labour rights

Today, the Dutch Court of Appeal ruled that preliminary questions will be brought before the European Union (EU) Court of Justice on the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause (NSWC). The EU Court of Justice will be requested to shed light on whether the NSWC forms a breach on the freedom of free competition and, if so, whether the NSWC is justified considering the fundamental freedom of collective bargaining. As a result, at this moment, the initial positive ruling of the Rotterdam Court confirming the validity of the NSWC still stands.

EU Commission slashes rules designed to hold companies accountable for key human rights and environmental abuses in their supply chains. The European Commission has announced deep cuts to its environmental and human rights reporting and due diligence standards exempting thousands of businesses from complying with public reporting requirements, with potentially dire consequences for workers across the world.

More than 130 migrant fishers impacted by forced labour in seafood supply chain for scampi that ends up on UK plates The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has successfully appealed against the false labour and human rights claims of the UK Nephrops (scampi) Fishery Improvement Project (FIP).

Dockers working at the Borusan Port near Bursa in Turkey have been victimised by port owner Borusan Logistics for joining the union of their choice. Over 70% of the dock workers joined the ITF-affiliated union Liman-İş when the union started organising there in March. Borusan Port management responded by firing six dockers because they had joined the union. In response the union carried out a four-day protest at the port, closing it down.

On 11 March trade unions in Finland began a wave of strike action which has closed all cargo handling in Finnish ports and halted freight traffic on railways. The strike is currently intended to continue for two weeks. The strikes are in protest at the most serious attack on workers' rights and social security in the history of the Finnish welfare state which have been launched by the right-wing government. The unions are fighting to defend the country's social model.

Ukrainian Government attacks workers’ rights and unions amidst EU candidacy - ETF and ITF call on the European Commission to compel Ukraine to recall laws depriving Ukrainian workers of their collective rights and social protection.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation condemns the decision to pay out a £100 million bonus to Wizz Air’s CEO József Váradi as a reward for the rapid growth of the carrier.

The ETF wrote to the EU Commission President and Commissioners to inform them of the deteriorating situation in Bucharest metro, the attacks on labour rights and call for a meeting to discuss the way forward.