Unions campaign for decent work in artisanal and small-scale mining 1 September, 2022Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Sub Saharan Africa is largely informal with over 13 million, mainly youth, working in the informal mines. In Zambia, ASM extracts cobalt, copper, gold, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, tin, zinc, nickel, and precious stones while in Ghana the main mineral is gold.
Government and employers must ensure safe mining in Pakistan1 September, 2022Pakistan’s mining industry is riddled with workplace safety violations and occupational disease. Exposure to coal dust leads to various health issues, including serious lung and heart ailments and spinal injuries. Add to that the dangers of methane gas poisoning, suffocation, underground explosions, or mine walls collapsing, leading to numerous fatalities every year.
Madagascar’s revised mining code must include workers’ and human rights31 August, 2022Unions in Madagascar are concerned that the mining code – the country’s legal framework for mining development – is silent on workers’ and human rights. Revising the mining code provides the government with the opportunity to include the creation of decent jobs, protection of workers’ rights including for women miners, living wages, social dialogue, and social protection.
South Asian shipbreaking workers prepare for recycling boom25 August, 2022South Asian shipbreaking unions are preparing an organizing drive to take advantage of the expected recycling boom.
Miners at Glencore Peru demand better working conditions17 August, 2022Over 1,000 workers at Glencore-controlled mining firm Los Quenuales are taking action to press the company to respect outsourcing limitations and collective bargaining rights, provide better food and to comply with occupational health and safety requirements.
10 workers still trapped following Mexico mine collapse11 August, 202210 workers remain trapped underground following a mine collapse on 3 August in the municipality of Sabinas, in Coahuila, northern Mexico.
South African mineworkers discuss strategies to prevent injuries and deaths from mine accidents6 August, 2022The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) national health and safety committee met on 4 August in Johannesburg to discuss the impact of the union’s health and safety campaigns and training programmes in the mining, energy, construction, and metals’ industries.
Workplace safety still a major concern in Pakistani mines12 July, 2022According to IndustriALL affiliates in Pakistan, as of 7 July, there had been around 60 accidents in the country’s mines, killing more than 90 workers and severely injuring around 40. Workers are killed by underground explosions, methane gas poisoning, suffocation or mine walls collapsing due to lax safety procedures and the unavailability of the first line of treatment at mining sites.
Sign the Accord, Levi’s!30 June, 2022Last week, IndustriALL affiliates Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation and US Workers United joined United Students Against Sweatshops, Model Alliance, Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility at Levi’s flagship store in Times Square in New York City, to call on the denim giant to join the International Accord.
Bangladesh launches employment injury scheme for garment workers28 June, 2022Last week, Bangladesh’ ministry of labour and employment launched a pilot for an employment injury scheme in collaboration with the International Labour Organization. The scheme will cover the country’s four million ready-made garment (RMG) workers.
