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ISS and UNI Global Union agree joint statement aimed at safeguarding jobs

In a joint statement with UNI Global Union, property services giant ISS gave reassurances that no dismissals or forced redundancies were planned in its global divestment plan that will affect 100,000 workers in 13 countries.

The countries ISS is planning to pull out its operations are,  Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania.

In the joint statement with UNI, ISS agreed:

• to apply the Acquired Rights Directive  (2001/23/EC) on transfer of businesses in the EU countries affected,  as well as relevant national legislation in all 13 countries.
• that in countries where no such regulation is applicable, ISS would endeavour to transfer contracts together with the deployed workforce, meaning that the current workforce would be given the opportunity to transfer to the new owner of the company or business.
• that no dismissals or forced redundancies were planned in connection with the divestment plan.

Head of UNI Property Services Eddy Stam said, “We are talking about the livelihoods of 100,000 workers, over a fifth of ISS’s workforce. UNI is pleased to have this written re-assurance and we will hold them accountable.”