CNV Internationaal presents complaint in EU Parliament

CNV Internationaal filed this complaint to address the lack of compliance with the sustainability chapter of the Trade Agreement with the Andean Countries, explained Vanpeperstraete. 

These mines, in both countries owned by the Swiss multinational Glencore, produce coal  and metals that play such a crucial role in he European Union’s energy supply. 

CNV Internationaal calls on the European Union to cooperate with Colombia and Peru in order to improve labour rights conditions in line with the sustainability chapter of the trade deal.

Vanpeperstraete: "In both Colombia and Peru we see outsourcing is the rule rather than the exeption. Core functions - the miners themselves - are being outsourced; outsourced workers earn significantly less, up to a third of thier colleagues. 

Furthermore, in Peru we see an average of 18,2 percent fatal accidents in the mining companies, but when we look at the contractors, the agencies have an average of 31,6 percent fatal accidents." 

The coal mining in Colombia and metals mining in Peru cleary shows how outsourcing becomes a problem in relation to working conditions, such as payments, health and safety, as well as core rights, such as freedom of association and collective bargaining.

"We see the issues persist", says Vanpeperstraete. “Governments are failing, both in terms of legislative frameworks as well as implementation. That is in essence what the complaint is about.”

Vanpeperstraete: “When it comes to remedying, we proposed to engage and to work together with the governments in question."

The complaint adds to calls made by other institutions to create a detailed road map to address the labour violations mentioned in the complaint. “It's difficult to say what will happen. 

Hopefully the commission and trading partners will take up the roadmap,” says Vanpeperstraete, underlining that this roadmap should be detailed and time bound.