Young trade union leaders strengthen union action through international exchange25 July, 2023From 17 to 21 July, 24 young trade union leaders from South America participated in the third trade union exchange program at IG Metall's training center in Sprockhövel, Germany. The exchange emphasized the importance of collective struggle for better working conditions and the development of action plans to strengthen trade union organizations.
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.
IndustriALL campaign pushes H&M withdrawl from Myanmar18 August, 2023On 16 August H&M, the world’s second biggest retailer, announced that it has decided to gradually stop sourcing from Myanmar, as reports of labour abuses in garment factories in the country increase.
Building organizing power in South East Asia 19 September, 202320 organizers met in Bangkok, Thailand to complete their three-year Organizers’ Development Programme (ODP), a joint training developed by IndustriALL and IG Metall focusing on strategic organizing, methods and campaigns. The aim is to provide organizers with skills and knowledge to develop organizing strategies, strategic planning and campaigning.
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 contest unjust court judgment against Malagasy unionist20 September, 2023On 15 September, the Appeals Court in Antananarivo dismissed an application by Sento Chang for the nullification of his conviction and sentence over posting about union activities on social media. SVS, an IndustriALL affiliate, is determined to contest the unjust court judgement.
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.
Bangladesh’s shipbreaking unions key in helping workers7 March, 2024Shipbreaking is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Workers employed at shipbreaking yards are forced to work in precarious working conditions for poverty wages. Cutting a vessel in the absence of safety equipment or lack of proper training for the job, poses an immense danger to workers’ lives.
