Serbia: workers in Yura need fair wages and decent working conditions

Labour rights in the South Korean company Yura, operating through factories in Leskovac, Niš and Rača, have been seriously compromised due to union busting, minimal wages, denial of sick leave, poor hygiene conditions, and even physical assaults on female workers.

This struggle goes beyond local significance; it stands as an example of solidarity for workers in Yura's factories worldwide, as well as for all employees within the KIA and HYUNDAI supply chains, and the automotive industry as a whole.

The Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia and the Independent Union of Metalworkers of Serbia are hosting this year's meeting of the global union network for employees of Kia and Hyundai, coordinated by IndustriALL Global Union. It is the first time that the network has met in a country where there is no factory of the Korean vehicle manufacturer, which emphasises the importance of the entire supply chain and the need for global worker organisation, as Kia and Hyundai are Yura's primary customers in Serbia.

During the meeting, participating unions from Serbia, Korea, the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Türkiye, Indonesia, India, USA and Brazil strengthened and enlarged their networks to provide practical support to one another. The organisation of production through a network of suppliers and clients often results in the deterioration of working conditions for many employees. But this is a significant step in union cooperation, moving from horizontal connections among unions within the same multinational corporation to vertical connections with unions among suppliers of that corporation.

Employers are directly linked in implementing business strategies and production projects, and indirectly in constant communication, through price negotiations for services provided to one another. Therefore, it is essential that unions across the value chain connect to collectively define what constitutes a fair distribution of wealth within these value chains.

Moreover, in the context of human rights due diligence processes, all stakeholders along global supply networks should work closely together to improve working conditions everywhere. This requires trade unions which can collectively speak for the employees and fair collective bargaining.

"IndustriAll Europe stands united with IndustriALL Global Union and all our affiliates, in solidarity with the Yura workers and their union, as they fight for recognition, collective bargaining rights, and fair wages across the supply chain.

"IndustriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union are closely following the issue and sending solidarity and support to the workers and trade unionists in their struggle. We are prepared to pressure management within our companies to organize their business operations in ways that ensure dignified working conditions for their suppliers' workers,"

say Atle Høie, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary, and Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe's deputy general secretary.