by IUF Asia/Pacific | May 16, 2026 | Collective Bargaining Rights, English language, Labours' Rights, Our Members, Our Union Our Power, Secure Jobs, Youth in Unions
In a continuous endeavour of winning permanent employment, IUF affiliated CSMU at AB InBev India fought consistently with courage to win permanent employment for precarious employees.
India is the largest potential market for beer in the world with suitable demographics and around 23 million young population. For world’s largest beer company and premium beer brand manufacturer like Budweiser, AB InBev sees India as the fourth largest market globally and making new investments. But this investment mostly used for automation, digitalisation and new technology with very limited investment in safe & secure employment. Therefore, unions are constantly subject to pressure of multitasking, excessive workload, increased stress and job insecurity. CSMU in India used this opportunity to combat precarious employment and win permanent employment at AB InBev India.
In the middle of pandemic situation, AB InBev India decided to re-open the closed Foster site at Aurangabad in Maharashtra with new investment and CSMU demanded new recruitment with special focus on gender equality through their collective bargaining agreement proposal. It became the first Indian brewery with gender balance in workmen category.
The union also ensured new investment to install new manufacturing line of premium beer brand like Budweiser and after successful launch of Budweiser beer brand manufacturing, the union started demanding more secure employment to continue producing best quality products. Before making any progress, AB InBev India management delayed and denied but regular follow up with hard struggles, the union successfully negotiated secure employment.
The union also provided all the required support to ensure skill development of these workers, representation with the company and awareness on worker rights through regular education & training activities of the IUF Asia Pacific. https://iufap.org/category/quality-apprenticeship/
In contemporary situation, when unions are experiencing a rise in precarious employment in food system, this victory brings a hope for others to continue their fight for secure employment.
by IUF Asia/Pacific | Feb 18, 2026 | Bahasa Indonesia, Defending Democracy, Education & Training, Freedom of Association, Human Rights, Labours' Rights, Our Union Our Power
FSBMM (Federasi Serikat Buruh Makanan dan Minuman) yang berafiliasi dengan IUF menyelenggarakan Rapat Majelis Umum pada tanggal 3 Februari 2026 di Bandung-Indonesia, bertepatan dengan HUT ke-8 FSBMM, dengan tema “Membangun Kekuatan Serikat Pekerja Melalui Pendidikan dan Pengorganisasian yang Efektif.” Acara ini merupakan ruang konsolidasi penting untuk menyatukan langkah-langkah, memastikan demokrasi yang bertanggung jawab berjalan dengan baik, menyamakan visi, dan memperkuat gerakan buruh makanan dan minuman di seluruh Indonesia.
Pertemuan ini menyoroti pertumbuhan organisasi FSBMM meskipun ada tantangan efisiensi di beberapa perusahaan. Per Februari 2026, FSBMM mewakili 22 serikat buruh anggota di seluruh Indonesia, berhasil menambah 7 serikat buruh anggota baru.
Bergabungnya serikat buruh anggota ini adalah bukti bahwa persatuan adalah kekuatan, dan FSBMM terus tumbuh sebagai wadah untuk perjuangan bersama untuk keadilan, kesejahteraan buruh dan keluarga mereka.
Laporan dari para serikat buruh anggota menunjukkan pencapaian konkret, beberapa SBA berhasil mengubah pekerja kontrak menjadi status permanen, keberhasilan terkait negosiasi upah, peningkatan perlindungan termasuk perpanjangan cuti melahirkan, dan beberapa serikat buruh sedang dalam proses menegosiasikan PKB pertama mereka.
FSBMM menegaskan kembali komitmennya untuk membangun kekuatan serikat pekerja melalui pendidikan dan pengorganisasian yang efektif. Laporan Sekretariat Nasional FSBMM menekankan pendidikan, pengorganisasian, pengelolaan basis data, dan peningkatan manajemen keuangan sebagai prioritas utama. Sekretaris Umum FSBMM Dani Afgani mengucapkan terima kasih atas dukungan IUF selama ini, juga menyatakan bahwa terkait pengorganisasian, kita harus mendengarkan, dalam arti membuat para pekerja merasa nyaman, dan bahwa semua anggota berhak menyampaikan ide, kritik, saran kepada FSBMM sebagai bagian dari demokrasi yang bertanggung jawab dan akuntabel.
Organize, Fight and Win!
Our Union, Our Power!
by IUF Asia/Pacific | Jun 30, 2025 | Collective Bargaining Rights, English language, Freedom of Association, Labours' Rights, women's rights
Indian rural workers working in these village level primary milk collection centres remains unorganised and deprived of their labour rights but organising and fighting of workers at Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited successfully helped them to win their workers right.
The village level primary milk collection centres are responsible to collection, testing of milk, maintain collection records, milk payment to farmers, and also implementation of policies at the local level. These milk collection centres are legally registered with the state authorities as cooperative and provides on ground required support to small-marginal farmers. However,
The workers employed at the centres are from the same village and works in the morning and evening shift at the time of milk collection. Due to lack of implementation of one village, one primary co-operative, in some states like Maharashtra, multiple centres in the villages creates competition and reduce milk collection quantity and ultimately reduces the income of centres and their workers.
The employment of these workers is with the centres and district cooperative pays centres like per litre of milk collection i.e., INR 0.6 paise per litre (means INR 6 for ten litres of milk) as employee cost and 0.8 paise per litre (means INR 8 for ten litres of milk) as centre administrative cost.
Despite all odds, milk collection centres workers at Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited (brand name Gokul) organised themselves under the legally registered labour union called Kolhapur Zilha Sahakari Doodh Sanstha Karmachari Sanghatana. Currently, the union represents around 9626 milk collection centre workers from Kolhapur district of Maharashtra and the membership continuous to grow. The union is also officially recognised by Gokul management, and the state authorities and invited for policy discussions.
The union also started different welfare schemes for their members from additional annual collection of INR 400 per member. They provide health insurance, term insurance, accidental insurance, retirement benefits, scholarship for children, etc,. to centre workers and their families.
The union also regularly followed with the social security (Provident Fund) Office and allowed their registration as employees. Hence, their Provident Fund amount is also directly deposited in to their PF account whereas in other state cooperatives like Karnataka Milk Federation (brand name Nandini), PF account is not allowed for centre workers in Karnataka, with the justification that centre does not qualify the requirement of minimum 20 employees at workplace. In an exchange visit, organised by the IUF Asia Pacific, unions from Maharashtra agreed to provide all the required technical support to lobby with concerned authorities to start Provident Fund membership to milk collection centre workers in Karnataka state.
GOKUL center workers representatives at Karnataka Milk Collection Centre
During IUF Asia Pacific outreach in Kolhapur, centre workers mentioned that majority of women workers in rural areas are involved in dairy animal management and bring this milk to centres. Hence, any state decisions directly affects the livelihood of millions of women dairy farmers in rural areas, including women dairy farmers.
Indian dairy production continus to grow annually and at the heart of this success are the unsung heroes of the rural dairy ecosystem—the workers at primary milk collection centers. These individuals serve as the first point of contact between millions of smallholder farmers and the broader dairy supply chain. Their dedication ensures that milk is collected efficiently, tested for quality, and transported under hygienic conditions, safeguarding both farmer incomes and consumer trust.
The Indian dairy industry mainly relies on these workers to collect quality milk supplies but in the absence of stronger union to protect and promote their rights, this whole arrangement is unsustainable. Hence, the future of Indian dairy industry directly linked with safe, secure and sustainable employment to these milk collection centre workers.
Women Dairy Farmer while supplying milk to village level milk collection center of Karnataka Milk Collection Center
