Workers at the IFC-funded Marriott Ciela Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia voted overwhelmingly today for their union delegates with IUF affiliate Hotel, Catering, Tourism and Allied Workers of Zambia (HCTAWUZ). The IFC loan recipient and hotel owner benefitted from millions of USD in development finance loans for the construction of this hotel and three other Marriott-branded hotels where workers have raised violations of labor rights including the freedom of association.
- After years of campaigning and under pressure from the IUF and GLJ-ILRF, the IFC and the employer eventually ended union-busting and harassment and facilitated an environment where workers could vote for union delegates free from intimidation
- While today’s election represents a positive outcome for workers, we continue to advocate for a model where the IFC facilitates early engagement between their clients and unions around respect for the IFC’s labor safeguards; we are also hopeful that today’s election represents an important step forward for respect for freedom of association as well asfree and fair union elections at other IFC-funded Marriott hotels
- For more on the history of labor struggle at the Marriott Hotel Ciela, our campaign for labor rights accountability in IFC-funded hotel projects, and the need for a Compliance Accountability Policy (CAP) for development loans in the hotel sector, see our recently released report here
Siméon Dossou, Regional Secretary of IUF Africa, stated, “Today’s win is a win for workers in Zambia and a win for Marriott workers worldwide. We call on the IFC to adopt the Compliance Accountability Policy and to work with the IUF in Africa and around the world to ensure that labor rights are protected.”
