Shipbreaking unions plan for entry into force of Hong Kong Convention 27 November, 2023South Asian shipbreaking unions met in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 24-25 November, to evaluate a three-year organizing project supported by FNV Mondiaal, which ends this year. The industry is going through tremendous change as it prepares for the entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention (HKC).
Lives saved, ships broken: the human cost and promise of ship recycling17 April, 2025Progress has never come easy to the shipbreaking yards of South Asia. Dangerous conditions, fragmented regulation and deep-rooted employer control have long defined an industry that dismantles the world’s ships, and too often, the people working on them.
Bangladesh’s dangerous shipbreaking yards claim two more lives23 September, 2021In just a week, two more workers have been killed and three have been injured due to the deplorable lack of safety in Chittagong’s shipbreaking yards. IndustriALL affiliates BMF and BMCGTWF have repeatedly brought up the issue of health and safety with both Bangladesh’s government and the ship owners, but to no avail.
Japan: expedited ratification of Hong Kong Convention23 June, 2015After a meeting in June between unions and the responsible government ministry, Japan has committed to expediting the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention.
More workers killed in Bangladeshi shipbreaking yard26 October, 2015On 20 October another major accident happened in a Chittagong shipbreaking yard, this time killing three workers. IndustriALL Global Union campaigns to clean up this industry, the world’s most dangerous to work in.
IndustriALL meets Bangladeshi government and lobbies for ratification of the Hong Kong Convention17 November, 2015An IndustriALL delegation met the Bangladeshi Ministry of Industries on 5 November 2015 to lobby for ratification of the convention.
British government supports shipbreaking convention20 January, 2016The British government has expressed its intention to ratify the Hong Kong Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.
Death toll rises as accidents continue at Bangladesh shipbreaking yards 17 October, 2019Two workers died and at least three were injured in an accident at the OWW shipbreaking yard at Kumira ferry port area of Shitakund, Chattogram, on 12 October 2019, bringing to 23 the number of deaths recorded this year.
Japanese union leaders reiterate government demand to ratify Hong Kong Convention9 September, 2015On 9 September, the Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers' Unions, JBU, met with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MILT.
BAE Systems trade union network builds strategy28 November, 2016Trade unions of BAE Systems from Australia, Chile, UK and the USA met in Mandurah, Western Australia from 9-10 November and developed a strategy for future cooperation.
