Sri Lanka: unions protest government’s debt restructuring and labour law changes25 July, 2023Despite heavy rains Sri Lankan unions held a protest in Colombo, on 25 July, against the proposed anti-worker labour law amendments and domestic debt restructuring plan which involves using the hard-earned provident fund amounts of workers and implementing anti-worker labour law amendments.
Nigerian unions protest anti-poor policies7 August, 2023On 2 August in a national strike to protest the increasing cost of living and the introduction of anti-poor policies in Africa’s largest economy, thousands of workers took to the streets of Nigeria’s 36 states and main cities including the capital, Abuja.
Bulgaria: any acts against union association is now punishable by law15 August, 2023On 7 August in a groundbreaking move, Bulgaria’s Parliament approved a series of amendments to the Penal Code. This is a great victory for the trade union movement as any crimes committed against workers in their right to freedom of association will now be punishable with one to five years imprisonment or fine up of to $5000.
Malaysian union calls on government to respect ILO decision and reinstate workers 21 August, 2023Malaysia’s National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW) is urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to provide remedy for the five unionists unfairly dismissed by Hicom Automotive Manufacturers.
We need mandatory human rights due diligence laws now19 September, 2023Presenters at the Mary Robinson Speaker Series on business and human rights concur that debates are shifting from voluntary measures of due diligence to a mandatory due diligence that includes international human rights and labour standards. The webinar held on 14 September took place under the theme: Raising the bar: regulating cororate abuse.
Union to protest against high mine accident deaths in South Africa12 October, 2023IndustriALL affiliate the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is planning protests for better occupational health and safety due to the high number of workers dying in mine accidents.
US brands must sign binding agreements to protect workers19 October, 2023IndustriALL is working with affiliates and allies to promote supply chain industrial relations centred on workers’ rights and legally binding agreements with global brands and retailers. This contrasts with the prevailing voluntary, private auditing model which has not been protective of workers’ rights and has brought risk to companies and investors alike.
South Korean unions challenge government at UN24 October, 2023South Korean trade unions and civil society organizations, including IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Korean Metal Workers’ Union, demonstrated at the Broken Chair in Geneva last week before making a submission at the UN Human Rights Committee.
Violation of trade union rights in Kyrgyzstan 25 October, 2023For several years, there has been a systematic campaign aimed at establishing state control over trade unions in Kyrgyzstan. Now, Kyrgyzstan’s secret service has visited the country’s union offices to seize the last ten years’ financial documents, in blatant contradiction of the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan and the ILO Conventions ratified by the country.
Trade unions strategize pathways for human rights due diligence in Africa2 November, 2023Sub-Saharan African (SSA) trade unions strategized how human rights due diligence can be a catalyst to achieving their demands for multinational companies to respect fundamental workers’ rights, decent work, living wages, and protection of the environment and community rights. Unions gathered at this conference on 19 and 20 October in Mombasa, Kenya.
