Background
×

Watch these films on shipbreaking

These films were all made by IndustriALL affiliates with support from FNV and IndustriALL Global Union.

Into the Grave Yard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGDZiWwF_V0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb_WSTmhQ14

 

Wire Nest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hN2kRK_Z9I

 

Echoes of Shipbreaking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV3M4jqD-Sg&f...

 

Training materials for shipbreaking workers

India - https://youtu.be/h0khZ2kev6o

Pakistan - https://youtu.be/QFK9cBOLZng

Bangladesh - https://youtu.be/WjN-E8Plbes

 
Material
×

Campaign to clean up Shipbreaking, the world's most dangerous job

The workers in this industry suffer precarious working conditions, lack training, and face serious hazards.

The industry has a responsibility to provide, and workers have a right to expect, safe, healthy, clean and sustainable jobs.

IndustriALL Global Union demands that all member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO):

Ratify the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships NOW!

Watch these films on shipbreaking
DOWNLOAD MATERIAL

Background info

IndustriALL Global Union World Conference on Shipbuilding-Shipbreaking in Nagasaki, Japan, 10-11 November 2014

IndustriALL World Conference resolution on the Hong Kong Convention

Industrial sector Action Plan

Report: Research Mission on the situation of Shipbreaking workers in South Asia

Report: Shipbreaking in South Asia – Long way to break the Chain - Page 8

WMU International Conference on Ship Recycling – conference materials

Report: Bangladesh shipbreaking workers

FNV Bondgenoten: Training on OHS

Union activities: SMEFI-India

Bangladesh shipbreaking workers trained in collective bargaining and health and safety

28 July 2016 at 13:30

Shipbreaking workers in Bangladesh have been trained in collective bargaining, social dialogue, and health and safety at IndustriALL Global Union workshops in the Bangladeshi shipbreaking city of Chittagong. 

Four workers die in a series of accidents in Bangladeshi shipbreaking yards

7 June 2016 at 15:01

Accidents at Seiko Steel and Laskar shipbreaking yards in Sitakunda Upazila claimed four lives and injured three workers.

Pakistan – sacked shipbreaking workers reinstated

25 May 2016 at 17:11

Around 350 shipbreaking workers have been reinstated with wages after a two-day strike led by IndustriALL Pakistani affiliate NTUF. Workers are continuing to demand that the government and employers ensure basic facilities at the country's dangerous shipbreaking yards.

Another worker killed at Bangladesh shipbreaking yard

18 April 2016 at 11:12

Toxic gas inhalation causes death of one shipbreaking worker with another battling for life.

Guards open fire on shipbreaking workers in Bangladesh

1 April 2016 at 15:53

Seven people, including a 16-year-old boy, were injured after guards at a shipbreaking company in Bangladesh opened fire on people protesting against the death of a worker. 

Foundation stone laid for shipbreaking workers’ training centre in India

29 January 2016 at 13:48

More than 18,000 union members in the shipbreaking industry will benefit from a new training centre in Alang, India, due to be completed by August 2016.

British government supports shipbreaking convention

20 January 2016 at 15:10

The British government has expressed its intention to ratify the Hong Kong Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.

Unite lobbies UK government to ratify Hong Kong Convention

17 December 2015 at 16:28

Unite the Union, IndustriALL Global Union’s affiliate in the UK and Ireland, has called on the David Cameron government to “be part of an effective solution to the problem of unsafe and unsustainable shipbreaking, and urgently ratify the Hong Kong Convention”.

SPECIAL REPORT: Cleaning up shipbreaking the world’s most dangerous job

15 December 2015 at 13:30

Workers in this industry face dangerous and precarious working conditions, with very little training, safety equipment and medical services, and they receive poverty wages. IndustriALL Global Union is campaigning to support organizing at the South Asia yards and is pushing governments in countries with major shipping industries to take responsibility for workers’ safety.

New issue of Global Worker out now!

9 December 2015 at 05:04

The sixth issue of IndustriALL publication Global Worker is out now. Among other things, read about the industry where more workers are killed on the job than anywhere else, how superheroes can be used to organize more members, and the next generation of trade unionists.

IndustriALL meets Bangladeshi government and lobbies for ratification of the Hong Kong Convention

17 November 2015 at 12:03

An IndustriALL delegation met the Bangladeshi Ministry of Industries on 5 November 2015 to lobby for ratification of the convention.

Alang ship recycling yards declared compliant with Hong Kong Convention

4 November 2015 at 14:21

The world’s largest shipbreaking site, Alang in Western India, has received a high profile private certification of compliance with the safety and sustainability standards in the Hong Kong Convention.

IndustriALL shipbuilding-shipbreaking Action Group meets in Chittagong and recommits to global campaign

4 November 2015 at 03:52

Leading trade unions from the shipbuilding and shipbreaking industries coordinate through an IndustriALL Action Group that meets every year. In Chittagong, Bangladesh on 1-2 November the Action Group focussed on the global campaign to clean up ship breaking, the world’s most dangerous job.

More workers killed in Bangladeshi shipbreaking yard

26 October 2015 at 10:23

On 20 October another major accident happened in a Chittagong shipbreaking yard, this time killing three workers. IndustriALL Global Union campaigns to clean up this industry, the world’s most dangerous to work in.

Indian shipbreaking union calls on government to ratify Hong Kong Convention

13 October 2015 at 15:38

The shipbreaking workers union at the Alang shipyards wrote to the Indian Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping to demand the country’s ratification of the international standard for health and safety in the industry, the Hong Kong Convention.

German government commits to ratifying the Hong Kong Convention

9 October 2015 at 17:17

Responding to the demand of IG Metall, Germany’s Maritime Coordinator of the Federal Government commits to achieving the swift ratification of the Hong Kong Convention.

Four union members killed ship breaking in Bangladesh

17 September 2015 at 03:55

A 5 September deadly accident at the Shital yard in Chittagong underlined the importance of the global campaign for ratification of the Hong Kong Convention, aimed at making perilous ship breaking jobs safer.

IG Metall Coastal Region demands that Germany’s federal government ratify the Hong Kong Convention

10 September 2015 at 16:48

The IG Metall Coastal region lodged its firm support for German ratification of the Hong Kong Convention.

Japanese union leaders reiterate government demand to ratify Hong Kong Convention

9 September 2015 at 16:39

On 9 September, the Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers' Unions, JBU, met with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MILT.

Danish union and Shipowners' Association jointly ask the government to ratify

9 September 2015 at 00:00

On 9 September, CO-Industri and the Danish Shipowners' Association, in writing to the Danish Minister for Environment and Food, ask the government to ratify the Hong Kong Convention as soon as possible.
The letter also urges the Danish government, together with EU member countries, to take the lead in dialogue with the South Asian countries on ratification of the Hong-Kong-Convention.

AMWU moves resolution on Hong Kong Convention inside Australian Labor Party

30 August 2015 at 00:00

At the Western Australian Labor Party Conference on 30 August, AMWU's Jon Primrose moved Resolution 112R calling on the Australian government to ratify the convention.

Japan: expedited ratification of Hong Kong Convention

23 June 2015 at 11:22

After a meeting in June between unions and the responsible government ministry, Japan has committed to expediting the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention.

Shipbuilding-shipbreaking unions establish first trade union network at global conference

11 November 2014 at 00:00

IndustriALL Global Union Shipbuilding-shipbreaking unions adopted an Action Plan for 2014-2016 and agreed to launch the first trade union network in the sector.

Union fights for safety after 5 killed in Indian shipyard

23 July 2014 at 00:00

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, ASSRGWA, which represents workers at the world’s largest shipbreaking yard in India, has organized a mass meeting of safety inspectors following a fatal accident at the site last month.

Shipbreaking kills four workers in Bangladesh

10 April 2014 at 00:00

An exploding gas cylinder at the Arafin Enterprise shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda, Bangladesh, resulted in the death of four workers after inhaling carbon dioxide on 3 April. Another three workers are hospitalized with injuries.