ECONOMIC UPDATE: 16 February 2018
BRAIN LABOR REPORT: 14 February 2018
WORLDWIDE
ALGERIA
MEDICAL RESIDENTS HOLD STRIKE IN DEFIANCE OF BAN
On 12 February 2018, approximately 1,000 medical
residents staged a demonstration in the capital Algiers. The residents convened
the demonstration in defiance of a government ban on strikes and
demonstrations. While riot police surrounded the demonstrators, they did not
intervene to disperse them. The residents are demanding that the Algerian
government end its requirement that new doctors participate in compulsory government
service, which often requires the doctors to spend a significant amount of time
in rural areas of the country. (13 Feb 2018)
ETHIOPIA
U.S. EMBASSY IN ADDIS ABABA ISSUES SECURITY
ALERT REGARDING STRIKE AND DEMONSTRATIONS
On 12 February 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa
issued a Security Alert that reads in part as follows: “Location: Oromia
and Amhara Regions
“Event: A 'stay at home' strike is underway throughout the Oromia and
Amhara regions and is expected to last through February 15. There have been
reports of protestors in both regions engaging public transport buses with
rocks and rioting. There are also reports of road blocks along the border
between Addis Ababa and Oromia.” (12 Feb 2018)
U.S. EMBASSY ISSUES UPDATED SECURITY ALERT
REGARDING UNREST IN OROMIA
On 14 February 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa
issued a Security Alert that reads as follows:
Location: Oromia Region
Event: The “stay at home” strike has largely ended;
however, the impact of the strike continues to affects many parts of Oromia
region. Public transportation in Oromia has not fully resumed normal
operations; expect delays and limited service. There are reports of protests in
the cities of Jimma and Awaday. There are also reports of road blocks along the
border between Addis Ababa and Oromia.
Actions to Take:
Postpone travel to these regions
until the strike concludes.
If you are currently in an area
affected by the strike, you should shelter in place.
Employ sound security practices.
Remain aware of your surroundings,
including local events.
Avoid large gatherings and
demonstrations; monitor local news stations; and follow the instructions of
local authorities.
Remember that the security
environment in Ethiopia is fluid and can deteriorate without warning.
(14 Feb 2018)
GHANA
HUNDREDS DEMONSTRATE IN ACCRA
On 8 February 2018, hundreds marched in Accra to
protest increases in the price of fuel. Protesters, who included civil society
members, drivers and traders, gave the government two weeks to implement
policies to reduce the effects of rising fuel prices on consumers. (08 Feb
2018)
GEORGIA
Workers dying in Georgia...
Four hundred and sixty (460) workers have died
and 796 have been injured because the Georgian government has refused to revive
the workplace inspections which existed until 2006.
In the view of the government, those inspections and ILO conventions are a
threat to business. The Georgian trade unions disagree, and they have
just launched a major campaign to press the government to replace the toothless
labour law recently passed with one that allows an effective inspection of
workplaces, including the ability to impose fines or other penalties.
Please take a moment to learn more and to join our Georgian brothers and
sisters in their struggle for a
decent labour law. It wasn't always
like this in Georgia.
In fact, this spring
the country will mark the 100th anniversary of the Georgian Democratic
Republic, which was run by left-wing Social Democrats and in which the trade
unions had tremendous influence. You can learn more about that experiment
in democratic socialism from my recently-published book, The Experiment: Georgia's Forgotten
Revolution, 1918-1921.
INDIA
RALLY PLANNED IN DELHI ON 15 FEBRUARY AGAINST
“SEALING DRIVE”
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an
organization representing merchants, is scheduled to stage a rally on 15
February 2018 at the Ramleela Maidan ground in New Delhi against what is known
locally as the “sealing drive.” The CAIT secretary general stated that he expects
thousands of Delhi merchants to participate in the rally.
“Sealing drive” refers to a campaign by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD) to close down commercial establishments that operate from residential
properties. Opponents of the drive claim that the measure is harmful to the
economy in addition to placing a burden on the merchants whose establishments
have been closed down. In a previous act of protest against the “sealing
drive,” CAIT organized a two-day strike in Delhi on 2 and 3 February, which
closed down several major markets in the city. (09 Feb 2018)
PHILIPPINES
JEEPNEY DRIVER TRANSPORT STRIKE SCHEDULED FOR 19
FEBRUARY
On 12 February 2018, the transport union Pinagkaisang
Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) announced that it plans
to hold a strike in Manila on 19 February to protest the government’s plan to
phase out jeepney vehicles and replace them with eco-friendly public utility
vehicles (PUVs). According to the Piston chief, approximately 1,000 drivers are
expected to participate in the strike, which will take place on San Miguel’s
Mendiola Street. Simultaneous protests are scheduled to take place in Bicol
region, Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Baguio; the planned demonstrations are
not expected to paralyze commuters to the extent of former Piston protests. (12
Feb 2018)
SLOVENIA
TEACHERS STRIKE FOR HIGHER WAGES
On 14 February 2018, approximately 38,000 teachers
held a one-day strike for higher wages across Slovenia. Most schools in the
country were closed as a result of the labor action. Approximately 15,000
teachers were expected to participate in a demonstration in central Ljubljana
to demand a 10 percent increase in wages; it is not known as of last report
whether the protest took place as scheduled. (14 Feb 2018)
UNITED KINGDOM
LONDON TUBE CLEANERS’ PROTEST SCHEDULED FOR 21
FEBRUARY
According to a 16 February 2018 report, members and
supporters of the transportation union, RMT, will hold a protest on 21 February
against the treatment of cleaning employees by outsourcing companies. The
protest will begin outside City Hall at 1400 local time/UTC and will then move
to the headquarters of ABM, one of the contracting companies that has received
criticism from the RMT. (21 Feb 2018)
UNITED STATES
