As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...annual Report

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1 As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...annual Report Tirupur has been a hub for garment industry suppliers and a history of exploitation of rights of workers and child labour. SAVE was founded as a response to the unfair and exploitative working conditions of garment factories, especially for under age children, young women enslaved as bonded labour and inhuman practices against women workers. SAVE is the oldest and most reputed organization working directly with workers and unions. Since inception, SAVE has worked with many corporate houses, spinning mills and garment units ensuring fair and ethical practices for workers, their families and the local environment. SAVE organizes Garment industry consortium with an in-depth focus and expertise on Child rights, rescue of children from exploitation & child labour, education, skill development, Microenterprise etc. SAVE s development interventions started with programs for the eradication of child labour practices and promotion of child rights in the garment & textile industries of Tirupur. Over the years it has been working for the rights of children, women and worker s community through research, advocacy and capacity building. SAVE steps into its 21sy year with the confidence it has 20 years less to worry about. Over the last 20 years the organization has brought about lasting change in the lives of women, children and workers living in different districts of Tamil Nadu. With its strong emphasis on women and child rights, protecting and promoting the rights of migrant children; enabling and motivating women towards their empowerment; promoting and ensuring the rights of workers; enhancing job skills of rescued street children and child labourers, advocating and lobbying towards preventing exploitations and protecting young women and children, SAVE touches the lives of needy and vulnerable persons. Vision SAVE envisions a child labour free society where the rights of child labourers, women and children are respected and upheld and they have a equal say in every sphere of their lives. Mission 1 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

2 Envisaging a mission on eradication of child labour practice, comprehensive empowerment of women, promotion of living standards of the migrant and other labourers of Tirupur industries by formation of community strengthening structures through awareness education, enhancing skills, capacity building, networking, lobbying and advocacy programs. Goal Ensuring the rights of children and women in particular, those coming from marginalized and discriminated communities through empowerment, care and protection. Objectives Providing care and protection to vulnerable children. Empowering children and youth Rights of Child labourers and children at risk Assertion of rights of migrant workers Protection and promotion of the rights of discriminated, distressed and marginalised women Program Overview SAVE has extensive experience in child protection and labour welfare. Mr. Aloysius leads SAVE s efforts to rescue child labourers and reintegrate them into the education system and was instrumental in organizing national and international campaigns such as the Global March against Child Labour, the Child Rights Forum, and the Clean Clothes Campaign etc. His strenuous efforts have brought down the number of child labourers and street children in Tirupur by 100 percent. SAVE has the reputation of representing the issues of garment workers particularly migrant child labourers at international forums. SAVE offered to campaign against child labour within the system that is geared towards child exploitation. SAVE is also convenor of The Tirupur People s Forum for Protection of Environment, child rights and Labour rights (TPFPECL) to address labour rights violation specifically the exploitation of migrant child labour in the Tirupur garment and textile industries. Today, SAVE has extended support to more than 15,000 girls from all over India. SAVE operates as a relentless campaigner for the protection and promotion of the rights of children, women and workers. SAVE maintains and runs 10 bridge schools for rescued child labourers and migrant children. It also maintains 5 crèche s for the little ones of working parents. SAVE has a 6 acre Eco Park for Children, an ecological park with focus on increasing skills on rural market linked jobs and enterprises like Agro-farming, waste water recycling, ornamental and floriculture plants, vegetable gardening, poultry, sericulture and alternative farming methodologies, etc The Bridge schools are staffed with qualified teachers and clerks. The crèche s have a qualified teacher and an ayah. Two qualified consultants with over 40 years experience in agriculture along with labourers take care of the ecological park. In addition to them the organisation employs over 57 employees in its Labour Rights Cell, Child Rights Cell, Women s Development Cell, Advocacy policy centre and administration. 2 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

3 Child Rights Cell (CRC) The team at CRC is committed to changing the situation of vulnerable children in Tirupur, the team had noteworthy achievements throughout the year. A committed participation from all alliance networks, employees, volunteers, donors, communities across villages and city, college students, corporate houses, celebrities, and media ensured the success of the outreach programs. Goal of Child Right programs: To establish a system and devise a mechanism whereby all migrant children and migrant child labourers, native child labourers and runaway children from the garment units of Tirupur are empowered to exercise their rights in a healthy social environment. Objectives of the project : To Identify & map migrant child labour concentrated areas. To protect migrant child labourers from all forms of exploitation. To enable children to exercise their rights in schools and communities. To Promote Gender equity in schools and communities. To influence policy changes for sustainable changes towards migrant children and child labour Activities and Achievements Interventions with Vulnerable children Male Female Total Shelter provided Special Professional Counselling facilitated Assistance provided to Differently able children Child Labour rescued and rehabilitated Runaway children rescued and Repatriated Missing children rescued and Repatriated Children provided with shelter in other homes Girls rescued from Child Marriages and rehabilitated Dropout children enrolled in to schools Begging Children - rescued and rehabilitated Street Children - rescued and rehabilitated Children rescued rehabilitated from physical Harassment and 3 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues Kidnapped Children rescued and repatriated bridge schools were established at 10 different locations

4 Children enrolled in all the 10 bridge schools Total Women Development Cell (WDC) WDC s goal is to develop women with leadership qualities with decision making capacity and make shine as equals in society. Capacity building programs for women has increased choices for their economical, career and personal development. Activities and Achievements - April 2013 to March 2014 Women Development Cell Formation and Strengthening of Self Help Groups 163 groups were trained on formation and functioning of Self Help Groups and 1704 community people benefitted. 174 trainings were held for Animators and Representatives from Various SHGs and 348 animators and representatives participated. 128 groups were trained on Income Generation and through these IGP programs 1536 community people benefitted. 56 new groups with 672 people have been facilitated for Direct Linkage services. 48 new Self Help Groups were formed and 609 members enrolled in these groups. Empowering Federations 150 Panchayat level federation meetings were organised for the SHGs from 18 Panchayats SHG members participated in 3 Regional level conferences. 17 Panchayat level and Block Level Federation Leaders were capacitated on Counselling Skills. Building Social Capacity of SHGs 1386 SHG members, 291 SHG Leaders participated in 4 Gramsabha Meetings in 136 panchayats 2150 women from SHGs participated and celebrated International Women's day SHG members participated in the Inter SHG Skill development competitions 17 Panchayat level federation elections were held, 986 members voted and 51 members were elected as leaders Financial sustainability of SHGs One of the SHGs have got Rs. 25,000/- as a loan from Suyam Women Federation 8 of the SHGs have got Rs. 30,000/- each (Total amount Rs. 2,40,000) as a loan from Suyam Women Federation 10 of the SHGs have got Rs.50,000/- each (Total amount Rs.5,00,000) as a loan from Suyam Women Federation 56 of the SHG members have got Rs.60,000/- each (Total Amount Rs.3,360,000) as a loan from Suyam Women Federation 48 Income generating businesses were run by various SHG members 4 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

5 Welfare Schemes Accessed 66 persons have obtained PANCARDs 200 persons have availed Welfare scheme card for accessing various welfare schemes. Totally 44 women have opened individual Savings Bank Account in the bank. Trainings and Courses 120 Members from 27 SHGs benefitted through training on Alternative Power Energy. 92 Adolescent Girls and Young Women have been trained on Jute products making. 220 leaders from 40 SHG s were trained on Financial Literacy and Credit Counselling. 98 adolescent girls and women were trained on Tailoring and Embroidery. Special Events 150 members benefitted through a medical camp organised at Kalipalayam village 54 of the PLF and BLF Leaders had an exposure visit to Mysore and Bangalore 356 members participated in the competitions on Women s day Labour Resource Centre (LRC) LRC reaches out to workforce of Tirupur through organising, educating and ensuring their rights. It began its work from the community and gradually in cooperation with the employers the team has successfully reached the workforce in the companies. Devoid of ethnicity, race, language, gender has successfully reached out to both organised and unorganised sector workers by educating them on their rights. Objectives: Promoting worker education groups (WEG), SAVE educates & strengthens WEGs towards functioning independently as cluster federations. Building linkages between bureaucrats, workers and employers to strengthen their association. To enhance and facilitate victimized workers to access legal aids. Strengthening trade unions with trainings and motivating members of WEGs in joining trade unions of their choice. Researches on the current situation of labour standard and the right violations. Labour Resource Center (LRC) 1. Labour rights and Help line for the migrant workers 1.1. Garment workers Orgainsing: Refresher Training was conducted for 619 organised garment workers on labour law, women rights, trade unionism, collective bargaining and social security such as food, nutritional, health, housing, 5 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

6 employment, income, life and accident securityin 34 sessions during the reporting period April-2013 to March Workshop for trade unionmembers on CBA: There were three meetings held for trade union members on collective bargaining agreement(cba). There were 79 participants Capacitated by the programme 1.3. Skill building trainingto staff and TU leaders on organising: There were four programmes conducted for 132 leaders of trade union on organising and improving the capacity of the trade union during the reporting period 1.4. Reduced incidence of caste and gender based: 154 women leaders were trained on gender discrimination at work places. 14 factories were trained to form Anti Harassment at work Place during the reporting period 1.5. Advocacy and Lobby against discriminative labour practices: There were 11 advocacy with government and lobby with politicians against discriminative labour practices were held Conducive results in social dialogue:there were 6 training were held for 246 garment workers leaders on successive social dialogue during the reporting period 2. Consultative workshop On Employee State Insurance (ESI):On 29th July 2013, a dissemination and consultative work shop was held on Employee State Insurance and the reach among the Tirupur Export Garment workers at Hotel Maniam classic, Tirupur. ESI officials, 7 trade union leaders and 73 garment worker leaders were invited to take part in the programme. The outcome of the study were disseminated and the open discussion was encouraged among the participants. Finally concluding remark was put up on the meeting by the director of SAVE. The demand was submitted to the ESI authority. 3. Monitoring the child Labour and Strengthening the Workers Education Groups (WEG) on freedom of association (FoA) and collective bargaining Strengthening the data base of workers is the key component for improving the living conditions of supply chain factories of garment industry. The brief assessment of labour standards among the Brandand Non brand supplier based garment workers was done during the reporting period from April-2013 to March There are 67% of the factories supply to brand and 33% for non Non brand. There are 720 including 299 female workers were interacted from brand supplier s factory workers and 180 including 87 female workers from Non brand supplier s 6 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

7 factories during the reporting period. These workers are formed as Workers Education Group (WEG). Every WEG consists of 15 members Training for newly formed WEG: The workers were trained with following topics 1.Health and hygiene 2.STI, HIV/AIDS 3.Occupational safety, 4.Labour Rights and workers welfare schemes and 5.Trade union and collective bargaining. 85.4% of the newly interacted workers received training and 14.6% of the previous year s workers refreshed with training modules. 3.2.Consortium and Cluster level meeting: 12 Consortium and 6 cluster meetings were organised in different days during the reporting period. 359 including 67 female workers participated in the meetings 3.3. Labour Day :May day programme was observed on 1 st of May at SAVE Office, 97 women participated in the programme. The gathering aimed to create awareness on labour rights under factories act 1948 and Harassment at workplace. The areas covered under factories act 1948 were, working hours, wage determination, bonus, Social Securities like ESI and EPF and Freedom of association. Areas discussed under Harassment at workplace were, Types of harassment, violence against women, Harassment at work place, Legal implications for Harassment at workplace 3.4. Labour Supportive environment:there were 194 including 4 male victims case studies collected and reported during the project period. Information collected from both Spinning and Garment sector which is 167 and 27 respectively Child Labour Monitoring: There were 24 factories of brand based monitored for child labour and reported back to them 4. VAW& Anti Harassment Committee &Violence prevention system in export oriented garment factories There were 7 factories were chosen during the reporting period to form Anti sexual Harrasmment committee at work places and the train the elected members. Elected representative trained on the following topics S.No Topics 1 Introduction about the Internal Compliance Committee and the importance of it as per the law 7 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

8 2 Selection process and election for ICC members 3 Rules and Regulation of ICC members 4 Harrassment -Types of Harrassment 5 Gender View 6 Skill of Identifying the client 7 Basic Counselling skill 8 Procedure for compliance 9 Maintenance of Records and files 10 Referral System 5. Study on Rights violation:therewere 7 research studies were conducted on child, women and labour rights violations, 6 stakeholder meetings were held to disseminate the research during the reporting period from March-2013 to April Migrant Help Line to address the human right Tirupur, the operational area of the organization, is one of the largest garment export centers and major International retail brands source their production and stake in this region. More than 7000 industrial units are functioning in Tirupur. Attracted by the availability of employment in Tirupur the rural people from all over the state and from the 7 states of India migrate to Tirupur. The migration of families into Tirupur region includes children below the age of 14 years and minors below 18 years of age. Most children hailing from migrant families end up as child laborers since the income of their parents is not sufficient to meet the expenses for due to the inflation of essential commodities and high rate of house rents in the Tirupur region. In addition the children without parents, the children of single parent and the children living with their step patent fall prey as street children due to adverse conditions in their families. The main factors that contribute to the increase of child labour are poverty and illiteracy, lack of awareness, lack of access to basic and meaningful quality education and skills. In addition societal attitudes towards child labour also play an important role where children are perceived as 'adults' at an early stage and are shouldered with the burden of contributing for the family income which results in high drop outs or runaway and migrant children. 8 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

9 The child laborers are employed by most of the sub-contract units of export garment firms during peak garment production season. These units of garment industry need cheap labour like street children, migrant workers and adolescent girls. The exploitation of these children is a constant problem of this region.garment industries prefer adolescent girls and women in lieu of adult men as women folk would not go for unionization of workers besides they are absolutely unaware about the workers rights and various labour legislations that are applicable. 1. Follow up calls- 197 (94 males and103 Females) 2. Labour Right Based-7.7% 3. STI, HIV/AIDS Related information-23.07% 4. Social Security-40.76% 5. Wage % 6. Employment-6.15% 7. Savings Bank Account-6.15% 8. Children s Education-1.54% 9. Others-3.07% Social Security Initiatives The team has facilitated social security initiatives for the workers. Among them totally 942 workers have been enrolled in to Unorganised workers welfare board and the same no. of workers joined in a Trade union of their choice. Facilitating Factories: The team at Labor resource centre of SAVE, has been working in partnership with the employers and brands by facilitating supply chain training programs for the staff and workers of the factories. The team also insisted and ensured the establishment of Internal Complaints Committee in factories wherever the team has been able to have a dialogue with employers and brands. The LRC team has produced and published its own IEC materials for the trainings. A workshop for trade unions on Collective Bargaining Agreement was organised in Tirupur and members from various trade unions participated in the event. Trainings were organised for 60 Newly formed WEGs re on Trade Union, Personality Development, Labour Rights, Health Hygiene, STI, HIV / AIDS, Occupational safety, Collective bargaining and Social welfare schemes A rally was held at Tiruvannamalai in October 2013 on, Condemnation of issues on Construction and Unorganised workers welfare board nearly 650 people have participated in the event and raised their voice for the welfare of the unorganised workers. 9 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

10 Social Protection for migrants Food Nutritional security (Public Distribution System and Integrated child development center) Health security (Employee Provident Fund, Health Insurance, Linkage with Primary Health center and Government hospital) Employment/ Income security (Alternative employment in different sectors-nreg) Life and Accident security (Insurance for Accidental and Savings) Old Age security(linkage with old age pension scheme and savings and insurance) Advocacy and Policy centre Advocacy and Policy Centre involves itself in campaigns against camp labour schemes existing in various sectors, lobbying and advocating rights and promoting rehabilitation of bonded girl children and adolescents rescued from mills and garment units in Tamilnadu. The centre aims to empower adolescent girls and enabling them in their skills; Sensitize the community on the exploitative working conditions and prevent young girls from being trafficked and labour camps. To curtail and eradicate gradually this type of camp coolie systems, SAVE targets not only Tirupur which is the destination district but also the source districts in Tamilnadu state from where these targeted children are picked up for labour. Creating community awareness in five districts of Tamilnadu known as Nagapattinam, Dindigul, Namakkal, Trichy and Theni. Advocacy and Policy Centre (APC) of SAVE Advocacy and policy Centre (APC) is providing awareness on bonded labour and promoting safe migration in employment source districts of textile and garment industry in Tamilnadu since the year The source districts are Trichy, Theni, Dindigul, Namakkal, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Krishnagiri. And also it advocates and does legal litigation service for Ex-Affected Sumangali Scheme workers. It works for prevention, promotion and redressal activities for current and Ex-workers of Garment and Textile workers in source and destination places. Periodical assessment of the worker s situation is done and shared with relevant stake holders for better improvement. The below preventive and remedial activities are continuing in 6 districts of Tamilnadu. Community outreach activities are progressing in Krishnagiri district recently. 1. Community awareness programme on prevention of Sumangali Camp Labour system in Garment and textile industry 10 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

11 No.of People Trichy Dindigul Nagapattinam 2. Intervention with panchayat level leaders Thanjavur Nagapattinam Namakkal Dindigul No.of Panchayat Leaders Theni Trichy Village level formation of Pressure Building Group on safe migration No.of Pressure Groups 5 0 Trichy Theni Dindigul Namakkal Nagapattinam Thanjavur 4. Adolescent Peer group (APG) Formation 11 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

12 Trichy Dindigul Nagapattinam No.of APG Formation No.of APG Formation 5. Adolescent girls Ooraalumandram (Village Parliament) Trichy Theni Dindigul Namakkal Nagapattinam No.of Ado.Parliament 6. Awareness programme in Schools No.of School Children Trichy Theni Dindigul Namakkal Nagapattinam Thanjavur 7. Counselling to school dropped out and irregular children 12 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

13 No.of Children Trichy Theni Dindigul Namakkal Nagapattinam Thanjavur 8. Linkages with Vocational Trainings-Number of Ex-Sumangali Workers and Adolescents Thanjavur Nagapattinam Namakkal Dindigul No.of Ex workers & Ados Theni Trichy Meetings with Employment Agent Trichy Theni Dindigul Namakkal Nagapattinam Thanjavur 10. Meetings with trade unions 13 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

14 26 24 Trichy Theni Dindigul Namakkal Nagapattinam Thanjavur 11. Interaction with Scheme, Current and Ex -Scheme Workers Thanjavur Nagapattinam Namakkal Dindigul No.of Worker's Interaction Theni Trichy Vocational training centre Focusing on building the capacity of the urban poor adolescent boys and girls and to increase their professional and technical opportunities in the job market SAVE has these vocational courses at various locations in Tirupur. These courses enable them to be dignified, intelligent and resourceful citizens. The objectives, activities and achievements : Objective 1: To enhance the skills and capacity of the former child labourers and urban poor children on different vocational skills that will increase professional and technical opportunities in the job market. 2 batches of 3 months duration course on electrical and electronics training on repairing & servicing of fridges, air conditioners and washing machines. 46 trainees completed course. 14 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

15 2 batches of 2 months duration electrical course on electrical wiring, repairing and servicing of fans and home appliances. 30 trainees completed their course. 69 students were trained in Computer software and hardware. 163 girls have finished their tailoring training. Objective 2: To facilitate ample opportunity of career development for the child labourers and urban poor children by enhancing the capacity and to enable them to be dignified, intelligent and resourceful citizens. 46 students completed the course. The number of girls that took the course was have joined as service mechanics in various service centres, the other 12 are self employed. 30 students completed the course. 15 of them are employed; the others are in the process of getting employed. 30 students have completed their 3 month course; the other 39 are nearing the end of the course. All the 30 are employed in mills and garment industries as data entry operators. They are being paid between Rs of them are employed and are earning on an average Rs. 6000/-month. The other 16 are self employed. Objective 3: To promote social involvement and environmental conservation among the candidates by orienting them in the process The sessions on environmental problems related with e-waste start with almost all students were surprised that electronic appliances can be considered to be a waste material. Conclusion : Having chartered our 20 years goals, it was imperative to nurture the principal resource that will enable us to achieve them our employees. SAVE believes in equipping people with the necessary skills, knowledge and competency to perform well. The emphasis is on development of leadership and expanding the competency of each individual to be an achiever on the job. SAVE is focusing on improving accountability of its employees. Capacity building and trainings has equipped all employees with skills and knowledge that would enhance job performance. Stepping in to the 3 rd decade SAVE aims at building expertise on its five dimensional approach and target groups specifically children and women, adolescent girls for camp labor, workers & migrants and poor urban adolescent boys and girls. 15 Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

16 Financial Report Page- As we enter the 3 rd decade, the struggle for RIGHTS continues...

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