Asia Pacific unions tackle low wages in the garment sector7 May, 2026Asia Pacific is the engine of global garment and textile production and home to some of its most exploited workers. The region accounts for around 60 per cent of global exports of garments, textiles and footwear and employs more than 40 million workers. Yet for the workers stitching the clothes that fill the shelves of global brands, wages have remained structurally low.
ACT report shows progress and gaps in brands’ purchasing practices16 April, 2026A new report from ACT (Action, Collaboration, Transformation), the agreement between global brands and retailers and IndustriALL Global Union, shows progress in how signatory brands are approaching purchasing practices, while also identifying significant gaps between corporate commitments and supplier experience on the ground.
ArcelorMittal Shelby strike passes 40 days4 March, 2026ArcelorMittal steelworkers in Shelby, Ohio, have been on strike for over 40 days, with around 450 members of IndustriALL affiliate, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 3057 demanding a fair contract that protects working conditions, schedules and health care.
Protests against new minimum wage regulation in Indonesia5 January, 2026Indonesian trade unions organized nationwide protests in the last two weeks of December 2025 against a newly introduced government regulation on wages, criticizing the lack of proper consultation with trade unions and the introduction of what unions describe as an unfair adjustment index.
How Next abandons its workers24 June, 2025Next is proving not to live up to its fundamental promises when it comes to workers’ rights. From refusing to sign a landmark agreement to improve wages in Cambodia, to abandoning Sri Lankan workers by text and continuing business in Myanmar despite documented risks of grave human rights abuses under the military junta, Next consistently puts profit over people. Even its UK retail staff are denied a living wage, dismissed as “not breadwinners” by the company’s CEO.
Bangladesh: nine per cent annual increment not enough16 December, 2024Bangladesh’s labour and employment advisor announced last week that ready-made garment (RMG) workers will receive an additional four per cent pay increase from December 2024, pending a new minimum wage. With the five per cent annual increment previously announced by the minimum wage board, the total annual increment is nine per cent. Unions say it is not enough amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Smurfit Kappa workers in Peru strike for a living wage16 September, 2024Union members at Smurfit Kappa Peru have been on strike since 6 September, demanding a living wage.
Nigerian unions and federal government agree on new minimum wage25 July, 2024Trade union federations in Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) signed a new minimum wage agreement of 70 000 Naira ($43) with the Federal Government of Nigeria on 18 July which will be reviewed after three years.
Understanding living wages29 May, 2024On 7-8 May, IndustriALL hosted a training workshop in Tunis, focusing on living wages and collective bargaining for unions representing Swedish companies in Tunisia's textile and garment sector. This initiative, conducted in collaboration with the Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir (FGTHCC-UGTT), brought together approximately 20 unionists from companies like Autoliv, Sancella, and Alva.
IndustriALL and global brands sign legally-binding agreements supporting collective bargaining and improvements in wages23 May, 2024In a breakthrough for the textile and garment industry in Cambodia, IndustriALL Global Union is signing legally binding agreements with global brands, for the first time achieving brand-supported collective bargaining agreements in the sector.
