, SATAWU, South Africa

Organising the unorganised? Yes. Nigeria recently came out of a national strike (30 June to 7 July) in protest against increases in the prices of petroleum products. Informal workers' solidarity contributed immensely in bringing the nation to the desired standstill. Moreover, many of these workers are university graduates with a lot of intellectual property to contribute.
Halima Ibrahim, ATSSSAN, Nigeria

الصفحة الرئيسية للأقسام:
Issue 13 October 2003

نسخة الرسومات الكاملة

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