Latin America is a region of the world with the most unfair wealth distribution. Both within the population and the workforce, women are majorities. These are two poverty factors that, added to the lack of dignified employments, condemn us to live in worse, more unequal conditions than men. Just for being women, we remain a cheap workforce in free-processing zones, in the sector of domestic work, in the flower-growing sector, as well as in other, formal and informal, branches.
The international women’s day is as special and important for us, women of the world. Today we celebrate the struggle of working women who initiated protests and fights for women’s rights.
A few years ago, 146 working women died in a fire triggered by incendiary bombs thrown in the factory they were occupying. And because they wanted to join the protests against low wages and infamous working conditions they were suffering.
Guatemala: rampant increase of anti-union violence and repression
2010-03-01
World Solidarity (WSM) and the Belgian Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV-CSC), remain extremely concerned about the soaring increase of anti-union violence in Guatemala in the last years.
Since the trade unions, organisations of indigenous people and peasant movements have decided to join forces in 2008 within the “Movimiento Sindical, Indigena y Campesiono Guatemalteco” (MISCG, or the Guatemalan Trade Union, Indigenous and Peasant Movement), its members and leaders have increasingly been the victims of acts of violence and repression.
Guinea: Rabiatou Serah Diallo, the General Secretary of CNTG, appointed as Deputy Prime Minister
2010-02-15
On 15th January 2010, an agreement for a transitional government was finally signed that should pave the way for the first democratic elections in this country since many years. The General Secretary of the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (Confédération Nationale des Travailleurs de Guinée, CNTG), Rabiatou Serah Diallo, was nominated as Deputy Prime Minister for the transition government.
CNTG has been a longstanding partner of WSM and ACV-CSC. Since the putsch of Captain Camara on 23rd of December 2008, Rabiatou has played a pivotal role in organising civil society (NGO’s, trade unions, employers organisations and even the political parties) into a joint platform, also known as the “Forces Vives”. It wasn’t a surprise, therefore, that Rabiatou became also the spokesperson of the “Forces Vives”. Since the putsch, the Forces Vives have made several important policy proposals to the military leadership to pave the way for the transition.
Urgent Appeal: World Solidarity responds after the earthquake in Haiti
2010-02-02
After the tragic earthquake that hit Haiti, we decide that we can not
remain indifferent. World Solidarity reacts through the YCW Haiti
(Young Christian Workers - Haiti) and CTH (Confederation of Haitian
Workers), supported for several years by our organization. Please join
with us in this initiative!
Haiti, already regarded as the poorest country in the entire American
continent, is once again the victim of a natural disaster plunging into a
deep chaos. On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, an earthquake of magnitude 7
has struck the West Island, the epicentre located at 16km away from the
capital. The centre of Port-au-Prince is largely destroyed, the
population is in shock, and many ways of communication for the victims
are cut off.
Breakthrough in urgent appeal: PT Busana Indah Global
2010-02-02
GARTEKS (the Trade Union), in Indonesia is a partner organisation of World Solidarity. GARTEKS was formed by the workers in the company Busana Indah Global (BIG) in response to excessive over time, abuse of temporary contracts, low wages, inadequate health care and other social benefits. The company refused to negotiate with GARTEKS, the trade union present in its company and officially recognised by the local authorities in February 2009.
In their struggle to start negotiations with the company, Garteks militants and members were harassed and/or dismissed. GARTEKS appealed for international support to reinstate all employees. WSM (and LBC-NVK, ITGLWF, CCC) responded by sending a letter to the company to recognise GARTEKS; start negotiations with GARTEKS; reinstate all dismissed employees; and respect Indonesian labour law as well as international labour conventions. After months of union busting the company finally started to negotiate with Garteks end 2009. The negotiations resulted in an agreement.
International campaign on short-term contracting in Asia
2009-12-04
In 2010, an international campaign will be launched on the need for equal treatment of short-term contractors and regular workers. The campaign “Same job, same treatment!” will be launched by five workers organisations in Belgium, Cambodia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, respectively World Solidarity, C.CAWDU, Garteks, NWC Sri Lanka and YCW Sri Lanka.
Policy recommendations at national and international level are
formulated in order to improve the situation of these vulnerable
workers. A signature card is developed in order to raise
awareness amongst short-term contract and regular workers, and will be
used in advocacy work towards national and international policymakers.
On 15th January 2010, an agreement for a transitional government was finally signed that should pave the way for the first democratic elections in this country since many years. The General Secretary of the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (Confédération Nationale des Travailleurs de Guinée, CNTG), Rabiatou Serah Diallo, was nominated as Deputy Prime Minister for the transition government. 
After the tragic earthquake that hit Haiti, we decide that we can not
remain indifferent. World Solidarity reacts through the YCW Haiti
(Young Christian Workers - Haiti) and CTH (Confederation of Haitian
Workers), supported for several years by our organization. Please join
with us in this initiative! 
In 2010, an international campaign will be launched on the need for equal treatment of short-term contractors and regular workers. The campaign “Same job, same treatment!” will be launched by five workers organisations in Belgium, Cambodia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, respectively World Solidarity, C.CAWDU, Garteks, NWC Sri Lanka and YCW Sri Lanka.