A deadly night at sea: when dishonesty, legal gaps and unsafe practices cost workers' their lives19 January, 2026While New Year 2026 was being welcomed, tragedy struck in the ship recycling yards of Sitakunda. In the early hours of the morning—between 2:30 and 2:45 a.m.—two shipbreaking workers, Abdul Khalek Ratan (34) and Md Saiful Islam (38), were killed during the beaching of a vessel at the KR Ship Recycling Yard. Their deaths are not only a heartbreaking loss for their families, but a stark warning about the deadly consequences of unsafe night operations, weak regulation and employer dishonesty.
Union advocacy cuts mine worker fatalities in Pakistan in 202516 January, 2026After years of dangerous working conditions in Pakistan’s mines, reported accidents have declined in 2025, following sustained union pressure, the introduction of new safety legislation and targeted occupational health and safety measures in high-risk mining areas.
Six months after entry into force, the HKC still is not being implemented8 December, 2025Shipbreaking has often been described as the most dangerous job in the world and IndustriALL has long campaigned for the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) as the most practical first step to clean up the industry. Supported by affiliates, together we maintained pressure on governments, ship owners, financiers and other industry stakeholders to promote the Convention. Despite these efforts and despite formal ratification not one of the major ship recycling nations has fully implemented the Convention in practice.
Rubber and tyre workers discuss the future of the sector in the Americas3 December, 2025Trade unions from Latin America, the United States, Canada and Mexico are working on a joint strategy in response to local, regional and global challenges. From 24 to 26 November, the International Trade Union Conference to defend the gains in the rubber and tyre sector was held in San Luis de Potosi, Mexico, providing a crucial opportunity to discuss the changes in the sector and strengthen coordination between the unions in the region.
At least 50 miners killed in Congo bridge collapse; unions demand action20 November, 2025The tragic bridge collapse at the Kalando artisanal copper and cobalt mine in Mulondo, Lualaba province, on 15November 2025, which claimed at least 50 lives and left dozens injured or missing, is a heartbreaking reminder of the deadly risks and hazardous conditions faced by artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Two workers killed and eight injured in Basra oil pipeline fire4 November, 2025A fire at an oil pipeline in Basra, southern Iraq, has killed two workers and injured eight others following a gas leak at the Burjisiya Zubair 1 pumping station operated by the Basra Oil Company. The incident, which occurred within one of Iraq’s largest oil production areas, was reportedly caused by deteriorated equipment in a complex network of pipelines that require regular maintenance, according to initial union reports.
Mining unions pledge solidarity to confront global capital in a volatile sector3 November, 2025The mining and diamonds, gems, ornaments, jewellery, and processing (DGOJP) industries, long a cornerstone of global supply chains, are undergoing a deep transformation. Surging demand for battery metals including copper, cobalt, lithium, and nickel fuels the green-energy turn, while rare earths underpin everything from wind turbines to electric vehicles.
Unions strengthen collaboration across Dow, DuPont and major chemical producers23 October, 2025Union representatives from the chemical sector came together to discuss shared challenges across the sector, from workplace safety and training to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on industrial jobs.
Bangladesh ratifies key ILO Conventions on safety and gender equality following long union campaign23 October, 2025Bangladesh has become the first country in South Asia to ratify ILO Conventions 190, 155 and 187, addressing violence and harassment, occupational safety and health (OSH), and the promotional framework for OSH. The ratifications come after years of sustained campaigning by IndustriALL Global Union and its affiliates, supported by global partners, to secure stronger protections for workers and legally binding safety commitments.
Fire in Bangladesh’s garment factory claims 16 lives20 October, 2025Last week, Bangladesh witnessed two massive fire incidents in garment factories located in Dhaka and Chattogram, bringing the question of industrial safety, particularly building safety standards in readymade garment sector, back into the spotlight.
