Not surprising the first action of the narrowly elected Fujimori government of Peru should be to attack hard-won labour rights. Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of long-time former President Alberto who has slipped in and out of prison for crimes of corruption and human rights abuse, stood as the explicit candidate of the oligarchy and the latest in Trump-sympathetic Latin American Presidents. Thousands marched in Lima on August 13th against the proposals. They use the slimy word “flexibility” attacking bonuses, vacations, working hours, overtime pay and profit-sharing. Her government also intends to re-introduce the Pulpin Law for which would have cut salaries, holidays and severance payments for workers under 25 amongst other measures. The Law was introduced in 2014 and decisively rescinded in 2015 after popular protest. Very narrow election victories by uber-capitalist governments with a penchant for violence where voters have been all too aware of the USA’s diverse methods of punishing countries that did not elect such governments have been common in Latin America over the last year. In Colombia, the fear too that the new government of a chainsaw-Millais clone will undo the labour laws of the last government has prompted former President Petro to call for mass mobilization against any attempt to undo those pro-worker laws.
Australia has introduced new minimum pay and employment standards for food delivery gig workers following an agreement between the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU), Uber Eats and DoorDash, described by the union as a “world first”. The rules, approved by the Fair Work Commission, require the platforms to ensure that workers’ average pay does not fall below AUD31.30 (approx. USD22.25) per hour for bicycle riders and AUD32 (approx. USD22.74) for drivers during “engaged” time. The standards also introduce new dispute processes, feedback mechanisms, representation rights and personal injury insurance.
DOUBLE WHAMMY.In recent months while fashion brands are demanding “greener” production conditions in Bangladesh textile factories without paying the higher prices that would be needed to make the necessary change possible its predominantly female garment workers have been faced with dangerous conditions as power cuts left factories without adequate fans and cooling. A survey found that 78 per cent had experienced worsening summer heat, while around half said that temperatures had made them weak or ill. Similar risks are emerging in India where women spend 30 to 50 per cent more of their working time above heat stress thresholds than men, , with fewer opportunities to take breaks or reduce their workload.
Bengaluru police Karnataka state, India, are claimed to have illegally detained and assaulted hundreds of migrant workers during a mass “verification” drive targeting purported Bangladeshi immigrants. They, acted without lawful procedure, held individuals in various locations with allegations of document seizures and inhuman treatment.