The ITF has campaigned recently on worker rights in both of these countries. Back in May 2013, the ITF was one of the complainants in a submission to the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the Thai government’s dismissal of railway workers striking over safety concerns. The ILO responded on June 13 2014, highlighting the gap between Thai national law and international minimum standard. It recommended that all railway workers be reinstated and compensated for lost wages and benefits.
The ITF is also working with sister global union federation the IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural and Hospitality Workers) to improve workers’ rights along the fish supply chain with the From catcher to counter project. Thailand has come under fire recently for using slave labour in its prawn industry.
The ITF’s work to highlight conditions for workers at Qatar Airways has also been high profile – last September, it revealed a culture of surveillance and control over staff at the airline.
ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton said: “We hope that both the Thai and Qatari governments will take note of this damning indictment by the US State Department. Our work to date has highlighted the drastic need for labour reform in both of these countries, and we’re pleased to see that the US government agrees with this assessment. Our main concern is workers’ rights, and we’ll continue the fight to make sure that conditions get better for workers everywhere.”
Thailand and Qatar downgraded for workers’ rights abuses
news
ON THE GROUND
news
Press Release
ITF seeks urgent repatriation of seafarers abandoned in Hodeidah - as Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen city
Sixteen seafarers abandoned in Hodeidah Port, with eight trapped on board the Captain Tarek Sixteen seafarers from Syria and India are stranded in the city of Hodeidah, Yemen, which came under attack
news
Terry Snee
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is sad to announce the passing of Terry Snee, former Federal President of the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE). Terry
news
Pavel Krenk
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Pavel Krenk, a revered leader in the global trade union community and long-serving chairman of the Czech Trade Union of Seafarers, who left us on 24
Post new comment