18 December, ITUC

“The international trade union movement is keeping a close watch on the responses to the economic and financial crisis to ensure that they are not at the expense of the fundamental rights of migrant workers,” warned Guy Ryder, general secretary of the ITUC.
 
At a time of massive job losses, migrant workers, often confined to the most precarious and least protected jobs, are in the front line of the economic and financial crisis.  Their families in their countries of origin could also be badly affected, as they often depend heavily for their survival on money sent home by the migrant workers.

December 2008
Torrential rains have destroyed banana plantations in the Caribbean coastal regions of Costa Rica. It is estimated that up to 10,000 hectares have been affected which could lead to the loss of 10,000 jobs in the banana export industry. At least 46,000 people have been rendered homeless with damage running into tens of millions of US dollars. A state of emergency has been declared in the Limon and Sarapiqui regions.

15 December 2008, International Labor Rights Forum

A new report by the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) shows how global food corporations fail to respect human rights, public health and the environment in their supply chains. The report demonstrates how pineapple workers and their communities in two of the largest pineapple producing nations, Costa Rica and the Philippines, have not enjoyed the benefits of the expanding profits from the pineapple export sector. Trade benefits awarded to these countries have not improved labor or environmental conditions, though Dole is currently petitioning the U.S. Trade Representative for further tariff reductions on its pineapple products.

15 December 2008, International Labor Rights Forum

A new report published by the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), to mark International Human Rights Day, has highlighted corporations known for violating workers’ freedom of association and right to organize. Selected on the basis of their ties to violence against trade unions and suppression of the universal right to organise, this year’s top offenders include three of the main actors along the international tropical fruit supply chain - Dole, Del Monte and Wal-Mart. Click here to download the report or visit the ILRF website to read more and take action.