Martha Orozco makes history as first woman to join USO Colombia’s national executive committee4 February, 2026On 15 January, Martha Orozco became the first woman elected to the national executive committee in the 100-year history of the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO), an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate in Colombia. Martha participated in IndustriALL’s regional gender project from 2017 to 2020 and became a mentor in the mentoring project implemented with LO-Norway. She spoke with IndustriALL about her trade union journey and her new leadership role within the union.
Sri Lanka ratifies ILO Convention 190: A milestone for workers’ rights14 January, 2026Sri Lanka has formally ratified the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work, submitting its instrument of ratification on 8 January at a ceremony in Colombo attended by government officials, ILO representatives and other stakeholders. With this step, Sri Lanka becomes the second country in South Asia, after Bangladesh, to adopt this landmark labour standard.
The 16 days of action are over but our fight isn’t10 December, 2025As the 16 days of activism come to a close, I am always struck by the powerful work we’ve seen taken by our affiliates around the world. These 16 days are not a symbolic gesture within our movement, they turn awareness into action that actually changes workplaces.
Pushing for gender transformative agenda in South East Asia8 December, 2025Women union leaders in South East Asia are advancing a gender-transformative agenda through legislative advocacy, social dialogue, and awareness campaigns. This commitment was further strengthened at the South East Asia regional forum of women toward gender-responsive actions and campaigns, held on 24–25 November in Jakarta, where twenty-five women union leaders from across the region pledged to conduct regular gender mapping, build alliances and networks with other trade unions, disseminate information on Convention 190 through study circles, and campaign to end digital violence against women and girls.
UNiTE : IndustriALL appelle les affiliés à l'action pendant les 16 journées d'activisme24 November, 2025Du 25 novembre au 10 décembre, IndustriALL s'associe à la campagne UNiTE des Nations unies et ses 16 journées d'activisme sur le thème, cette année, "TOUS UNIS pour mettre fin à la violence numérique contre toutes les femmes et les filles". Chaque femme et chaque jeune fille, dans nos industries, nos syndicats et nos sociétés, a le droit de vivre, de s'organiser et de travailler à l'abri de la violence, en ligne ou hors ligne. Cela n'est pas négociable. Les espaces numériques sont devenus aussi essentiels pour le travail que les ateliers des usines; or, ils sont aussi devenus l'avant-poste de la misogynie, du harcèlement et des attaques contre les femmes syndicalistes, les militantes et les leaders.
Bangladesh ratifies key ILO Conventions on safety and gender equality following long union campaign23 October, 2025Bangladesh has become the first country in South Asia to ratify ILO Conventions 190, 155 and 187, addressing violence and harassment, occupational safety and health (OSH), and the promotional framework for OSH. The ratifications come after years of sustained campaigning by IndustriALL Global Union and its affiliates, supported by global partners, to secure stronger protections for workers and legally binding safety commitments.
DRC women artisanal miners face exploitation as unions seek better working conditions9 October, 2025On 7 October, in the noon of a blazing sun, women miners stand in nearly knee-high mud pools processing cobalt from nearby pits at Mutoshi, Kolwezi, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s Lualaba Province. This has dire consequences to their health, according to reports.
IndustriALL women lead push for equality ahead of Congress10 September, 2025Preparations for IndustriALL women’s conference and November Congress in Sydney are well under way, which will be an assessment of work undertaken to promote gender equality and women’s rights.
Fighting for fair pay: South Asian unionists trained by IndustriALL30 June, 2025On 25–26 June, IndustriALL Global Union held a training workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, for its South Asian affiliates, focused on the pay equity modules launched earlier this year. More than 20 unionists participated in the event, which aimed to strengthen the capacity of unions’ wage bargaining teams and the women’s committee members to address issues related to pay equity and the value of work. The workshop was part of a series of regional training courses for affiliates on pay equity funded by the FES
Strategic push for gender equality at IndustriALL’s 4th Congress5 June, 2025IndustriALL’s Women’s Committee met online on 26–27 May to start preparations for IndustriALL women’s conference and Congress in Sydney in November. It provided an opportunity to assess progress and evaluate systemic challenges.
