The 2007 struggle at Rahim Yar Khan was one of three conflicts (two in Pakistan, one in India) with Unilever which were ultimately resolved in 2009-2010 through direct negotiations with the company under the auspices of the UK’s National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. As a result of that process, Unilever agreed to recognize the IUF and enter into a formal engagement process.

It was within the framework of that engagement that the IUF insisted on the need to fully address all issues at Rahim Yar Khan involving implementation of the 2009 agreement and obstacles posed by local management obstructions. Reinstatement of the 23, all of whom had been employed at the factory for more than 9 months and therefore should have been offered permanent contracts but were instead dismissed, was crucial to resolving these issues.
All 23 are now back at work on permanent contracts, including two workers who were working in Dubai and Saudi Arabia but maintained regular contact with the IUF and have now returned.

The Unilever Foods plant is located outside Lahore and produces instant noodles, chicken cubes, instant soup etc. After years of frustration with a management-created union of just 22 workers at Unilever Foods, workers formed a new union last year called the Shaheen Workers Union Unilever Foods. The union, with 120 members out of a total 178 workers, easily won the certification election and secured sole collective bargaining status.

At its membership meeting in December last year the union announced its decision to affiliate to the PFWF and this was formalized in January 2014.

PFWF General Secretary Said Zaman and Deputy General Scretary Khaista Rehman attended the membership meeting of the Shaheen Workers Union Unilever Foods