India’s coal mines claim four more lives16 November, 2021Within the space of one week, three serious accidents have occurred in coal mines in India, claiming the lives of four workers.
Covid-19 vaccination hesitancy comes under the spotlight at Sub Saharan Africa occupational health and safety meeting11 November, 2021With the African continent being the lowest in terms of Covid-19 vaccinated populations globally, the countries are also facing increased vaccine hesitancy with the few available doses having no takers in some countries, say trade unions from Sub Saharan Africa who are affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union.
No return on copper for BHP workers in Chile4 November, 2021Chile is the world’s largest copper producer, yet the country’s laws and policies have for decades been at the service of multinational corporations, resulting in high levels of inequality. Moreover, at BHP a staggering 61 per cent of workers are contract workers, which in Chile means being treated as a second-class worker.
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.
ILO Meeting of Experts adopts first-ever Code of Practice for textile and garment industry13 October, 2021After a week of negotiations between governments, employers and trade unions, more than 60 million workers in the textile and garment industry around the world will now benefit from a new code of practice with concrete guidance on improving health and safety.
Save workers’ lives and make occupational health and safety fundamental right27 September, 2021According to the first joint WHO/ILO monitoring report, at least 1.9 million workers lose their lives every year due to the work-related diseases and injuries. However, when adding causes of death by risk factors not included and filling in information gaps from poor record-keeping to the data from 2000 – 2016, the number is closer to a staggering 3 million deaths.
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.
International Safety Accord begins with 91 garment brands and retailers1 September, 20211 September 2021, marks the official commencement of the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industry, a 26-month legally-binding agreement to make ready-made garment (RMG) factories safe.
Deadly factory fire in Pakistan31 August, 2021On 27 August, 17 workers in Mehran Town, Pakistan, were killed as a fire swept through an illegal factory producing bags. Exits and windows were barred, meaning the workers had no way out. The fire is a stark reminder that without implementation, protective laws are useless.
International Accord: tentative agreement on expanded worker safety programmes25 August, 2021Negotiations between IndustriALL, UNI and leading textile and garment brands signatories to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh have yielded a tentative agreement that continues the parties’ legally binding commitments to workplace safety in Bangladesh and expands the programme to other countries.
