Thai employer continues to violate workers’ rights under Swiss programme11 October, 2024A year after having first called on the Swiss government to exercise human rights due diligence at Absolute Assembly, IndustriALL Global Union is reiterating the call as labour rights are deteriorating, directly breaking the commitments made by the Swiss government. The company in Thailand manufactures e-buses for a programme supported by Switzerland under the Paris Climate Agreement.
Striking for rights at As Plastik in Türkiye 10 October, 2024Workers at As Plastik in Türkiye went on strike nearly a month ago as negotiations for new collective agreement failed after five months of discussions. According to IndustriALL affiliate Petrol-İş, in addition to refusing to accept the union's demands, the company has dismissed 17 employees for their involvement in union activities, violating both Turkish and international labour laws.
IndustriALL trade union network at Klabin and Suzano sheds light on violations10 October, 2024Two giant companies of the pulp and paper industry, Klabin and Suzano employ a combined approximately 75,000 people, the vast majority in Brazil. IndustriALL affiliated unions in Brazil brought 45 worker leaders from throughout the companies’ operations together in São Paulo on 8-9 October. The list of human and trade union rights, and environmental violations reported from throughout Brazil runs totally in contrast to both companies’ public commitments.
Manager physically assaults workers at Yura factory in Serbia 1 October, 2024A South Korean manager at Yura’s Leskovac factory in Serbia, physically assaulted three female workers during the first shift on 27 September. The victims, employed in seated preparation roles due to medical conditions developed while working at Yura, were initially subjected to verbal abuse before he kicked their chairs and threw one at them. One worker sustained injuries and another lost consciousness, requiring hospital treatment.
Palestine: Global unions file ILO complaint to recover wages of over 200,000 Palestinian workers in Israel 27 September, 2024A complaint against the Israeli government for blatant violations of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Protection of Wages Convention has been filed by nine global trade unions, with members in over 160 countries representing 207 million workers. The complaint highlights the obligations of Israeli authorities to redress and remedy a range of abuses, including unpaid wages and withheld benefits for more than 200,000 Palestinian workers employed in Israel.
Iran: mine explosion kills 50 26 September, 2024One of the worst industrial accidents in Iran killed 50 mine workers and injured 16 more as methane gas exploded in a coal mine in Tabas, eastern Iran, on 22 September. The day before the explosion, workers informed management about the smell of methane gas in the tunnels, but they were still made to go to work.
Deadly explosion at shipyard in Bangladesh13 September, 2024UPDATE: On 7 September, a deadly explosion claimed the lives of seven workers and seriously injured more than ten others at a ship recycling yard in Bangladesh compliant with the Hong Kong Convention.
Union busting in Türkiye 3 September, 2024Workers at a factory near Istanbul in Türkiye that produce zips for major brands like Inditex, H&M, Lacoste and Adidas, are being denied their legal right to be represented by a union by factory management.
Belarusian unionist released from jail 22 August, 2024Vasil Beresnev, the 74-year-old acting chairman of Belarusian Radio and Electronics Workers’ Union (REP) sentenced to nine years in 2023, has been released.
Delayed justice for Belarusian unionists21 August, 2024The UN Human Rights Committee has recognized that the rights of three union activists in Belarus were violated during a protest in 2018, and is ordering the government to provide compensation and amend national legislation.
