Geneva, 25 February 2011 (ACTRAV INFO)-The ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) jointly organized an international seminar on “Organizing in Export-Processing Zones (EPZs)” in Brussels from the 21st to 23rd February 2011.

This seminar, which was opened by Dan Cunniah, the Director of ACTRAV, and Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the ITUC, brought together some 30 participants from 16 countries. Participants discussed the working conditions in EPZs around the world, evaluated the contribution of EPZs to economic and social development and discussed strategies to organize EPZ workers.

Based on ILO estimates, EPZs are increasing worldwide. Today, there are more than 3500 EPZs in around 130 countries and territories worldwide. Conservative ILO estimates puts the number of those employed in EPZ enterprises at over 66 million workers. These workers are to a large extent, young women, largely poor and often migrants.

The seminar observed that these zones were plagued with numerous violations of national labour laws and international labour standards. However, it is in the area of freedom of association and collective bargaining that the violations of workers’ rights have been most blatant. Despite the difficulties, participants shared ideas on a wide range of strategies they were using to organize EPZ workers. These strategies were leading to the establishment of trade unions in zones. A typical example was the case of electronic workers in EPZs in Indonesia. Participants adopted a follow-up action plan that includes future work in the areas of organizing, networking, capacity building and legal support.

A full report on the international seminar as well as DVDs on conditions of work and organizing strategies in EPZs will soon be available.

For more information, contact:

Claude AKPOKAVIE

Specialist on Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV)

Responsible for EPZs

Phone: +41 22 799 77 11

E-mail: akpokavie[at]ilo[dot]org