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英国で、イメリーズ生産拠点移転反対キャンペーン拡大、 
運輸一般労組 (TGWU) は英国南西部にあるイメリーズの事業所English China Clay (ECC)に働く８００人の労働者の解雇反対運動についてICEMなどの労働組織の協力をえた。TGWU は1999年にECCを買収したこのフランス系建材企業が労働者を解雇すること対抗するため、総合的な住民キャンペーンとグローバルキャンペーンを計画した。 
 
イメリーズの労働者を組織している他の組合、AmicusとGMB は TGWUとともに地方自治体及び政府に対し同社が工場を閉鎖し、従業員を解雇した場合の経済へのインパクトについて説明した。組合側は８００人の雇用機会は保障するとした２年前の公約遵守に関しイメリーズに外圧をかけるため、住民に事情を認識してもらおうと、集会、署名運動などキャンペーンを実施することを決めた。 
また、このキャンペーンの結果、８００人の雇用を守るための何らかの措置を政府が取ることも期待されている。 ICEMはグローバルレベルでこのキャンペーンの盛り上がりを支援する予定だ。 
 
イメリーズのリストラ案は英国南部の脆弱な経済にとってはまさに爆弾宣言となった。同社の労働者は同地域の平均年間所得より４５００ポンド高い、２３０００ポンドの年間給与を得ている。イメリーズは、エネルギーコストの高騰を理由に、２００８年の初めからECCのすべての鉱山事業所及びコーンウォール、デボン、リーモアにある 加工工場の閉鎖を開始し、カオリンの生産と製紙産業用の上質コーティング生産をブラジルに移転する、と７月初めに発表した。 
 
７月１１日に開らかれた英国下院の臨時議会において、英国南部選出のマシュー・テイラーは同地方の５世帯の内１世帯が今回のリストラ案の影響を直接受け、間接的影響を考慮する場合、３世帯の内１世帯がインパクトを受ける、また、同社に働く８００人の労働者の他に、同地方の購買力低下の結果、８００人の雇用機会も喪失されることになるだろう、と発言した。 
 
イメリーズの欧州労使協議会は、１００人の組合員が働くフレンスの事業所の閉鎖と英国での大量解雇を非難し、 生産拠点をハンガリーとブラジルに移転するという今回の経営戦略はまさに利益志向の戦略である、とする声明を出した。 
 
さらに、欧州労使協議会は、優れた事業成績を上げ、財務も良好な状況にあるイメリーズに対し、フランスと英国にもたらされる社会的インパクトの責任を取るよう求めるとともに、労使対話の場を持つよう求めた。また、同委員会はハンガリーとブラジルの労働者の雇用条件、ことに労使関係及び安全衛生問題について大変憂虜する、と表明した。 
 
開示された２００６年第一四半期の財務状況によれば、イメリーズはエネルギー価格の高騰の影響を全く受けていない。売上高は２００５年の同時期と比較して 10.8%伸びており、経常利益も 13.2%増えている。 
 
NOPEFの石油サービス事業スト、今日斡旋調停 
 
１か月続いているノルウェー石油労組のストの結果、ノルウェーの石油・ガス生産量は減少し始めている。政府はスト開始前に調停を試みたが、今日、二回目の斡旋調停が入ることになった。 
 
８７人のNOPEFの組合員が参加している今回のストはノルウェーエネルギー産業内で締結されている協約レベルに全国石油サービス事業の協約を調和させること、特に労働条件条項を調和させることをを求める戦略的ストである。 
 
スト労働者はHalliburton, Baker Hughes, Schlumberger, Weatherford 及びOceaneeringの各社に雇用されている。また、Aker Kvaerner, Geoservices,及びAcergyなどの他の石油サービス事業会社にもストの影響が出ている。スタットオイル、コノコフィリップス、シェル、エクソンモービル、シェブロン及びノルスクヒドロなどは掘削作業、探油作業、保守作業に深刻な支障が出ている。 
 
スタットオイルのスノーレ及びストラットフォードのプラットフォーム並びにスニュービット及びクリスティン油田では作業が中止された。また、このストの結果、ノルスクヒドロのヘイドルン及びオセベルグのプラットフォーム及びコノコフィリップスのエコフィスクのプラットフォームでは作業ペースがスローダウンした。 
 
チャドのエクソンモービル労働者、再度スト突入 
 
チャドの石油油田労働者は先週、再度、Esso-Tchadで３日間ストを行使した。チャドのナショナルセンターに加入する石油労組は、１日２０万バレル送油するパイプでつながれている隣国のカメルーンの石油労働者と同レベルの賃金を要求している。 
 
チャドーカメルーン間のパイプラインは現在フルに稼動できる状態となっており、このパイプラインで多額の利益を享受しているエクソンモービル、マレーシアのペトロナス、及び米国のシェブロンは世銀とチャド政府の援助金問題の係争を巻き添えた形だ。石油各社は膠着状態になっている開発援助金問題を利用している。 
 
この争議の問題はチャド南部にあるドハ油田の石油労働者は賃金格差及びその他の労働条件問題の解決に向けて経営側と交渉したいと考えているのだが、Esso-Tchadの経営側が誠実な姿勢で交渉しようとしない点である。また、２００３年に石油生産が開始された際に合意した石油労働者キャリア上進計画を経営側がまったく無視し、実施していないことも争点となっている。 
 
４２０人の石油労働者は経営側が組合側の要求に応じない場合には、１０日間ストを行使するとしている。石油労働者の第一波ストは７月４日から６日まで、第二波ストは７月１８日から２０日まで実施された。 
 
世銀とチャドの係争の発端は昨年の石油歳入管理法改正で、その結果、世銀の資金融資･返済の条件が変更された。世銀は資金融資と援助金の送金をストップする形で対応した。７月１４日、世銀とチャド政府は、チャド政府は当該法を修正し、石油歳入の７０％を貧困撲滅対策に充当するなどの条件で合意に達した。 
 
チャドーカメルーン間のパイプラインの関連で、２０００年から２００３年にかけて労働組合権と人権問題が起きた。HIV/AIDSの問題はその１例としてあげることができる。チャドの有病率は５,５％であるが、このパイプライン地域の住民の場合、有病率が１９．８％となっているのが現状だ。 
 
チリのEscondida 銅鉱山労働者、スト突入準備 
 
７月２２日、Escondida労組と世界最大の銅鉱業会社間の交渉が再開した。労使交渉は６月２１日に団体交渉以降、賃金問題で暗礁にあがっていた。 
 
現行協約は発効が８月２日で切れる。Escondida従業員２０５２人、つまり９６％の従業員を組織する組合は経営側が示した賃金最終案について７月２８日に投票を行う、と７月２１日に発表した。.組合はすでにスト権を確立している。 
 
７月初め、経営側はチリの物価上昇率に合わせ１．５％の賃上げ案を示したが、労働者たちは作業規則に厳格に従った作業を実施することで対抗した。その結果、生産量は１０％落ちた。組合側は１３％の賃上げと銅価格高騰を背景にした単発ボーナスの支給を要求している。 
 
銅価格の高騰とEscondidaが所有する２ヶ所の銅鉱山事業所での生産量が昨年１５％伸びた事実、並びにEscondia近郊地域はチリの他の地域より物価が１０％高い事実を指摘し、組合側は今回の賃上げを要求している。.. 
 
Minera Escondida Ltd　は昨年１億２７００トンの銅と陰極銅を生産した。これは世界銅生産量の８％に当たる。また、同社は１８万２４７２オンスの金も生産した。同社の株式はBHP Billitonが57.5%、リオティントが30%、三菱商事が筆頭会社となっている日本の合弁会社が10%、世銀のInternational Finance Corp.が 2.5%所有している。 
 
パキスタン労組、労働法改定に反駁 
 
パキスタンの主要ナショナルセンター５組織は、労働法改定で労働基準が１７世紀レベルに劣化するとし、全国各地で大規模な抗議運動を展開している。５組織はデモ行進、抗議文や文書の配布、７月２０日に予定されている１日ハンストへの参加を呼びかけた。 
 
１ヶ月前、下院は、上院の承認を受けず、パキスタンの労働法案を通過させた。この結果、一日の労働時間が増え、時間外手当が減り、時間外手当を支給されない契約労働者という新しいカテゴリー労働者が創出されることになった。 
 
時間外手当支給なしの契約労働の合法化により、短期契約労働者として多くの労働者が今後労働市場に参加する道が開かれた。労働法案の１つの条項が修正された結果、１日の労働時間は８時間から１２時間に増えた。 
 
他の改正事項はこれまで義務化されていた休日休業の廃止である。この結果、働く女性の労働時間数が増え、家族と過ごす時間が減ることになった。また、今回の法改正の影響で、工場法も修正された。その結果、これまでは、女性は日の出前また日没後に就労することが禁止されていたが、法改正の結果、２２時まで２日勤シフトに就業することができるようになった。 
 
パキスタンの労働諸組織は今回の法改定は非人道的であり、国際労働基準とILO条約の侵害であるとともに、パキスタン憲法の精神に合致しないものである、と主張している。パキスタン国内のオピニオンリーダーらも今回の改正のプロセスは憲法に違反しているため、非合法であり、労働者搾取、特に底辺層の労働者への搾取が頻繁に行われることになろう、としている。. 
 
南北アメリカの鉱業安全調査が進捗 
 
今年１月２日に米国のウエストバージニア州のサゴ炭鉱で起きた爆発事故と２月１９日にメキシコのコアフイラ州のGrupo Mexico パスタデコンチョNo.8炭鉱で起きた爆発事故の調査が進んでいる。政府の安全検査が徹底していなかったこと、企業側に安全文化が欠如していた事実が事故の原因として明確になった。 
 
先週メキシコ政府のナショナル人権員会が発行した報告書は、２００４年労働省はGrupo Mexicoのミネラメキシカーナ炭鉱で４８の重大問題点を確認したが、爆発事故の１２日前まで会社側は何の対策措置も取っていなかった、と指摘している。２月に起きた爆発では６５人の炭鉱労働者が死亡した。その大半は訓練を受けず、適正な酸素マスクの支給も受けていない契約労働者であった。また、メキシコの鉱山金属労組の２５人あまりの労働者も死亡した。 
 
ナショナル人権員会のスポークスマンは、惨事が起きた炭鉱の労働条件及び会社側が安全基準を守っていない事実について十分承知している、と述べた。政府は発火及び地下坑内シグナルシステム並びにガスとオイルの漏出、煙探知機の欠陥についても承知している。 
 
米国では、１２人の炭鉱労働者が死亡したサゴ炭鉱に州政府と連邦政府の事故調査団が立ち入り検査し、会社側が安全訓練を受けていない労働者に訓練を受けたことにし、受講証明書にサインをさせ、文書を捏造していた事実を確認した。サゴ炭鉱はWolf Run Mining Co.の所有だが、米国に本社を置く投資会社International Coal Group (IGC)が破産した東部炭鉱会社を買い上げて設置した会社だ。 
 
ペンシルバニアの新聞会社、Pittsburgh Post-Gazetteの調査でも、サゴ炭鉱の安全避難室はメタンガスの爆発に耐久性を持たない素材で建設されていることがわかっている。 
 
サゴ炭鉱労働者やその家族が全米鉱山労組に対し米国鉱業安全衛生法の下で実施される法的に拘束される事故調査チームに入るよう要請していたにも関わらす、ICG社は警備員を使ってUMWAの事故調査担当者らの入坑を阻んでいた。地方裁判所の裁定が出た後すぐ、ICG社は控訴したが、バージニア州リッチモンド地方裁判所は控訴を却下した。 
 
７月半ばに中国の炭鉱で事故多発 
 
中国の各地の炭鉱で、７月半ば、多くの死亡事故が起きた。１週間あまりの期間に、６ヶ所の炭鉱で１００あまりの労働者が命を失った。 
 
最も多くの死亡者を出したのは中国陝西省リンシー郡にあるリンジアジュアン炭鉱で７月１５日に起きた石炭塵の爆発事故であった。この事故で５７人の炭鉱労働者が死亡し、避難できたのは６人の炭鉱労働者だけであった。また、同じ７月１５日に中国中部の湖南省のシェンジアワン炭鉱で発生した鉄砲水で１４人の労働者が亡くなった。地下の坑内にいたのは１人の労働者だけであったが、救援に入った労働者らも鉄砲水に遭い、命を落とした。 
 
さらに、７月１５日、貴州省安順近郊にあるピアンポユアン村営炭鉱で発生した洪水で１８人の炭鉱労働者が亡くなった。７月１６日、四川省ジュンリアン郡にあるリラン炭鉱で起きた事故で８人が死亡した。この事故では３４人の労働者は避難することができた。 
 
陝西省ルリアン市のドンチュアン安炭鉱で７月１０日に起きた坑内洪水事故の場合、１０人の炭鉱労働者は逃げることができたが、８人が命を奪われた。救援隊は２０００㎥の水をポンプでくみ上げなければならなかった。７月８日、陝西省リウリン郡近郊の炭鉱で６人の炭鉱労働者が死亡した。これらの労働者は洪水で逃げ遅れたと推測される。

ICEM InBrief ２００６年7月24日 ６1号

The Global Labour University, supported by the ILO and by Germany&rsquo;s Hans Boeckler Foundation and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, is offering a unique pair of Master Programme labour courses, specifically targeted for young trade unionists. The courses take place at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, in January 2007, and at Germany&rsquo;s University of Kassel and the Berlin School of Economics in September 2007. 
 
&ldquo;Labour Policies and Globalisation&rdquo; (Germany) and &ldquo;Labour and Development, Economic Policy, Globalisation and Labour&rdquo; (South Africa) on sustainable development, social justice, international labour standards, and trade unions, economic policies, and global institutions provide the curriculum. Registration submissions at <a href="http://www.global-labour-university"><a href="http://www.global-labour-university.de">www.global-labour-university.de</a></a> should occur immediately. 
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Successful applicants also have the possibility to study one term of the programme in South Africa and one term in Germany. The course language is English. 
 
This one-year set of programmes is jointly developed by universities and trade unions from around the world and is aimed at young people with experience in labour and social movements. Candidates are expected to assist labour and social movement organisations to engage more effectively in social dialogue, public debate, and policy implementation. Women are strongly encouraged to apply, and the sponsors, as a rule, prefer applicants under age 40. 
 
A limited number of scholarships are available. An endorsement by a trade union is a requirement for a scholarship. The scholarship is conditional on a contribution of &euro;1,500 from the supporting trade union, or another donor. Please consult the website above for further information.

Career-Minded Young Trade Unionists Alerted to Global Labour Courses

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The ICEM has put its weight behind an effort by its Ivory Coast affiliate, SYNASEG, to get local company CIE, the country&rsquo;s electricity operator and subsidiary of the Bouygues Group, to stop its union-busting campaign, and to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the union. 
 
The problems between the union and CIE started in August 2005, after SYNASEG decided to support a national electric sector reform that was proposed by the government then. The government failed to carry out its own plan, and, instead, renewed CIE &ndash; and Bouygues&rsquo; &ndash; contract for a further 15 years. 
<img height="66" alt="" src="" width="100" />
Shortly after that, CIE started its systematic and vindictive campaign to silence SYNASEG. As part of that, the company refused to engage in social dialogue, devised several delaying tactics, obstructed trade union freedoms, and abused the system of dues check-off by withholding fees and used the funds to favour third parties. The company also set up a Mutual Investment Fund, to which employees contribute but do not receive the benefits. 
 
ICEM sent a message to all its affiliated trade unions last week, seeking messages of support be sent to SYNASEG on the occasion of their strike, which was originally targeted for 23-25 October. The strike was first postponed by one week because of state-requested mediation efforts. Talks on Friday, 27 October, in the presence of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo produced an agreement to resume negotiations until the issues are favourably resolved.

ICEM affiliate in Ivory Coast Gets Presidential Commitment to Resolve Work Issues

<img height="40" src="" width="100" alt="" />
The Austrian national labour centre &Ouml;GB has been asking, as part of an ongoing reform process, the opinion of its members on how they see their union and what they expect from it. Questions range from, &ldquo;Are you satisfied with your union?&rdquo; to &ldquo;What benefits are you getting/needing from the union?&rdquo; and &ldquo;What do you think should be our priorities?&rdquo; 
 
Both ICEM affiliates in Austria, the Gewerkschaft der Chemiearbeiter (GdC) and the Gewerkschaft Metall-Textil-Nahrung (GMTN), took an active part in the &Ouml;GB poll, seeking to highlight a number of issues that they feel are particularly important. 
<img height="44" src="" width="43" align="middle" alt="" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="62" src="" width="145" align="middle" alt="" />
To that effect, a joint statement was released, co-signed by another Austrian union, Gewerkschaft Bau-Holz (GBH), with whom the two unions have been operating jointly as &ldquo;pro.ge.&rdquo; (Pro.ge stands for short for &ldquo;Produktionsgewerkschaften in den Bereichen Produktion, Technik und nahe Dienstleistungen.&rdquo;) 
 
According to the three organisations, there is a need to organise differently the work done by trade unions in Austria, as the playing field has changed. The world-wide activities of multinational corporations, as well as the ever changing employer-employee relationships are cited as part of that. 
 
In their joint statement, emphasis was placed on the need to support workers in all forms of atypical work, on the urgency in getting more women involved in trade union work, and on the necessity to cooperate more strongly on the international level, with other trade unions and members of civil society.

Austrian Affiliates Take ÖGB Debate to Global Level

A.G.Lukashenko 
President 
Republic of Belarus 
By fax: +375-17-226-06-10 
 
Brussels, 
18 June 2007 
 
Dear Mr. President, 
I am writing to you on behalf of the 20 million workers whom our International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers&rsquo; Unions (ICEM) represents through its 384 affiliates in 125 countries of the world. 
 
We see the decision of the European Union to withdraw the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) benefits from Belarus, effective from June 21, 2007, solely as a result of your Government&rsquo;s persistent disregard for internationally recognised labour standards and its systematic failure to comply with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry of the International Labour Organisation. 
 
The Belarusian State Administration has had more than adequate time for implementing measures required to convince the international community of the seriousness of its declared intention to ensure freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining for all workers in Belarus. 
In reality, the measures taken by your Government proved to be largely cosmetic; the existing legal framework for trade union activities still allows for suppressive and discriminatory actions by managers and authorities who arbitrarily use it against members of independent trade unions; and the new Draft Law on Trade Unions equally does not guarantee genuine trade union rights and freedoms. 
 
We wholeheartedly support the independent trade unions and workers in Belarus and resent all attempts to lay the blame for the withdrawal of the GSP benefits at their door. The full responsibility for this decision of the European Union is borne by the Belarusian State Administration, and we believe that only expeditious and earnest implementation of the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry can form a credible basis for any future resolution of this situation. 
 
Sincerely Yours, 
 
Manfred Warda 
ICEM General Secretary 
 
Cc: 
S.S.Sidorskiy, Prime-Minister, Republic of Belarus 
L.P.Kozik, Chairman, Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus 
A.I.Jaroshuk, President, Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions

ICEM letter to Belarus President on GSP withdrawal

<div class="doctitle"><a href="#practical">Click here for general practical information</a></div>
<div class="content">
<img height="113" alt="" src="" width="100" /> 

Provisional Programme for the Fourth ICEM World Congress
Saturday 17 November 2007&nbsp; 
10.00 &ndash; 17.00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2429&amp;la=EN">Women&rsquo;s Conference 
</a> 
Sunday 18 November 2007 
09.30 &ndash; 17.00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2429&amp;la=EN">Women&rsquo;s Conference</a> 
 
Monday 19 November 2007&nbsp; 
09.00 &ndash; 17.30 Presidium 
19:00 Dinner for ICEM Presidium Members and accompanying persons 
 
Tuesday 20 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 - 17:00 Executive Committee Meeting 
19.00 Dinner for ICEM Executive Committee Members and accompanying persons 
 
Wednesday 21 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 - 17:00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2428&amp;la=EN">Contract and Agency Labour Conference</a> 
10:00 -&nbsp;16:00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2441&amp;la=EN">Meeting of the ICEM Pulp and Paper Section</a> 
17.00+ Meeting of Congress Credentials Committee 
 
Thursday 22 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
10.00 Opening of Congress 
12:00 WFIW Integration 
17.30 Congress Sessions close 
19.00 Dinner 
 
Friday 23 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 Congress Sessions continue 
17:30 Congress Sessions close 
19.00 Dinner 
 
Saturday 24 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 Final Congress Sessions 
14:00 Congress Closure 
15:00-17:00 New ICEM Presidium meets 
<img height="29" alt="" src="" width="25" align="absMiddle" />&nbsp; <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2430&amp;la=EN">Click here for a more detailed Draft Congress Agenda 
(22-24 November)</a>&nbsp; <img height="29" alt="" src="" width="25" align="absMiddle" /> 
 
Departure of Delegations
 
<img height="113" alt="" src="" width="100" /><a name="practical"></a>
4th ICEM World Congress - 2007 
Practical general information 

</div>


1. Congress Venue 
 
Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre 
60 New Rachadapisek Road, Kongtoey 
Bangkok 10110 
Thailand 
Tel: +66/2229-3000 
Fax: +66/2229-3392 
Website: <a href="http://www.qsncc.com">www.qsncc.com</a> 
2. Timetable 
Congress Registration will be every day, from Monday 19 November until Wednesday 21 November, from 08:00 to 17.00. Last minute Congress Registration will be on Thursday 22 November, from 08:00 to 10:00.
3. Transportation during congress 
 
A skytrain and a metro line are disserving the congress venue from all hotels block booked by the ICEM for the congress. The ICEM will provide tickets for delegates during the 3 days of Congress (22, 23 and 24 November). Those tickets will be available on site upon registration.
4. Social Activities 
 
Thursday 22 November &ndash; a dinner will be organised for congress delegates and accompanying persons. The information on the venue and other arrangements will be distributed at the time of the congress. 
 
Friday 23 November &ndash; a gala dinner will be organised for congress delegates and accompanying persons. The venue for the dinner will be the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Further information on the arrangements will be distributed at the time of the congress. 
5. Tourism Information 
 
An information desk with tourism info, including&nbsp;on tours will be available on the congress site. 
6. Currency 
 
The Monetary unity of Thailand is the baht (THB). 
Exchange rate in early 2007 is: 1&euro; = +/- 44 THB. 
There is no black market. Changing Euros can be done, without any problems, everywhere, even in traveller&rsquo;s checks. For European countries, it is not necessary to bring dollars. 
7. Climate in Thailand 
Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated by monsoons. From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist season, and the best time to visit Thailand. 
The north and north-east are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter and hotter in summer. In the far north, around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 20C. 
8. Time 
 
The standard time zone for Bangkok is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) + 7 hours. 
9. Visa for Thailand 
 
Visa on Arrival: 
 
- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements, passport holders from 20 countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days. 
 
- The applicant must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly. 
 
- The applicant must present full paid ticket which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry 
 
- Visa on arrival is provided at 32 designated international checkpoints and applicants should submit the application form duly filled out and to which his/her recent photograph (4 x 6 cm) is attached. The application fee is 1,000 Baht. 
 
- Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau, Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. 02 287-3127 or 02 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5 or at website <a href="http://www.immigration.go.th">http://www.immigration.go.th</a>. 
The list of 20 countries is as follows: 
 
1. Bhutan 
2. China 
3. Cyprus 
4. Czech Republic 
5. Estonia 
6. Hungary 
7. India 
8. Kazakhstan 
9. Latvia 
10. Liechtenstein 
11. Lithuania 
12. Maldives 
13. Mauritius 
14. Sultanate of Oman 
15. Poland 
16. Russia 
17. Saudi Arabia 
18. Slovakia 
19. Slovenia 
20. Ukraine 
 
Further information can be found on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand: <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.th">www.mfa.gov.th</a>.
Visa not needed for the following countries: 
1. Australia 
2. Austria 
3. Belgium 
4. Brazil 
5. Bahrain 
6. Brunei 
7. Canada 
8. Denmark 
9. Finland 
10. France 
11. Germany 
12. Greece 
13. Hong Kong 
14. Iceland 
15. Indonesia 
16. Ireland 
17. Israel 
18. Italy 
19. Japan 
20. Korea 
21. Kuwait 
22. Luxembourg 
23. Malaysia 
24. Netherlands 
25. New Zealand 
26. Norway 
27. Oman 
28. Peru 
29. Philippines 
30. Portugal 
31. Qatar 
32. Singapore 
33. Spain 
34. South &Aacute;frica 
35. Sweden 
36. Switzerland 
37. Turkey 
38. United Arab Emirates 
39. United Kingdom 
40. USA 
41. Vietnam 
10. Vaccination &ndash; Yellow Fever Certificate 
 
List of countries which are declared YELLOW FEVER INFECTED AREAS: 
 
- The Ministry of Public Health has issued regulations that applicants who have travelled from or through the countries which have been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas must provide an International Health Certificate proving that they have received a Yellow Fever vaccination. 
 
- The International Health Certificate must be submitted together with the visa application form. The traveller will also have to present the said certificate to the Immigration Officer upon arrival at the port of entry in the Kingdom. As for those nationals of the countries listed below but who have not travelled from/through those countries, such a certificate is not required. However, they should possess concrete evidence showing that their domicile is not in an infected area so as to prevent unnecessary inconvenience. 
 
1. Angola 
2. Benin 
3. Bolivia 
4. Brazil 
5. Burkina Faso 
6. Burundi 
7. Cameroon 
8. Central Africa 
9. Chad 
10. Colombia 
11. Democratic Republic of Congo 
12. Congo 
13. Ivory Coast 
14. Ecuador 
15. Equatorial Guinea 
16. Ethiopia 
17. French-Guiana 
18. Gabon 
19. G&acirc;mbia 
20. Ghana 
21. Guinea-Bissau 
22. Guinea 
23. Guyana 
24. Kenya 
25. Lib&eacute;ria 
26. Mali 
27. Maurit&acirc;nia 
28. Niger 
29. Nigeria 
30. Panam&aacute; 
31. Peru 
32. Rwanda 
33. S&atilde;o Tome &amp; Pr&iacute;ncipe 
34. Senegal 
35. Sierra Leone 
36. Somalia 
37. Sudan 
38. Suriname 
39. Tanzania 
40. Togo 
41. Trinidad and Tobago 
42. Uganda 
43. Venezuela 
 
Further information can be found on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand: <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.th">www.mfa.gov.th</a>.

4th ICEM World Congress - Agenda and Practical general information

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN 23

<img height="40" src="" width="100" alt="" />
With private equity funds in 2006 going on unprecedented buying sprees totaling US$725 billion, the International Union of Food and Agricultural Workers (IUF) has published a 36-page booklet entitled &ldquo;Workers&rsquo; Guide to Private Equity.&rdquo; 

The booklet is aimed at trade unions and their members, and highlights the threat of private equity companies when they take over companies. The IUF says the heavy debt loads that companies often carry following such buy-outs means they pay less in taxes, thus creating a more increased tax burden for individuals and small businesses. 
<img height="112" src="" width="110" alt="" />
The IUF also says cost-slashing following takeovers by private equity funds means that research and development budgets of major companies are cut, so new product innovations go by the wayside. The sole corporate investment strategy by such funds is maximum short-term financial returns to shareholders. 
&ldquo;Workers&rsquo; Guide to Private Equity&rdquo; includes chapters on the Impact to Unions and Undercutting the Public Interest. It also contains two &ldquo;Trade Union Action&rdquo; programmes, one on the &ldquo;organising challenge,&rdquo; the other entitled &ldquo;mobilising and intervening for re-registration.&rdquo; The booklet, in its appendix, lists the top 50 private equity buy-out funds. It also contains an IUF Public Equity Buyout Watch. 
A&nbsp;PDF version of the booklet can be viewed <a href="http://www.iufdocuments.org/www/documents/A%20Worker's%20Guide%20to%20Private%20Equity-e.pdf">here</a>.&nbsp; The IUF is selling the booklet for CHF 5 each (plus postage), or for CHF 3 (plus postage) each for bulk copies of ten or more. 
The IUF also has a part of its web-site decidated to the private equity problem: <a href="http://www.iuf.org/buyoutwatch">http://www.iuf.org/buyoutwatch</a>.

IUF Offers ‘Workers’ Guide to Private Equity’

<img height="40" src="" width="100" alt="" />
The Federation of Energy, Geology, and Mining Trade Unions of Mongolia held its Fourth Extraordinary Conference in Ulaanbaatar late in May, and elected a new President for the 15,000-member union. 
Ganbold Sukhbaatar, a mining engineer, was elected to succeed Chultem Baljinyam. Ganbold is a 15-year veteran of the mining industry, and has been active in elected positions in trade unions for the past ten years.

Mongolian Mining Union Federation Elects New President

<img height="48" alt="" src="" width="120" />
The Lafarge Group of France has become intransigent in a year-long dispute with subcontracting workers at a cement plant in South Korea. Despite ICEM and Building and Woodworkers&rsquo; International (BWI) insistence that the company drop legal appeals over freedom of association rights won for eight contract workers, Lafarge continues to spend money and resources on appealing an issue that involves trade union organisation.
<img height="92" alt="" src="" width="200" />
In March 2006, managers at Lafarge&rsquo;s Okgye, South Province, cement plant fired 13 workers, after 21 of 35 workers of Woojin Industry, a subcontractor of Lafarge, joined the Korean Chemical and Textile Workers Federation (KCTF). Lafarge also cancelled the contract of Woojin, and shifted the equipment and jobs to two other subcontractors, Sehwa Industry and Daewon Industry. 
 
In late September 2006, the Gangwon Regional Labour Relations Commission ruled that Lafarge is legally the employer for the dismissed contract workers, since they worked as agency workers for more than two years. The court ordered Lafarge to re-employ the workers, and pay them for the periods of dismissal. 
 
When Lafarge failed to adhere to the ruling, KCFT was forced to take the case to the National Labor Relations Commission. In November, the ICEM and BWI strongly urged senior managers of Lafarge &ndash; through the Global Framework Agreement the two labour federations have with the company &ndash; to step in to resolve the matter in good faith. A month later, in December 2006, the Gangwon Regional Commission issued unfair labour practice citations on Lafarge for failing to negotiate with KCFT over the matter.
<img height="119" alt="" src="" width="120" />
The dismissed workers have conducted sit-downs and picketing at the cement plant, as well as at Lafarge&rsquo;s offices in Seoul and the home of new Lafarge Halla CEO Frederic de Rougemont. Throughout 2006, Lafarge in South Korea has dispatched mid-level managers to talk with KCFT, who have no authority to act. 
 
The case is now before the central labour commission, with Lafarge employing expensive and wasteful counsel to reverse the freedom of association rights inherent for all workers at the Okgye cement plant. 
 
The ICEM and BWI will continue to press this issue through all available avenues. Lafarge acquired Halla Cement of Korea in 1998.

Lafarge Resisting Unionisation of Contract Workers at Korean Cement Plant

Archive

ICEM InBrief ２００６年7月24日６1号

Career-Minded Young Trade Unionists Alerted to Global Labour Courses

ICEM affiliate in Ivory Coast Gets Presidential Commitment to Resolve Work Issues

Austrian Affiliates Take ÖGB Debate to Global Level

ICEM letter to Belarus President on GSP withdrawal

4th ICEM World Congress - Agenda and Practical general information

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN 23

IUF Offers ‘Workers’ Guide to Private Equity’

Mongolian Mining Union Federation Elects New President

Lafarge Resisting Unionisation of Contract Workers at Korean Cement Plant

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ICEM InBrief ２００６年7月24日 ６1号

Career-Minded Young Trade Unionists Alerted to Global Labour Courses

ICEM affiliate in Ivory Coast Gets Presidential Commitment to Resolve Work Issues

Austrian Affiliates Take ÖGB Debate to Global Level

ICEM letter to Belarus President on GSP withdrawal

4th ICEM World Congress - Agenda and Practical general information

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN 23

IUF Offers ‘Workers’ Guide to Private Equity’

Mongolian Mining Union Federation Elects New President

Lafarge Resisting Unionisation of Contract Workers at Korean Cement Plant

ICEM InBrief ２００６年7月24日６1号