“We will be killed by hunger before the coronavirus gets us”6 May, 2020Over 18,000 workers in the textile and garment sector in Eswatini have not been paid since the announcement of the lockdown to control the spread of Covid-19. This means that the workers have no money to buy food, pay rent, bills and other basics.
Victory for Indonesian unions as parliament postpones debate of controversial bill27 April, 2020Indonesian unions have won the first battle to defeat the controversial Omnibus bill on job creation, as President Joko Widodo announced a delay in the debate.
Iraq: protest at Basra Gas Company/Shell over non-payment of salaries20 May, 2020Workers at Basra Gas Company, a joint venture where Shell holds a major stake, launched a protest on 18 May over the company’s failure to pay salaries. Around 5,000 workers seconded from South Gas Company (SGC) to Basra Gas Company (BGC) have yet to receive their salaries.
Protecting workers in Myanmar 14 May, 2020IndustriALL affiliate IWFM has signed a framework for action with employers and ACT brands producing in the country, aiming to protect garment workers from the devastating impacts of the pandemic.
Unions sign wage deal at power utility Eskom in South Africa7 July, 2022After a week-long strike to push for wage increases and standing firm against a surge of fake news to discredit the unions, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and Solidarity, signed a wage deal with Eskom on 5 July.
Union takes Zheng Yong garments to court over dismissal of 20 workers in Eswatini4 August, 2022Garment manufacturer Zheng Yong Swaziland has dismissed 20 workers for going on a strike for minimum living wages, and the Amalgamated Trade Unions of Swaziland (ATUSWA) is challenging the dismissals.
Cambodian police harass unionists campaigning for minimum wage 5 September, 2022IndustriALL affiliate Federation of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) has been subjected to police intimidation during the nationwide minimum wage negotiations for the garment and textile sector.
Unions on strike at South African gold mines10 March, 2022The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, and other unions, are on strike to push for wage demands after failed negotiations at Sibanye Stillwater gold mines.
Unions demand wage increase amidst Sri Lanka’s economic crisis 29 March, 2022Heavily dependent on tourism, Sri Lanka’s economic situation worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prices of essential commodities like fuel, medicines, milk and wheat, as well as public transport fares, have shot up and unions are calling for wage increases for workers to survive.
Increased minimum wage for Cambodia’s garment workers 29 September, 2022After several rounds of negotiations in the National Council on Minimum Wage (NCMW), the Cambodian government has decided to increase the minimum wage for the garment sector with US$6 to US$200, effective as of 1 January 2023.
