UGT, CCOO and ELA call for historic strike at Iberdrola tomorrow

The Spanish unions have been in negotiations for a new collective agreement since January this year. Despite several months of discussions, UGT, CCOO and ELA say that there has been little to no progress in addressing key issues like restoring purchasing power, salary increases and improving working conditions.

According to the unions, between 2021 and 2024, wages increased only 2.8 per cent, while inflation rose by 18.1 per cent, resulting in a loss in purchasing power. The salary increases proposed by Iberdrola fail to align with inflation rates.

Iberdrola, the second-largest company on the Spanish stock market (IBEX), achieved record profits of €5.6 billion in 2024. While rejecting all proposals from the unions on maintaining purchasing power for its workers, Iberdola generously distributed dividends and profits to the company’s senior management.

Beyond wages and working condition issues, tensions have escalated due to Iberdrola’s repeated violations of labour rights. In the last two years, the company was sanctioned four times by the Spanish National Court, including for imposing a double salary scale, improper use of telematic voting in union elections, prohibited by Spanish law, and failing to adjust pension benefits in line with inflation, issues raised and fought by the unions now calling the strike.  

Says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary:

“We fully support our Spanish affiliates in their strike tomorrow, and their push to get Iberdrola to enter into a genuine dialogue to resolve these longstanding issues. This strike is not just about salaries, it is about dignity, justice and respect. It is unacceptable that a company boasting billions in profit refuses to maintain workers’ purchasing power.”

Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe general secretary, says:

“We stand in full solidarity with our Spanish affiliates who will be on strike tomorrow. It is completely unacceptable that key issues like working conditions are not being respected, workers have a fundamental right to fair pay and working conditions.”

Organize the unorganized in Malaysia

In 2023, the Malaysian Parliament passed amendments to the Trade Union Act, removing restrictions on organizing within specific industries. These changes allow trade unions in Malaysia to broaden their organizing scope, provided they amend their constitutions accordingly. Two IndustriALL affiliates have already made the necessary amendments, with more expected to follow.

To prevent phenomenon of union competition occurring in other countries, IndustriALL Malaysia council proposed a memorandum containing IndustriALL's three golden rules:

After several rounds of debates and minor revisions, the affiliate leaders signed the memorandum at IndustriALL Malaysia unity meeting on 1 June in Penang. The agreement also urges affiliates to coordinate with each other on union building issues and resolve disputes through mediations. Joint solidarity action and resource sharing is encouraged.

IndustriALL Malaysia council secretary, Gopal Kishnam Nadesan, said:

“I am glad that finally all Malaysia affiliates agree to sign this memorandum, since 94 per cent of Malaysian workers are unorganized, the field is very vast, we should not compete with each other in already organized factories. Let’s focus on the unorganized factories and concentrate our efforts to increase union density in Malaysia.”

IndustriALL South East Asia regional secretary, Ramon Certeza, said:

“Trade Union Act amendments will have a profound impact on the way trade union movement operates in Malaysia. It is a good opportunity that trade unions can now organize more workers in different sectors and brings in workers into the union fold. But we should take this in a very cautious approach and the signed MOA is a good start. I congratulate IndustriALL Malaysia council for its farsighted move and conclusion of the memorandum.”

During the unity meeting, IndustriALL Malaysia affiliates also visited the offices of Penang Textile and Garment Workers’ Union (PTGWU) and Electronics Industry Employees Union Northern Region (EIEUNR) to deepen understanding among Malaysia affiliates.

Strategic push for gender equality at IndustriALL’s 4th Congress

In her opening statement, IndustriALL assistant general secretary Christine Olivier highlighted the role of the women’s committee in preparing for the upcoming Congress and evaluating progress made over the past four years. The committee has worked to advance women’s rights, promote equality and foster global solidarity, but certain issues remain, notably underrepresentation in leadership, gender-based discrimination and the disproportionate impact of AI and the Covid-19 pandemic on women. Efforts have been made to support affiliates and increase women’s participation, including conducting a participatory gender audit. 

“Despite challenges in Congress preparations, we remain committed to progress. We are not where we need to be, but we are also not where we were and together, we will continue pushing forward for equality, justice and change,”

said Christine Olivier. 

Discussions took place on the findings of IndustriALL’s participatory gender audit (PGA) and gender mainstreaming in both statutes and action plans. PGAs are social audits, as opposed to financial audits and an effective tool to identify gaps and good practices to tackle gender issues in an organizational setting. The IndustriALL gender audit, based on the ILO model, drew from over 130 documents, dozens of interviews and workshops with staff, leadership and affiliates to evaluate how well gender considerations are embedded across IndustriALL policies, actions and structures.

The PGA highlighted that IndustriALL has a clear vision for promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization was commended for key initiatives, like its campaigns on gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) and its mentoring programme. However, some gaps were also identified.
Based on both successes and areas needing improvement, several recommendations were made. These will serve as a basis for developing the Action Plan for IndustriALL's work over the next four years. A strong focus will be given in in more systematically and routinely embed gender perspectives in all its work to ensure the needs of all genders are addressed.

Gender mainstreaming requires a dual approach: combining specific, targeted actions with the integration of gender considerations into all policies and activities. While IndustriALL has made progress through targeted efforts, it should also routinely embed gender perspectives in all its work to ensure the needs of all genders are addressed.

“We need to strengthen the development of women and ensure that the priorities, needs and contributions of all workers are taken into consideration in all IndustriALL planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes, campaigns, interventions and budgets,”

said Armelle Seby, IndustriALL gender director.

Christine Olivier and Armelle Seby presented proposals to embed gender perspectives more deeply into IndustriALL’s statutes and forthcoming action plan. Since the Executive Committee meeting in Istanbul last year, negotiations involving women and other union leaders have resulted in compromises. Christine Olivier and Ilvana Smajlović, Women’s Committee co-chair, who led the discussions, stressed the importance of male union leaders  working together with women in this effort to make progress towards an increased representation of women in IndustriALL and its affiliates’ structures, and more gender equality in our industries.

“Our main aim is to show unity at Congress and to have progress in terms of women's representation, not just within IndustriALL leadership, but also within the national and regional structures of our unions. We need to show solidarity and unity, not just now, but as a lasting commitment.”

The Congress in Sydney in November will be preceeded by a Women’s Conference, the first one since 2019. The conference will be held in two parts: an online session in September and an in-person session in Sydney. It will develop a four-year roadmap for IndustriALL’s gender equality work. Key topics include the future of women’s work, the impact of artificial intelligence and responses to attacks on women’s rights and gender equality.

Discussing mainstreaming gender in IndustriALL’s work on global framework agreements, presentations emphasized the responsibility of multinational corporations to ensure training, protection, and equality across global supply chains. IndustriALL’s gender equality task force has together with the Secretariat proposed recommendations to ensure that GFA guidelines and their implementation will integrate a gender perspective.

In a session on mainstreaming gender into occupational health and safety (OHS), Dr. Karen Messing highlighted the importance of considering both biological and gender differences. She emphasized that women are not small men, and even small biological differences matter for prevention. Limited research exists on how chemical and radiation exposure affects reproductive health in both men and women. Gender-based job segregation, both vertical and horizontal, creates different OHS needs. Even in the same job, men and women often perform different tasks. Messing showed how workplace design and equipment often overlook women's physical and reproductive health needs, as they are typically designed for men. Women may also hesitate to report risks, fearing they will be seen as weak.

Dr Jane Pillinger looked at diversity, gender and inclusion into risk management, adopting an intersectional approach. She expanded on the psychosocial risks women and marginalized groups face, like harassment, burnout, and discrimination, and underscored the need for inclusive, gender and diversity-responsive risk management and OSH strategies. She underlined the breakthrough represented by ILO C190 that puts the focus on prevention and psychosocial risks. Intersectionality can help reveal why some group face higher exposure to psychosocial risk. Addressing intersectionality also requires more nuanced policies and practices, and further research.

“We must ensure that gender mainstreaming is not just a talk show but leads to practical, protective measures,”

Jane Pillinger said. 

Participant reflections from countries including Mauritius and Indonesia highlighted how C190 and psychosocial hazards are, or not, integrated into national legislation, and how global knowledge-sharing is fuelling advocacy.

As the meeting concluded, the women’s committee affirmed its shared purpose: to translate data, policy, and lived experiences into action. 

“We are working for progress and we should show that we are making positive steps together. Our ultimate goal is to empower women,”

said Ilvana Smajlović.

ILO sets decent work standards for recycling through tripartite deal

This achievement marks a milestone for millions of workers around the world who play key roles in waste recycling across sectors such as shipbreaking, electronics, ICT, textiles, chemicals and plastics, among others represented by IndustriALL Global Union. These sectors are represented by trade unions that actively participated in the negotiation, defending the interests of workers in both the formal and informal economies.

The new guidelines recognize recycling as an essential economic and ecological activity and a cornerstone of the circular economy. But they also stress that the sector is not automatically fair or safe. For this reason, the document provides clear recommendations for governments, employers and unions to ensure productive employment, labour rights, social protection and social dialogue across all recycling activities.

Some of the most important highlights include:

IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Kan Matsuzaki, said: 

“These guidelines are a powerful tool to transform recycling into a driver of decent work. Our goal is clear: to ensure that workers use these guidelines to organize more members and to be sure that they have a safe environment to work where no one is left behind in the transition to a circular economy.”

While the guidelines are not legally binding, they serve as an essential reference for designing legislation, public policy, sectoral strategies and frameworks for social dialogue at all levels. They represent a major step forward in placing social justice at the center of the circular economy.

IndustriALL will work to ensure that these recommendations are translated into concrete actions in each country and implemented with the active participation of trade unions.

Photos: © Alioune Ndiaye / ILO

Glencore faces global scrutiny over ESG failures

Delegates raised the company’s refusal to negotiate with workers on a fair and just transition and its ongoing aversion to sectoral dialogue that would ensure labour rights during the energy transition.

During the AGM, IndustriALL and its affiliates challenged Glencore’s board on a number of pressing issues. 

Canada: delegates questioned why a clause on just transition and social dialogue was excluded from the collective bargaining agreement at the Horne smelter. They called on the company to engage directly with workers’ representatives and to commit to negotiated solutions that protect jobs and communities.

Colombia: Glencore has announced plans to close the Cerrejón mine in La Guajira by 2034 and recently confirmed significant production cuts. The lack of transparency around the closure process—especially in light of the company’s deeply criticized handling of the Prodeco shutdown—has intensified fear and uncertainty among workers and local communities. Many are still grappling with the fallout from that earlier closure. At the AGM, Glencore stated it had no official closure plan to share for Cerrejón.

“We call on the company to release its official mine closure document, to enable workers, the national government and affected communities to prepare and plan for a just transition. This request is not a call for early closure, but rather a call for preparation, coordination and fairness,”

says Juan Carlos Solano Guillen, transition secretary- Sintracarbon.

Sintracarbon also urged Glencore to support retraining and alternative employment programmes for former workers at La Jagua in the Prodeco area, which remains abandoned after the company withdrew operations.

Despite the escalating material risks associated with its operations, Glencore has declined to participate in the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), a globally recognized standard for responsible mining practices.

While Glencore’s CEO, Gary Nagle, insisted that health and safety remains the company’s top priority, delegates and community leaders rejected these claims. They argued that rhetoric must be matched by concrete action. From smelter closures to environmental damage, Glencore’s operations continue to harm workers and communities with little evidence of accountability or redress.

“We call on Glencore to engage in global social dialogue, commit to responsible mining standards and ensure that the shift to a low-carbon economy does not come at the expense of workers' rights and livelihoods. Until Glencore acts, the global campaign for justice, transparency and a just transition will continue to grow in strength and urgency,” 

says Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director. 

In a Glencore network meeting, held a day before the AGM, union affiliates described a consistent pattern of misconduct. In Australia, Glencore is exceeding legal emissions thresholds and has dragged workers through the courts in an effort to block the “same work, same pay” campaign, instead of addressing pay inequality. 

In South Africa, Glencore has closed smelters with little warning or planning, leaving workers unemployed and communities devastated.

“Are they able to sell the smelters to other businesses? Is this something that Glencore can look into,”

asks Donald Makofane, regional youth secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). 

In Canada, pollution from the Rouyn-Noranda smelter continues to threaten public health, emitting arsenic at levels thirty times above the provincial limit. 

“We want to keep jobs, but not at the expense of our health,” 

says Kevin Gagnon from Fédération de l'Industrie Manufacturière – FIM-CSN. 

“Glencore cannot keep ignoring its responsibilities while communities suffer the consequences. We’ve campaigned for years and we’re not going anywhere. We will not be silenced.” 

said Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.

Human rights due diligence: an imperative for critical raw materials in the Global South

Titled Critical Raw Materials and HRDD: Opportunities for the Global South, the webinar had 40 participants from the IndustriALL Global Union regional offices in Latin America, South East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa and affiliated unions, alongside speakers from Industriall Europe and the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

The webinar examined the interplay between the global energy transition and the socio-economic implications for mineral-rich regions, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Discussions highlighted the necessity of responsible mining practices, exemplified by frameworks like the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), to mitigate human rights abuses and environmental degradation. Recycling was also noted as a partial solution to reduce reliance on new mineral extraction, though its scalability remains limited.

Theodore Kamwimbi, a human rights lawyer from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), provided a scathing assessment of the DRC’s mining sector underscoring the pressing need for responsible mining practices to confront human and workers’ rights abuses and environmental degradation.

Despite progressive mining and labour laws, implementation lags significantly. Kamwimbi documented pervasive abuses, including hazardous working conditions, discrimination, health risks, restrictions on trade union activities, forced and child labour, environmental violations, and sexual harassment. He cited reports noting that corporate cover ups and weak governmental enforcement worsened these issues. In Zimbabwe, trade unions reported that state collusion with Chinese multinationals in lithium mining stifles freedom of association and union organizing efforts.

Sophie Grenade from Industriall Europe outlined the European Union’s response to its dependency on critical raw materials from countries like the DRC, South Africa and China. The EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan and Critical Raw Materials Act aim to secure supply chains while promoting sustainability. Key regulations, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, mandate companies to report and address supply chain risks starting in 2026. However, Grenade cautioned that these regulations face resistance from some employers, who argue they undermine competitiveness, casting uncertainty over their long-term implementation.
 
Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining, stressed on the role of trade unions in advancing HRDD by “monitoring corporate disclosures and conducting risk mapping.” He noted the absence of national action plans in many African countries, urging unions to advocate for their adoption and enforcement.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, emphasized the need for binding international and national regulations to “ensure fair trade, responsible investment, and local mineral beneficiation,” which are critical for holding corporations accountable in the Global South.

Discussions on union strategies on critical mineral resources will continue in conferences being organized by the IndustriALL Sub Saharan regional office on human rights due diligence and African Industrialization in September and November, respectively.
 
 
 

Unions in Asia Pacific call for greater unity and solidarity

It will be the first time IndustriALL’s Congress takes place in Asia Pacific, and the regional executive committee reviewed the statutory modification proposals, the draft action plan for the next four years, as well as logistical preparations. The Australian affiliates expressed their enthusiasm and motivation for hosting the Congress, especially in the post-election environment, favourable to the union movement after labour leader Albanese was re-elected as Prime Minister for a second term.

The agenda spanned from anti-worker labour law reforms and the absence of union and worker voices in energy transition processes, to growing precarious employment in manufacturing industries and the alarming state of occupational health and safety. Participants underlined the importance of peace and unity of workers with regards to the conflict at the India-Pakistan border, as well as support for the ongoing campaign for workers repressed by Myanmar’s military regime. Discussions made it clear that to advance workers’ rights, there is a need for greater unity and solidarity in the working-class movement in the region.

Based on the reports, the meeting discussed the implementation of actions and campaigns, focussing on advancing workers' rights, labour law reforms, strengthening union building including the organizing and recruitment of white-collar and precarious workers, ensuring a just transition and promoting inclusive unions.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan, said:

“The worsening geo-politics around the world, military conflicts, imposed unilateral tariffs pose huge challenges for workers and trade unions to safeguard workers’ fundamental rights. Unions will have to put up a strong united fight. We have examples of labour victories in Australia, South Korea and Malaysia where strong union led campaigns have provided some relief to workers. For a just future, we must keep the struggle going.”

The Asia Pacific Women’s Committee shared about the various capacity building programmes around gender-based violence and harassment, Convention 190 and IndustriALL’s No Excuse policy, that were organized across the region.
 
Youth working groups in South Asia and South East Asia actively contributed to the debate of IndustriALL statue amendments relating to youth structure and policy. Youth leaders requested support from the Asia Pacific Executive Committee by urging it to take concrete steps toward greater inclusion and better representation.
 
IndustriALL’s vice president and Asia Pacific co-chair Akihiro Kaneko, said:

“We will support the initiative of developing the youth activities and policy. Our action plan stresses the importance of a transformative agenda for trade unions. We need more energetic young union activists to organize more young workers into unions. Without the new blood and generational succession, trade unions are not sustainable.”

Health, safety, and Just Transition top the agenda at MENA oil and gas trade union meeting

The trade unionists discussed several issues, from Just Transition and occupational health and safety, to social dialogue and organizing in global supply chains. A methodology and framework on the pillars of union power in the oil and gas sector in the Middle East and North Africa were presented. The unions also presented their action plans for multinational companies.

The network's meeting coincided with the World day for safety and health at work, 28 April. The network issued a statement, Safety first, emphasizing the importance of a strong commitment to protecting lives, preserving the working environment and promoting a culture of safety. The network also called for the implementation of best practices and international standards in occupational health and safety, particularly Conventions 155  and 170 on chemicals.

As the sector is experiencing changes due to climate change and the energy transition, Just Transition was one of the most important topics of discussion. The network issued a statement emphasizing the link between a Just Transition and social justice. This requires placing workers' rights and protection from unemployment and marginalization at the forefront of any energy transition plan. The network called for dialogue between the social partners, including trade unions, at national, sectoral and regional levels, to discuss the impact of the energy transition on employment, and explore alternatives and guarantees to preserve workers' rights and jobs.

Ahmed Kamel, MENA IndustriALL regional secretary, said:

"Trade unions play an important role in raising awareness about the implications of the energy transition and climate change in the region, especially in countries and locations where this crucial debate has not yet begun."

Süleyman Akyüz, Petrol-İş, president said:

“The sector is experiencing a challenging period, both politically and economically, affecting workers and unions in the region. Therefore, strengthening solidarity between trade unions in Türkiye and the region can help win the trade union struggle.”

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, said:

"Trade union struggle is important for achieving a just transition. It is necessary to decarbonize for the safety of the planet and communities, but not at the expense of workers' interests. Trade unions in the region must intensify networking and coordination."

The network meetings included separate meetings of trade union councils and networks of a number of multinational companies operating in the region, including Vivo energy, TotalEnergies, Shell, and Eni. The main trade union demands focused on deepening social dialogue about Just Transition, improving safety and health, FoA, implementing global framework agreements, and extending health coverage to retirees.

Unionist appointed minister of labour in Gabon

Isaac officially assumed his duties this month, with a mandate to strengthen labour policy implementation, reduce youth unemployment, currently at 36.9 per cent according to the World Bank and promote decent work through social dialogue. The unemployment rate is even higher among young women, underlining the urgency of inclusive job creation strategies.

ONEP, which organizes around 3,000 workers in Gabon’s oil and gas sector, welcomed the appointment, calling on the new minister to prioritize the improvement of working conditions and the institutionalization of dialogue between workers and employers.

Gabon’s economy is heavily reliant on oil, which accounts for roughly 40 per cent of GDP. This dependence exposes the country to global price volatility. As oil reserves decline, the government is shifting focus to economic diversification and sustainable development.

ONEP has called on the labour ministry to play a proactive role in developing employment opportunities in emerging sectors, particularly in the context of the country’s Just Transition. The union participates in the Sub-Saharan Africa Energy Network (SSAEN), which supports union involvement in decarbonization strategies and renewable energy frameworks.

Beyond oil, Gabon is expanding into natural gas and other sectors such as agriculture, tourism, digital technologies and mining. The country holds strategic reserves of iron ore, manganese and rare earth elements, critical minerals for renewable energy technologies, including electric vehicles and battery production. The development of digital industries is also advancing under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which Gabon has signed.

As the country navigates structural shifts, IndustriALL and ONEP emphasize that social dialogue must remain central. The appointment of a labour minister with deep union roots presents a valuable opportunity to ensure that workers' rights and protections are embedded in Gabon’s economic transition.

“I congratulate Brother Isaac on his appointment as minister of labour. The appointment of trade unionists as government ministers is a signal that the head of government takes trade unions seriously and we will follow developments closely. . This appointment, which brings union experiences on collective bargaining and social dialogue to government must, benefit workers in Gabon,”

says Atle Hoie, IndustriALL general secretary.

With major multinational companies such as TotalEnergies, Perenco, Vaalco Energy, BW Energy and the state-owned Gabon Oil Company operating in offshore oil fields, the labour ministry’s role will be key in overseeing decent employment conditions and fair transitions across the energy sector.

Social dialogue is key to revitalizing Tunisia’s textile, clothing and leather sector

The meeting brought together IndustriALL affiliates from the Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir (FGTHCC-UGTT), affiliated to Tunisia’s national trade union centre UGTT and the Fédération Tunisienne du Textile et de l'Habillement (FTTH), representing employers in the sector. The session was also attended by Mondiaal FNV and the International Accord Foundation, who introduced global frameworks and initiatives that support decent work in global supply chains.

The meeting provided a space for open discussion on shared challenges facing the industry, including occupational health and safety, trade union rights, the need for living wages, outdated labour legislation and weak state support. With around 90 per cent of Tunisia’s garment factories operating under subcontracting arrangements for international brands, the sector is vulnerable to global market shocks.

“The textile sector is facing many difficulties due to its dependence on foreign markets, which makes it vulnerable to risks such as closures and mass layoffs,”

said Habib Hazemi, IndustriALL vice president and general secretary of FGTHCC-UGTT.

“That’s why social dialogue is essential, to find joint solutions that protect workers’ rights while ensuring the survival of the industry.”

Employers and unionists expressed particular concern about the invisibility of occupational diseases in the national health system. Workers in the sector face long-term health risks that are not formally recognized or compensated. Both sides called for training and awareness-raising campaigns to protect workers' health and well-being.

“We are ready to play our part in raising awareness among workers about the importance of complying with health and safety rules,” said a union representative. “But the state must also do more to recognize occupational diseases and ensure they are covered.”

Representing FTTH, Rachid Zrad underscored that dialogue should not be a one-off initiative.

“For us, social dialogue is a daily practice. Employers and workers share a common goal: maintaining decent work and ensuring the continuity of operations. But we cannot do it alone, the state must step up with a clear industrial strategy, reduce bureaucracy and support the sector’s development.”

Zrad welcomed the participation of global actors in the discussion, calling their presence “an added value” that can help identify practical solutions. He also recommended expanding the dialogue to include state representatives, to ensure all key stakeholders are involved in addressing systemic issues.

Ahmed Kamel, IndustriALL MENA regional secretary, highlighted that Tunisia’s textile sector has been a leader in advancing dialogue:

“This session confirms the commitment of Tunisia’s social partners to sustained engagement. The textile sector has often set the pace on wage negotiations and collective bargaining. Global tools such as the International Accord and ACT can support national partners to establish concrete guidelines for joint action and industry-wide improvement.”

Clara Kamphorst, stakeholder engagement manager at the International Accord Foundation, provided an overview of the Accord and its proven impact on workplace safety and industrial sustainability. Meanwhile, Quirine Lengkeek, policy advisor at Mondiaal FNV, introduced the Framework on Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement, stressing the importance of legitimacy, accessibility, safety, equitability and respect in all efforts to improve working conditions.

“Multinational companies must take responsibility for working conditions across their supply chains,” Lengkeek said. “Partnership and dialogue between trade unions, employers and civil society actors are key to reducing risks and protecting workers’ rights.”

The meeting agreed on a shared commitment to continue and deepen the dialogue. The parties agreed to hold regular meetings to develop joint initiatives aimed at sustaining the sector, improving working conditions and making the industry more attractive to a new generation of workers.

Both FGTHCC-UGTT and FTTH highlighted the need to rejuvenate the sector, which is suffering from a declining appeal among young people. Improving the image of the industry and ensuring better conditions will be essential for its renewal.

This meeting marked an important step towards collaborative solutions rooted in strong social dialogue, an approach that has the power to deliver decent work, sustainable industry and shared prosperity.