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4 April, 2012
The Syngenta Employees Union of Pakistan won a proud legal victory in the Labour Appellant Tribunal of Sindh Province on 20 March, when the court dismissed appeals from management and ruled in favour of the union. The ruling declares that 50 Syngenta employees must become permanent employees of the Swiss-based world leading corporation in the agricultural chemicals industry.
Management has preferred to finance the expensive legal battle to keep its Pakistani employees on short-term precarious contracts and has chosen to repeatedly combat the union instead of accepting offers of dialogue.
The court victory is extra significant in view of the size and resources of each side. The small Syngenta Employees Union is affiliated to ICEM member union PCEM, with 2,000 members and led by General Secretary Muhammad Suhail.
The Labour Appellant Tribunal decisions were in compliance with Pakistan’s “Standing Order Ordinance, 1968” which clearly outlines the nature of permanent and temporary workmen. The court also ruled that the 50 workers are entitled to join and be members of the union.
However, in the time since the ruling, PCEM has approached Syngenta management to work through the contractual changes with necessary benefits. Syngenta are still refusing to accept the court’s decision. Management has instead hired a famous law firm to file an appeal to the High Court.
The union is also still fighting for the reinstatement of Brother Imran Ali, the President of PCEM and General Secretary of the Syngenta Employees Union, who was dismissed for his trade union activities by Syngenta.