12 June, 2025Amid a backdrop of mounting global tensions and continued threats to workers’ rights, IndustriALL’s Executive Committee met in Geneva to reinforce solidarity and chart the path ahead. A key item on the agenda was preparation for IndustriALL’s 4th Congress, taking place in Sydney this November.
Opening the meeting, IndustriALL president Marie Nilsson called for unity, resilience, and a renewed commitment to global solidarity.
“We stand for change, not division. Our job is to bring people together, to fight for decent wages and safe working conditions. If we organize across all workplaces, we can reclaim our dignity and bring about real change.”
Difficult conditions for workers worldwide reemerged in the secretariat report by general secretary Atle Høie, who warned of diminishing respect for freedom of speech and association, as well as the rule of law in many regions. Highlighting the impact of fluctuating US tariffs, he emphasized that economic uncertainty affects workers everywhere.
“Trade must serve workers and society, not destroy jobs in developing countries,”
Atle Høie said. He reaffirmed IndustriALL’s call for fair trade agreements that include enforceable labour rights clauses, raising the proposal of a joint resolution for Congress.
In the discussion that followed, delegates underlined the need for trade agreements to include strong labour provisions and respect for fundamental workers’ rights.
Country snapshots
In Bangladesh, the newly elected government is engaging with unions and pledging alignment with international labour standards. IndustriALL, working with its regional office and affiliates, will push for full implementation of the ILO roadmap.
A decade-long effort in Pakistan, which has involved both progress and pushback, is seeing new momentum as government representatives have promised to ratify key ILO Conventions this year, and hopefully C176 on safety and health in mines next year.
The ILO’s invocation of Article 33 last week over Myanmar marks a significant step. IndustriALL will intensify its campaign urging brands to exit the country responsibly, to help dismantle the military junta's economic power.
While under continued attacks from Russia, unions in Ukraine are also experiencing a shrinking space with weakening labour legislation and confiscation of union offices.
Ukrainian union leader Mykhailo Volynets described the brutal reality of war.
“We are losing people every day. Unions have shifted their focus to humanitarian aid. Women are increasingly entering the workforce. When the war ends, we must ensure decent working conditions for them.”
Mykhailo Volynets raised concerns about EU-funded reforms that weaken Ukrainian labour law and bypass unions.
“There is no longer a process of social dialogue—but we know how to rebuild it when the war ends.”
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is unbearble and in his report to the Executive Committee, Atle Høie reiterated the need an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution.
Sahar Abdo from Palestine thanked IndustriALL for the assistance provided for the workers, which has had a major impact.
Speaking from the floor, several delegates stressed the increasing attacks on workers’ rights, in many countries resulting in age-old wins being reversed.
Organizing for a just future
Building union power through organizing is the strongest tool to confront global capital. IndustriALL, together with affiliates, are involed in a number of campaigns. Assistant general secretary Christina Olivier presentend IndustriALL’s campaings, from the call to disinvest in Myanmar to making Pakistan’s mines safer.
The campaign on Glencore was relaunched in 2022, maintaining pressure on the Swiss mining company to respect workers’ rights.
The campaign to clean up shipbreaking has achieved a major milestone with the Hong Kong Convention set to enter into force later this month. As one of the world’s deadliest industry, IndustriALL will continue to push for safer standards.
The Executive committee reaffirmed its commitment to campaigns on gender-based violence and for ILO C190.
We are ALL in for equality
Reporting from the Women’s Committee in May, co-chair talked of the women’s conference, planned for two half days online in September, and one day in person in Sydney on 3 November. The Conference will provide an important opportunity to review progress since Congress in 2021, assess impact and identify key lessons learned, as well as a strategic roadmap for 2025-2029 to implement the gender equality goals of IndustriALL’s action plan.
Delegates engaged in a second strategic debate on artificial intelligence, highlighting the risks of AI exacerbating inequality and discrimination. A call was made for robust social dialogue and proactive preparation; we need to discuss and prepare for the changes.
Updated guidelines for global framework agreements (GFAs) were introduced, focusing on union access, neutrality and improved implementation and monitoring, strengthening GFAs as tools to protect workers’ rights and promote sustainability, as well as and a new mandating procedure, that will serve as a guide on initiating, conducting and concluding negotiations.
On the road to Sydney
With IndustriALL’s 4th Congress just five months away, much of the Executive Committee’s focus was on preparations: proposed amendments to the statutes were reviewed with recommendations to the Congress. The draft action plan recommended by the Congress preparatory committee to guide IndustriALL into the next period was endorsed with its four strategic parts; fighting for equality and workers`rights, building union power, holding capital accountable, and shaping our future through Just Transition.
“In collaboration with our affiliates and through understanding the challenges and needs of our members on the ground, we approach the 4th Congress with a clear and focused plan,”
said Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary.
The Congress promises to be a powerful moment of reflection, mobilization, and recommitment to the movement’s overall goals: fair trade, just transition, gender equality, and decent work for all.
Said Marie Nilsson:
“We must do everything in our power, for our members, our movement, and for the future of work itself.”