Torrent Pharmaceutical workers in India beaten and fired after joining union27 May, 2019When Torrent Pharmaceutical workers in Himachal Pradesh became members of the Association of Chemical Workers Union in October 2018, management unleashed a series of vindictive actions aimed at union busting.
Bangladesh garment workers suffer as factories reopen during Covid-19 lockdown3 August, 2021On 1 August, Bangladeshi garment export factories resumed operations with just two days’ notice, despite the strict lockdown imposed across the country.
Precarious workers occupy Honda factory in India 28 November, 2019A thousand precarious workers at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) occupied the factory in Manesar for two weeks in November to demand regular employment contracts and compensation for retrenched workers.
Indian unions to observe “Save India Day” against Modi government 6 August, 2020India’s central trade unions jointly called on workers across the country to take action on 9 August and intensify protests against the anti-worker policies of the Modi government.
Union wins reinstatement of 1,257 workers in India 8 February, 2021After an eight-month struggle and international solidarity campaign, the Garment and Textile Workers’ Union (GATWU) has signed an agreement with H&M supplier Gokaldas Exports that recognizes the union and reinstates all the 1,257 workers – mostly women - who were fired.
Worker killed at Kabir Steel shipbreaking yard11 February, 2022On 31 January, a worker was killed in an accident at Kabir Steel shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda municipality, Chittagong, Bangladesh, while working at night – despite a court order prohibiting the practice.
Sri Lankan unions launch campaign for minimum wage rise1 March, 2022Twelve unions across Sri Lanka have launched a joint campaign to demand a rise of 10,000 rupees (US $49) in the monthly minimum wage of private sector employees, and to oppose the government’s decision to exclude private sector employees from a scheme that grants a monthly allowance of 5,000 rupees (US $25) to public sector employees and pensioners.
Two workers killed in one week at Holcim plants in India22 October, 2021In the space of one week, two fatalities occurred at two separate ACC cement plants in India. The circumstances surrounding the accidents has not been made clear to unions. ACC is owned by Holcim.
Hong Kong Convention key to South Asian shipbreaking recovery29 September, 2020South Asia shipbreaking unions, IndustriALL and FNV Mondiaal representatives held virtual meetings on 24 and 25 September to evaluate union support for workers during Covid-19, and pledged to intensify the campaign to ratify the Hong Kong Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships (HKC).
Serious concerns remain about health and safety in India28 January, 2022In 2021, the Indian manufacturing industry was beset with accidents, with an average of seven accidents reported per month, killing over 162 workers and leaving others disabled for life or badly injured. A number of accidents in the first few weeks of the new year shows that this trend is likely to continue.
