SURPRISE No. 303 – on sale all over Switzerland 28/06/13 – 11/07/13 HOLCIMS Backyard-Workers – How a Swiss Multinational runs business in India

 

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Wie ein Schweizer Multi in Indien geschäftet

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Der Preis des Fleisses – wenn Arbeit süchtig macht

RZ02_Surprise_303_-) 20.06.13 18:03 Seite 1

 10 Global Economy “Those who kick out get prosecuted” (protest and you will be prosecuted)

Intro as above The Swiss cement giant Holcim presents itself as a social responsible company that puts its employees into the centre of everything. However, NGOs accuse the multinational company of exploitative working conditions in developing and emerging countries. Bern Photographer Karin Scheidegger wanted to find out more and travelled to India to meet persecuted union activists and discharged workers. Thereby, her driver Ajay (picture) and herself blundered into the intimidation machinery of the factory management.

Art ic le by F lor ian Blumer (Surpr ise) : Global Economy In the realm of the cement g iant The Swiss cement company Holcim puts itself into scene as a socially responsible company. Realities in India are different: The sub-company Ambuja employs contract workers for famine wages and commitment for better working-conditions is recklessly antagonised. Bern Photographer Karin Scheidegger has visited discharged workers on site and got to feel the intimidation methods herself.

“Ambuja Cement Heartily Welcome You for a Safe & Pleasant visit” reads photographer Scheidegger at the entrance gate of the cement factory in the village of Rawan in central India. She asks her driver to stop the car in order to take a picture. Though she is aware at this point, that not everything is at its best in the sub-factory of Swiss multinational Holcim, she would not guess how much trouble her guide and herself are about to get into just by getting close to the gate. … Subtitles: Same work, four t imes less pay Union act iv ists in the underground Hit h im! From complainant to defendant Holc im is offer ing a deal

The text finalises with Ajay’s statement that there is no way of taking back this complaint, as no crime has been committed and that it would be bad not only for himself, but also for everybody else that was present with us that day to support us and all other villagers who have to fight everyday with such insults and intimidations of Ambuja! Picture-Subs: - Please do not take literally: deceptive kindness at the gate of Holcim sub-company Ambuja - Both accused by Ambuja: Scheideggers guide Ajay (right) talking to union-leader in hiding Lakhan Sahu

It reads on the Holcim-Website: „We want to show the world that our employees are in the centre of everything that we do“. „You’re not allowed to take pictures. F*** off and don’t come back!“ Then the men start to push Ajay around. „No proof is better“ says the journalist, „the police is always on the side of Ambuja“.