Right to Organise and Negotiate in Health Sector and Commerce Sector
Study on workers' right to organize and negotiate in selected countries of Asia and Latin America, focusing on union formation, collective bargaining agreements, and challenges faced by workers.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The aim of this study is to understand the reality the workers are facing in terms of if the employers and state are respecting their right to organise, and to examine how the workers themselves are organised to protect these rights.
FULL PROJECT TITLE
Study on Right to Organise and Negotiate in Health Sector and Commerce Sector in Selected Countries in Asia and Latin America
Funded by
SASK
DURATION
2022 - 2023
Countries COVERED
• Asia: Nepal and the Philippines
• Latin America: Brazil, Colombia and Guatemala
GOAL OF THE PROJECT
The aim of this study is to let us understand the reality the workers are facing in terms of if the employers and state are respecting their right to organise, and to examine how the workers themselves are organised to protect these rights. How many unions there are in the health and commerce sectors in each of the countries? And how big are they? A very important question is the organizing rate (men/women), and how it has developed in the 21st century.
Especially in the public sector, there is a need to know which groups of professionals have limited or no right to organize, negotiate and strike, if there are such limitations. As to the countries, it is of interest, which relevant ILO conventions have been ratified and when, and how are they interpreted in the legislation.
In terms of collective bargaining agreements, SASK is interested in the number of CBAs in the sectors of this study, as well as the scope of the CBA’s: are some of them national or are they company, or workplace based? Further, if there are some limitations in these countries about the certain number/percentage of members needed before the union can be formed and CBA negotiations started. In general, what is needed to form a union and how does the negotiation system in each of these countries work.
Finally, SASK would like this study to address union busting and receive information on what kind of challenges the workers face in practice in terms of organising and defending their rights. How are the state and employers trying to impede the workers from organizing. Also, it would be good to know if there are some other hindrances to organising, e.g., culture on lack of information.
PARTIES INVOLVED
- WageIndicator Foundation | Amsterdam, Netherlands
