4 4.6 B. Field Research Findings The following findings concerning respect for the rights of workers, while not universal, were found to be widespread in the field. Examples of good practice observed are included at the end of the chapter. ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work: Freedom of Association & the Right to Collective Bargaining Human Rights Implicated: Right to peaceful assembly; Right to freedom of association and collective bargaining Field Assessment Findings  There was a general lack   of worker-management engagement in most companies across the ICT value chain, and only a few companies provided grievance mechanisms through which workers could raise complaints regarding their jobs and seek a resolution. Unskilled workers tend to be relieved to secure a job at all because the supply of workers exceeds work available. This leads to a tendency for workers to refrain from raising workplace and employment related complaints, such as unpaid or inadequate wages, poor health and safety standards, or barriers to unionising. At fibre factories, workers were unaware of their basic association and collective bargaining rights, or the requirements to form a union, such as that there must be a minimum of 30 members. They did not feel the company would allow it even if it was permitted under national law. They were also concerned that joining a political party could also affect their jobs. • Workers were able to raise complaints at meetings or anonymously through a letter box system, but issues previously raised, such as deductions from daily wages and bonuses had failed to be addressed. ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work: Non-Discrimination Human Rights Implicated: Right to non-discrimination; Right to work; Right to just and favourable conditions of work Field Assessment Findings  It was very unusual for any women to work on tower construction. •  This was often justified on the grounds that it unsafe for them due to night work and distances between the site and their village/ accommodation. • Where women were able to work on tower construction sites, they were only allowed to do certain manual tasks, such as backfilling or moving materials. Racial and religious tensions were observed in some areas, mainly where communities identified the company or its workers as Muslim This followed intercommunal violence in other parts of the country: • Researchers heard of several incidents in which subcontractors of a company from a majority Muslim country were disturbed by communities protesting the company’s presence. • Workers were denied accommodation due to working for that company; • Communities threw stones at cars carrying workers of companies that were perceived to be owned by Muslims. 196 PAGE CHAPTER 4.6: LABOUR