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.
Indonesia: seven Freeport workers killed at a landslide at Grasberg 14 October, 2025After a month-long rescue mission, the bodies of seven Indonesian and migrant workers were discovered on 5 October at Freeport-McMoRan’s Grasberg mine. The workers had been trapped underground following a landslide on 8 September, when an estimated 800,000 metric tonnes of mud suddenly flowed into the cave.
Shipbuilding and shipbreaking workers strengthen international cooperation24 September, 2025The shipbuilding and shipbreaking action group met online on 16 September to build on progress made at last year’s world conference in Glasgow.
South East Asian unions unite for worker safety17 September, 2025On 11 September 2025, eleven members of the occupational health and safety (OHS) ad hoc committee from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines convened in Phnom Penh to develop a roadmap for a comprehensive safety and health campaign for 2025–2026.
