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Workers Memorial Day commemorated around the world Published 2 May 2016 International Workers Memorial Day on the 28 of April was marked all around the world by actions and ceremonies to remember those workers who have died at work and to fight for safe and health workplaces. Places as diverse as Melbourne-Australia, Hong Kong, Manila-Philippines, and Jakarta-Indonesia. In the same week, the 3rd anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh was also commemorated (see here and here).

PNG declares Manus camp to close Published 2 May 2016 In a long expected verdict, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea, this week declared the Australian refugee detention centre in Manus Island as illegal. It ordered its immediate closure, a direction that the PNG Government said it will implement as soon as possible. This has once again highlighted the repressive and inhumanenature of Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. Meanwhile in the Nauru detention centre daily protests continue with a refugee setting himself alight. Omid died a few days later in hospital. Refugee activists are planning demonstrations in the coming days to pressure the government to bring these refugees to Australia.

Political murders continue in Bangladesh Published 2 May 2016 This week, Rezaul Karim Siddique, an English professor, and Julhas Mannan and Tanay Mojumdar, two gay rights activists, were murdered in Dhaka in targeted political killings. These three murders are just the latest of a series of attacks on secular and human rights activists in the last few years, (see hereand here). All these attacks are quite clearly part of a strategy by Islamic reactionary elements in Bangladeshi society to increase fear and tension. A rise in religious and sectarian conflict will only divide and weaken the labour movement who have struggled hard to organise and improve their lives

Indian garment workers bring Bangalore to standstill Published 2 May 2016 Earlier this month, over ten thousands garment workers in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, paralysed large sections of the city by holding a snap demonstration in some of the city’s busiest roads. The workers were angry about a planned change to their Employee Provident Fund. While this threat to their social welfare entitlements sparked the protests, the reality is that garment workers have long standing grievances around inadequate pay rates and unsafe working.

Goodbye Sol Pillas. Filipino migrant workers lose a great leader Published 2 May 2016 Last week, Sol Pillas, the Secretary General of the Migrante International died following complications from a heart attack. Sol had been a domestic worker in Hong Kong for 25 years. Through her work in Hong Kong and seeing the exploitation that Filipino migrant workers were subjected to, Sol became more and more active in fighting for the rights of migrant workers in the Philippines. In the last couple of years, Sol was based in the Philippines still fighting for workers rights. Her work and contribution will not be forgotten.  Mabuhay Ka Sol Pillas

Repression and resistance in Thailand – Free Somyot ! Published 2 May 2016 This week the military arrested another 10 anti-dictatorship activistsas well as breaking up anti-government demonstrations. Some of those arrested have now been accused of ‘crimes’ under the Sedition Act or the Lese Majeste Act. These are both draconian laws that carry long jail sentences. In a separate incident, an automotive parts company is trying to use the rule of the military to dismiss Boonyuen Sukmai, a labour organiser. On the eve of the 5th anniversary of the incarceration of noted journalist and labour activist Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk, international human rights agencies have called for his immediate release. You can write to Somyot here.

More migrant workers exploited in Australia Published 2 May 2016 The globalisation of the world economy and the increase use of temporary migrant labour has also seen a rise in the numbers of workers being grossly exploited. In mid-April, in the north eastern city of Brisbane, 50 workers from Taiwan were discovered being kept as virtual slaves and forced to work up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. In an unrelated case, four Filipina workers were made to work up to 18 hours a day for as little as AUS $3/h. The legal minimum wage in Australia is currently $17.29/h. Unions is Australia are struggling to keep up with this widespread abuse of vulnerable workers.

May Day 2016 - Workers of the World Unite ! Published 24 April 2016 May Day has been celebrated internationally since 1886 as the day for workers to unite as a class. Capitalists and governments are killing us in our workplaces and in our communities. Workers need to stop the politics of austerity and war. March in solidarity with workers in struggle everywhere. Rallies and demonstrations will occur all around the world. In Melbourne, Australia, the May Day rally will be at 1pm, Sunday 1st of May, outside Trades Hall.