Basf asia pacific long xuyên an giang là gì

An Asia-wide BASF regional network takes shape in Singapore as part of an effort to create a sustainable BASF Global Network of trade unionists.

Trade unionists from BASF plants across Asia affiliated to IndustriAll Global Union met on 1st September in Singapore for a two-day workshop to initiate the BASF Regional Network Asia for workers across the region to exchange experience, information and knowledge.

Organized by IndustriAll with the support of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the workshop brought together participants from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam who learned about the structure of BASF―the German multinational corporation―its commitment to global social and labour standards as well as their inadequate implementation in most of the company’s plants in Asia.

Malaysian plants are among the worst” ―Mohd Narzi Ali, Secretary of the local Trade Union at BASF plant in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

In the workshop discussions, workers testified to diverging experiences across the different working sites. For Mohd Nazri Ali, “Malaysian plants are among the worst.” A worksite Secretary of the local trade union at the BASF plant in Johor Bahru (Malaysia), Mohd founded together with fellow workers their union in 2012, but the local management has consistently delayed the negotiations of a Collective Bargaining Agreement. According to Shashikant Bandal, trade union leader at the BASF Thane plant in India, the local management is oblivious to the international standards to which BASF commits. “When we demand the implementation of the UN Global Compact, they say it’s none of their business; when auditors from the German headquarters come, they look at the papers, but they never talk to the workers” says Shashikant who has worked at the corporation for 20 years now. “Our demands are simple: we want the standards that BASF promises to be implemented at our plant.”

We want the standards that BASF promises to be implemented at our plant” ― Shashikant Bandal, Trade Union Leader at BASF Thane, India

Building on these experiences, the participants developed strategies and ideas on how to work together more closely in order to create more leverage against the management of the company in support of demands for decent medical facilities, reasonable working hours and equal treatment of every employee. Suryani, a maintenance worker at the BASF plant in Merak, Indonesia, since 2010 was outraged by the testimonies, “we have to organize internationally, to support our colleagues; and the information we received will also help us to strengthen our bargaining efforts in Indonesia.”

We have to organize internationally, to support our colleagues” ―Suryani, Maintanance worker at the BASF plant in Merak, Indonesia

The two-day workshop is part of a long-term aim by IndustriAll to create a sustainable BASF Global Network of trade unionists. Regional networks of BASF trade unions already exist or have been initiated in Europe, Latin America and North America. A global meeting of BASF workers’ representatives was held in Hannover in 2015. Such an international platform shall increase the leverage for workers’ demands in global supply chains and further foster international solidarity among workers.

The meeting was conducted with financial and political support from IndustriALL’s long-standing strategic partner, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). The meeting focused on strengthening the network and building the appropriate structure for establishing social dialogue with the company at all levels.

The participants stressed that the unions should come up with a strategic reply to the challenges faced by workers; continuing digitalization of production and work, growing use of precarious work, and an overall growth of the company. The meeting also highlighted the promotion of gender equality and integration of young workers in building union density at BASF in Asia Pacific Region.

The meeting extensively analysed current trends in the global chemical industries at a period of major restructuring, including mega mergers. Other priority issues addressed were ways to protect worker rights and organizing around occupational health and safety at BASF sites.

The union representatives assessed progress on national action plans, and continued to map working conditions, wages, safety and health, as well as trade union organizing. Despite increasing profits and sales, BASF workers face serious challenges in the region, and there is still inequality of employment conditions between the countries.

The meeting welcomed an input from IndustriALL’s powerful German affiliate IG BCE, representing workers in BASF’s home country Germany. The union’s director of European and international affairs, Michael Mersmann, explained the german social dialogue and co-determination model, particularly in the context of BASF. Mersmann stressed the importance of coordinating collective bargaining, particularly at national level. He also explained how IG BCE can help unions in the region with a clear protocol on raising issues from the region to BASF corporate management in Germany.

The Asian network members paid great attention to a report from BASF Latin America regional network coordinator Airton Cano, who shared their 20-year experience and successes of social dialogue between their regional network structure and the company, with a particular reference to the collaboration with the Works Council in Germany. The network coordinated by Cano has established trust and respect from the company and regularly raises issues with management. Information shared by the company in social dialogue supports union work throughout the region. The support of IndustriALL and the BASF union leaders in Germany is equally important, and communication with them is vital, Cano added.

The meeting concluded with a new action plan for each country and the region as a whole. A new coordination committee was elected, under new regional coordinator, Raghuram Theramkudalu from BASF India. The committee will further develop regular communication and seek to include workers from other countries in the network. It was also agreed to deepen understanding of the impact of Industry 4.0 on BASF operations, and request disclosure of company information.

IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said:

“This Singapore meeting clearly showed energy, appetite and willingness in keeping union networking in BASF Asia Pacific operations. We are certain that this will bring proper dialogue with company management in the future.”