Two years ago, on April 17, 2018, 14 workers at Cargill's starch plant in Bursa-Orhangazi were dismissed while trying to form a union. The workers are determined to fight for their right to be represented by the IUF-affiliated Tekgıda-İş. The remedy for rights abuses is full reinstatement and a clear sign from Cargill that rights will be respected at the workplace.

The IUF-affiliated Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) has condemned proposals by the Trump administration to lower minimum wages for farmworkers and pledged to fight any lowering of standards. The proposed measures would allow employers to pay migrant workers admitted to the US under the H2A visa program less than the agreed "adverse wage effect rate", based on the minimum wage for the surrounding area.

Tunisia's national trade union center UGTT, together with civil society organizations, activists and members of parliament, has called on the government to take immediate measures to ensure that migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers enjoy full access to medical services, prevention measures and social support in the COVID-19 pandemic.

McDonald's workers in Marseilles Saint-Barthélemy have responded to widespread distress and food shortages in their poor neighborhood by taking over the restaurant and converting it for local food storage and distribution. McDonald's France provides no protective equipment to workers in the dozen outlets it has maintained open in the lockdown, and is pressing for nationwide re-opening.

The government of Maldives has been issuing contradictory regulations in a scramble to keep the resorts operating. Management of the JA Manafaru resort has capitalized on the situation to victimize union officer Ibrahim Ziyaadh, a branch leader of the tourism workers' union TEAM which is fighting to defend the rights, health and safety of tourism workers.

The IUF has called on the G20 to take immediate action to protect tourism workers being laid-off in their millions as a consequence of COVID-19 lockdowns and the collapse of the industry, which directly and indirectly employs more than one in ten workers worldwide.

After 763 days of continuous picketing at AB InBev Sonepat, the union has temporarily closed the picket line to reduce any possible risk for union members and the local community during the COVID-19 crisis.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, I am constantly impressed by the determination of our affiliates to protect members and to fight for fair treatment of workers.

To assist in the fight we have produced 5 leaflets on  Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Hotels, Equality and Fast Food: 

Some of the largest food companies in Peru are using the COVID-19 crisis to impose 12-hour shifts, despite government regulations which establish an 8 PM to 5 AM curfew, limit the workweek to 48 hours and mandate negotiations on any changes to work practices. The IUF-affiliated Federation of Food Industry Workers (FNT-CGTP-ABA) is fighting back, and demands strict measures to protect worker health and safety.

SENTRO, the trade union center affiliated to the IUF through its food, beverage and HRCT membership, is demanding income guarantees for all workers affected by the nationwide lockdown, including informal workers and the unemployed.

Many food processing companies in Brazil, including some of the largest groups, are failing to take the necessary measures to protect industry workers, putting public health and food security at risk. The IUF-affiliated national food processing federations in Brazil, CNTA and CONTAC (CUT), supported by the IUF Latin American regional secretariat, are calling for workplace and government action to maintain food security and protect worker health and safety.

The IUF-affiliated United Workers Union (UWU) is promoting an action program for the COVID-19 crisis and beyond which stresses the need for comprehensive social protection and public investment and ownership of key economic sectors. The status quo is not only untenable, says the union: 'Moments of rupture create space and impetus for change.'

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating unprecedented challenges for our affiliates around the world. All IUF sectors are impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

More than ever we need solidarity and a global response to minimize the risk and the impact on our members, their families and communities.

Workers from tea plantations who have migrated to other states in India to work in hotels, restaurants, plantations, construction and as daily wage workers are now returning to the plantations due to loss of work and income. The water and sanitation committees organized on plantations in Assam and West Bengal with the support of the IUF are fighting to secure the water they need to protect tea workers and their families against the coronavirus.