In Pakistan 53 permanent workers but over 350 contract workers, many of them in ’core’ production positions, manufacture Cadbury-branded products for Mondelez, the “global snacks powerhouse” carved out of the former Kraft Foods one year ago. Management calls these workers “outsiders” and rejects the union’s demand for negotiations on their employment status. Many of these workers have long records of continuous employment at the factory, but are denied their mandatory pension and social security benefits. Agency workers are pressured to perform enormous overtime under threat of losing their jobs. While Mondelez babbles about “sustainability”, these workers live in permanent insecurity.

Management has stated that the casuals will NEVER be made permanent and has threatened to close the factory. Dismissal proceedings have been initiated against active union members, others have received warning letters.

On September 13 the Mondelez union and the national food workers’ federation launched a national protest campaign in support of their demands, beginning with a demonstration at the company’s head office in Karachi and alternating with protest actions at the factory and in cities across the country.

You can support the union struggle against disposable jobs - USE THE FORM BELOW TO SEND A MESSAGE TO MONDELEZ.

The Letter

To Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO
Cc André Benoît, Reg. Dir. Corporate and Government Affairs, CEE & MEA
Muhammed Amin, Managing Director: Mondelez Pakistan
Saira Khan, Human Resources Director Mondelez Pakistan

Dear Ms. Rosenfeld

Production of Cadbury products at your company’s Pakistan factory depends on the continual labour of over 350 outsourced workers who are deprived of their rights and have no job security. Many of these workers on whom the company depends are in “core” production positions, yet there are only 53 workers employed on direct permanent contracts. I support the demand for direct employment of these workers raised by the the National Federation of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Workers and the IUF. Management has responded to this justified demand by victimizing, threatening and punishing both permanent and casual workers at the factory - adding to the layers of human rights violations. I call upon you to act to ensure that your Pakistan management immediately ceases these abusive practices and enters into good faith negotiations with the union on this and other outstanding issues at the plant.

Yours sincerely

To sign:

http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=779