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

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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

ILO to adopt improved code of practice for shipbuilding and ship repair

1 February 2018 at 11:45

Expert representatives of governments, employers and workers from around the world gathered at the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland, from 22 to 26 January, to improve and adopt a revised code of practice on safety and health in shipbuilding and ship repair.

Banks and shipowners join campaign for the safe recycling of ships

24 November 2017 at 11:34

IndustriALL took forward the campaign for the safe recycling of ships at a series of recent meetings in The Netherlands.

Shipbuilders and shipbreakers pledge solidarity in Rotterdam

2 November 2017 at 10:37

57 delegates from 18 countries met in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on 31 October and 1 November for the IndustriALL shipbuilding and shipbreaking action group.

Pakistan: Shipbreaking workers win wage increase

14 August 2017 at 16:28

Shipbreaking Workers Union Gadani (SBWUG) called off their strike on 4 August after negotiations with the employers association yielded significant results, including a wage increase.

IndustriALL intensifies campaign to ratify Hong Kong Convention

28 July 2017 at 15:23

IndustriALL Global Union and its affiliates ran two consecutive workshops in Bangladesh and India in July 2017 to discuss the importance of ratification Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

Pakistan: Shipbreaking accident victims receive compensation

23 February 2017 at 14:47

After a series of protests by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), victims of the massive accident at Gadani shipbreaking yard received compensation on 9th February 2017.

Five workers burn to death at Gadani shipbreaking yard

10 January 2017 at 14:06

At least five workers have died in a fire onboard an LPG container ship at the Gadani shipbreaking yard in Pakistan on 9 January, in yet another deadly incident at the yard. Despite scores of fatalities at Gadani in the last few months, no measures have been taken to improve safety.

Worst of the worst – shipbreaking in Pakistan

28 December 2016 at 14:23

In an industry characterized by danger and exploitation, only the desperate risk their lives working in the shipbreaking yards of Pakistan.

BAE Systems trade union network builds strategy

28 November 2016 at 17:31

Trade unions of BAE Systems from Australia, Chile, UK and the USA met in Mandurah, Western Australia from 9-10 November and developed a strategy for future cooperation.

Shipbuilding-Shipbreaking unions focus on workers’ safety and jobs

28 November 2016 at 16:22

More than 60 participants from 18 unions gathered in Mandurah, Western Australia for the IndustriALL Global Union Shipbuilding Action Group meeting on 7-8 November 2016.

Pakistan: fair compensation urgently needed for victims of Gadani blaze

24 November 2016 at 09:51

More than three weeks after a deadly fire on an oil tanker at the Gadani shipbreaking yard in Pakistan, workers and dependents of those killed are struggling to survive and get proper medical attention.

Pakistan: Workers strike as shipyard death toll rises

3 November 2016 at 15:56

The death toll from the fire in the Gadani shipbreaking yard has risen to 21, with as many as 150 still trapped in the burning ship.

Bangladesh: promoting social dialogue to ensure shipbreaking workers’ safety and rights

1 November 2016 at 16:25

A round table discussion to ensure shipbreaking workers’ safety and rights jointly organized by IndustriALL and BILS in Chittagong underlined the need for collective efforts to improve working conditions and to protect workers’ rights.

Blast in Pakistan shipbreaking yard kills 16

1 November 2016 at 14:23

16 workers killed and 47 injured in a horrific blast in Gadani shipbreaking yard in Pakistan this morning.

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.

Watch these films on shipbreaking

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

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