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.

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.

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.