A mandate to act, a responsibility to deliver17 December, 2025As 2025 comes to an end, the discussions and decisions of IndustriALL’s fourth Congress in Sydney are still fresh. Congress is more than a meeting; it is where we take stock and set our collective direction. The days in Sydney were a success, but more importantly it is a mandate. A mandate from affiliates across every region and sector to act with clarity, courage and determination in a world that is becoming more unequal, more unstable and more hostile to working people.
Unions unite to defend rights across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus17 December, 2025For two days, trade unions from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus met at an IndustriALL sub-regional meeting to share experiences, assess the challenges facing workers and unions, and discuss joint actions to increase unity. Although many of the countries have formal rights to organize, bargain collectively and strike, in practice, unions often face procedural hurdles that make action hard. There are high thresholds for strike ballots, broad definitions of essential services, long mediation steps, or strict notice periods.
Kenyan court upholds trade union rights11 December, 2025In a ruling that reinforces constitutional protections for trade union activity, Kenya’s Employment and Labour Relations Court has ordered the immediate reinstatement of 11 workers at Springtech Kenya Limited, a manufacturing firm, who were suspended without pay after refusing to renounce membership of the Amalgamated Union of Kenya Metal Workers (AUKMW), an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union.
Investor webinar highlights mounting labour concerns at Next plc 10 December, 2025A growing list of labour-related controversies at Next plc is drawing scrutiny from unions, workers and investors alike. Many of the concerns were highlighted during an investor webinar co-hosted by IndustriALL and ShareAction on 9 December, where speakers warned that the company’s practices are increasingly out of step with its workforce, several of its peers and even parts of its shareholder base.
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.
Uniting Asia-Pacific MNC unions across chemicals and pharmaceuticals4 December, 2025Occupational safety and health, supply chain disruptions and gender-inclusive union practices were the central focus when 46 unionists from nine Asia-Pacific countries in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors met in Colombo on 18–19 November.
Employment in the circular economy4 December, 2025Between 121 and 142 million people worldwide are employed in sectors that contribute to the circular economy, such as repair, recycling, second-hand trade and waste management. This represents roughly between 5 and 5.8 percent of total global employment (excluding agriculture), according to a new joint report by Circle Economy, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank Group, in partnership with the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (UN-PAGE).
African trade unions want critical minerals revenues to fund development2 December, 2025On 1 December, trade unions representing millions of African workers in mining, energy and manufacturing industries gathered in Addis Ababa, declared that unless the new African green minerals strategy (AGMS) is radically redesigned around decent work and local value addition, the green boom will simply become the latest chapter in the extraction and export of mineral resources.
Indian unions slam unilateral labour code rollout; 21 November declared black day for workers27 November, 2025India’s trade unions (CTUs) and independent sectoral federations, including IndustriALL affiliates, staged nationwide protests after the government of India unilaterally notified the four labour codes without any consultation with workers’ organizations. The abrupt notifications issued on 21 November 2025 drew strong condemnation from working people in India, who described the move as an attack on the rule of law.
Rubber tyre unions in Thailand prepare for just future21 November, 2025Rubber Workers’ Union in Thailand (RWUT) in its annual meeting, 15-16 November, took a strong commitment to fight for labour rights and defend workers' welfare amidst technological transformation in the global tyre industry.
