India: Coal workers' unions demand a Just Transition

The discussion was organized as part of the APHEDA-IndustriALL project to develop strategies on union building through focusing on Just Transition in coal mining and renewable energy sectors. Representatives from ITUC-AP also joined. The consultation meeting aimed to assess the impact of the shift to clean energy on the current workforce in coal mining as well as devise ways to mitigate the risks associated with energy transition. 

During the meeting, union leaders emphasized the need for a policy framework that protects the rights and livelihoods of workers and prioritises inclusivity, social justice and economic support for those most affected by the decline in usage of coal. Unions fear massive impacts on communities that are directly or indirectly dependent on coal mines in the country. Unions have been constantly raising concerns regarding the energy transition process in India being non-inclusive and largely involving representatives at the central government ministerial levels, non-governmental organizations and research academicians at the national and internation level, while excluding voices of trade unions, precarious workers, women workers and communities that are most vulnerable in the transition process. 

Report of the Indian inter-ministerial committee on ‘just transition from coal’ reported that the country's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 necessitates a significant shift from coal dependent energy production to sustainable alternatives which poses challenges, particularly for communities reliant on the coal mining sector for their livelihoods. The committee emphasized the need for actionable policies to support this shift. But, when the Indian government established a just transition committee in September 2021, both IndustriALL and ITUC affiliates were excluded from the committee thereby limiting union inputs.

IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary Ashutosh Bhattacharya, says:

“Trade unions must be central to the policy framing of a Just Transition framework, ensuring no worker is left behind. A comprehensive policy should include gender inclusivity, phased mine closures, upskilling and retention of current workers, creation of well-paid green jobs, social protection measures and the active engagement of workers in decision-making throughout the transition.”

Union members also highlighted the need and significance of comprehensive research on the issue to develop a good understanding of the impact of energy transition on coal mine workers and other related workforce in order to develop feasible strategies for just transition. 

During the roundtable meeting, representatives from Coal India and Tata Steel shared the information on environmental sustainability, mine closures, procedures and guidelines for closure as well as alternative employment and green jobs created in the process while stressing the need for more actions to be taken to ensure Just Transition.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kan Matsuzaki, says:

“To ensure a just transition, policies supporting incomes and job transitions are crucial. And equally important are tripartite discussions on the issue. Unions must push for social dialogue on just energy transition. We have to start building Just Transition plan and develop campaign today, rather than waiting for decarbonization changes at work to appear.”

The right to refuse unsafe work is still denied to too many

IndustriALL’s health and safety group is focusing on sectors where safety is too often sacrificed for profit, like in critical raw materials and shipbreaking. In these industries, workers risk their lives every day and speaking up about safety can mean losing your livelihood.

Shipbreaking is often called the world’s most dangerous job. The risks are extreme; there is a lack of training and workers face toxic exposure, falling steel plates and fatal injuries happen all too often. After a long campaign by IndustriALL and its affiliates, the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships has been ratified and will enter into force in June this year.

The entry into force of the Convention is expected to improve safety. But serious gaps remain. India has proposed national legislation to transpose the Convention into domestic legislation. It does not include any reference to the right to refuse unsafe work—despite the Convention’s intent to protect workers.

“Implemented correctly, the Hong Kong Convention has the power to transform shipbreaking into a much safer industry. But we have concerns about the political will and the capacity of the authorities in the shipbreaking countries to challenge the power of employers. Unions need to be recognised as key partners. The Convention is a top-down approach. It needs to be joined with a bottom up, worker-led approach to ensure safety at site level,” 

says IndustriALL director for shipbuilding and shipbreaking Walton Pantland.

The same applies in mining, particularly in the extraction of critical raw minerals that fuel the green transition. Demand is skyrocketing for cobalt, lithium, nickel and other materials—but so are reports of accidents, cave-ins and chronic exposure to dust and chemicals. A Just Transition includes workers’ rights to refuse unsafe work; without strong protections, the human cost risk being devastating.

Says IndustriALL director for mining and occupational health and safety, Glen Mpufane:

“The right to refuse unsafe work is not a privilege; it is a core right, recognized by the ILO and backed by international law. As IndustriALL we will continue to fight for a better tomorrow with a focus on risk assessments and a rights based human centred approach to occupational health and safety.”

28 April is also known as International workers’ memorial day. We remember the dead and fight for the living, and recommit to the fight for safer workplaces. This year, it also means confronting new and emerging threats. IndustriALL is supporting ITUC’s call for urgent action to safeguard workers' lives and rights in the age of digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI).

As artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly deployed in workplaces, it is not always used to support workers, but to monitor, control and even exploit them. Although AI may be driven by data, its impact is deeply human and risk deepen existing power imbalances. Protecting workers’ rights in the age of AI means ensuring transparency, accountability and that safety and dignity are not sacrificed in the name of efficiency.

The ITUC is calling for:

“Artificial intelligence is not in the distant future; it is already shaping the present. The question is whether workers will have a say in how it shapes their future,”

says Kan Matsuzaki, assistant general secretary, IndustriALL Global Union.

Global unions demand justice amid Belarus crackdown on workers’ rights

Workers in Belarus are being punished simply for defending their rights. The report outlines a severe decline in fundamental freedoms, as Belarus continues to flout international obligations and ILO recommendations, replacing reform with repression.

Since the 2020 pro-democracy movement, the government has dismantled all independent unions—dissolving the BKDP and affiliates such as Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM), Free Belarusian Trade Union (SPB), Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) and Belarusian Trade Union of Radio-Electronic Industry Workers (REP). Dozens of union leaders and activists have been jailed on fabricated charges, including BKDP President Aliaksandr Yarashuk, sentenced to four years for peaceful advocacy.

New laws criminalize union activity, protest and foreign support. Unionists are smeared as extremists, while workplaces force workers into pro-government unions, stripping them of real representation.

These are not isolated incidents they are part of a coordinated attack on organized labour. Peaceful protesters are jailed, union offices raided, families torn apart and dissenters exiled or imprisoned.

“Belarus is erasing the very idea of free and independent unions,” 

said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie. “These are not just attacks on organizations they are attacks on people, on workers who want nothing more than dignity, safety and a say in their own lives.”

The trade union movement calls on the UPR to urge Belarus to reinstate independent unions, release all jailed unionists, repeal repressive laws and allow ILO and humanitarian access.

ITUC general secretary Luc Triangle stated:

“The brutal assault by the autocratic government of Alexander Lukashenko on independent trade unions in Belarus is an attack on democracy itself. But the global trade union movement will not stand by. International solidarity is essential to end this repression and bring accountability to those responsible. The courage of Belarusian trade unionists reminds us that trade unionism is not a crime it is a cornerstone of democracy.”

On 16 April IndustriALL affiliates demonstrated strong support for the democratic independent trade union movement in Belarus through solidarity actions, including statements of support and formal letters to the Belarusian Embassy.  

“Silence is not an option. Injustice must be challenged in every forum, with every voice and through every means until every imprisoned trade unionist in Belarus is free, every independent union restored and every worker able to stand without fear. Solidarity is more than a word; it is a force. This struggle will continue until justice prevails,”

said Atle Høie. 

Legally binding Accord delivers safer workplaces

The tragedy triggered unprecedented action to improve factory safety, leading to the creation of the Bangladesh Accord, now known as the International Accord. A decade later, the legally binding agreement has brought quantifiable improvements and made garment factories safer for workers.
 
Key achievements include:

Women workers, who make up the majority of the garment workforce in Bangladesh, have been central to these improvements.

In 2022, the International Accord was extended to Pakistan. Under the Pakistan programme, where women make up about 11 per cent of the garment workforce:

Says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary:

“The Rana Plaza collapse remains a painful reminder of the cost of inaction, but it also stands as a turning point. Thanks to the collective efforts of unions, brands and workers themselves, the Accord has helped build a safer industry where workers’ voices are taken into consideration, as well as empowering women to play a leading role in shaping safer workplaces. We hope to be able to extend this success story to one more country in 2025.”
 

Union density is key to a Just Transition and the protection of workers’ rights

Participants identified several concerns: job and income losses, the exclusion of unions from social dialogue processes, and the difficulty of organizing precarious workers. A strong consensus was reached, increasing union density and building union power are essential to tackling these issues and ensuring a truly Just Transition.

Without strong union presence, especially in energy and mining sectors, employers and governments often sideline trade unions from policy discussions. In many cases, so-called experts are invited in their place, even though it is workers in these sectors who are most directly impacted by transition policies.

"Union density is of paramount importance. Unity among workers and unions is essential to create a strong voice for Just Transition, one that cannot be ignored by governments and employers,"

said Kan Matsuzaki, IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary.

"For example, some nickel mines, key to the battery supply chain, still lack sufficient union representation. We must organize workers across the nickel and renewable energy sectors to secure a place at the negotiating table."

Participants stressed the need for trade unions to take an active role, both inside and outside formal policy frameworks. Examples include Australia’s Net Zero Economy Authority, Singapore’s Company Training Committees, and the Philippines’ Tripartite Council in Mining, all of which offer pathways for union participation through institutional mechanisms.

In Indonesia, a union succeeded in integrating Just Transition language into collective agreements with mining companies, following effective grassroots education among rank-and-file members. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, union leaders emphasized the need to address the structural causes of emissions linked to industrialization and called for mobilizing Global South unions to challenge inadequate policy solutions and raise public awareness.

Participants also highlighted contradictions in global climate efforts, pointing to increased coal production in China, India, and Indonesia, which collectively surpassed 9 billion tonnes in 2024, despite global commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Concerns around artificial intelligence and automation were also raised. Philippine unions proposed including a "labour-saving device" clause in collective bargaining agreements to ensure workers are not displaced when new technologies are introduced. Just transition, they argued, must be used to build solidarity among unions and progressive allies, and revitalize the labour movement.

One IndustriALL affiliate in India successfully negotiated with a company to reskill workers and boost productivity, securing a reduction in working hours while maintaining jobs. Other Indian affiliates drew parallels with previous industrial revolutions, emphasizing that today’s challenges demand unified and strategic union responses.

The conference concluded with a call to action, highlighting key strategies for shaping a worker-led Just Transition:

  1. Advocate for sustainable, worker-centred industrial policies
  2. Develop and implement just transition frameworks
  3. Ensure union participation in policy and decision-making
  4. Strengthen regional, North-South and South-South trade union collaboration
  5. Push for supportive policies and investment frameworks
  6. Embed labour rights in trade agreements
  7. Launch strategic organizing campaigns in renewable energy sectors
  8. Mainstream gender and youth in Just Transition planning

Democracy must be defended and respected in Türkiye

These attacks on opposition politicians follow the intimidation, attacks, arrests or even imprisonments of other politicians including prominent party leaders, journalists, NGO staff and fellow trade unionists in the last six months. After the 2024 local elections, a number of elected metropolitan and district mayors were removed from their offices and then the government appointed trustees. 

As an EU candidate country committed to the Copenhagen criteria and member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye committed itself to respect and uphold democratic values, the rule of law and human rights including such essential rights as freedoms of opinion, expression, speech, association, press and freedom of peaceful assembly and to accept the crucial role played by the opposition in a democratic society.

EU accession negotiations with Türkiye have been stalled since 2016. The detention of İmamoğlu and others raises major questions regarding the Turkish government’s commitment to democracy, democratic rules and institutions as the main establishments of democracy have already been tarnished. The EU must not look away from grave violations of core European values but should rather make respect of democracy and human rights a condition for cooperation. 

IndustriAll Global and Europe urge the international community and the European Commission to take action and call on the Turkish authorities to respect these commitments, the rights of elected officials, as well as the right of peaceful demonstration, need to be fully respected – and demand the immediate release of İmamoğlu, as well as the all other political and society leaders and peaceful protesters that have been detained. 

IndustriAll Europe general secretary, Judith Kirton-Darling, recalls that as an EU candidate country and member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye must respect fundamental values, such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and accept the role of the political opposition.

“The country’s trade unions as vital actors in any democratic society, must be allowed to freely organise workers and defend their interests, including the right to vote for politicians of their choice.”


Atle Høie, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary, said:

“Türkiye must guarantee the fundamental human and workers’ rights by re-establishing the basics of democracy. The separation of executive, legislative and judicative powers is essential while rule of law and fair trial are essential elements for a genuine democracy. Trade unions and labour rights need to be one of the cornerstones of Türkiye.”

ICT and electronics unions debate the way forward in uncertain times

Opening the meeting, co-chairs Masashi Jimbo and Prihanani Boenadi and IndustriALL assistant general secretary Christina Olivier set the tone: the stakes for workers in a sector at the crossroads of innovation and inequality are higher than ever. The meeting covered burning topics; from changes in the supply chain to workers' rights, occupational health and safety, including workers’ mental health, and the impact of artificial intelligence.

Anne-Marie Chopinet, chair of the industriAll Europe ICT sector network, highlighted key challenges in the European ICT, electrical, and electronics industry, including EU-U.S. trade tensions, deregulation and declining investment. She emphasized the need for strategic autonomy, upskilling, stronger AI regulation and improved occupational health and safety measures, while reaffirming the vital role of trade unions in protecting workers and shaping industrial policy.

A key message through the debates was that the global electronics workforce is under pressure from multiple angles. Wages in manufacturing centres remain stagnant despite record profits for companies. According to Alexander Ivanou, IndustriALL director of ICT, electrical and electronics, supply chain shifts caused by geopolitical tensions and “Anything but China” strategies have led to instability, while exposing workers to lower protections and lack of respect to union rights.

Casper Edmonds from the ILO highlighted major challenges in decent work, including non-standard employment, long hours, OSH issues, and rights violations, especially in Asia, the sector’s manufacturing hub. He stressed the urgency of stronger labour standards and mandatory human rights due diligence to ensure fairness and social justice in the global supply chains.

IndustriALL is developing a gender specific occupational health and safety toolkit to address chemical exposure, reproductive health and gender-based violence, issues that most affect women in electronics manufacturing. The toolkit is part of a broader call for harmonization of cross-sectoral efforts on occupational health and safety, particularly in the critical supply chains of minerals and batteries.
Speaking about organizing as the main task for unions worldwide, campaigns director Walton Pantland demonstrated tools for developing unions in the supply chain, including power mapping, corporate research and mobilization strategies.

At the end of the meeting, participants recognized that the global context is turbulent – from escalating tariffs to climate change – yet there is an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild the industry from the ground up.

“Only through collective action can we make digital and green transitions work for people, not just profit,”

Christina Olivier concluded.

Photo credit: Electronics factory worker, Cikarang, Indonesia © ILO/Asrian Mirza

Jailed Belarusian union leader wins Arthur Svensson international prize for trade union rights

Aliaksandr Yarashuk, president of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), vice-president of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body, is being honoured for his uncompromising defence of workers’ rights and democracy in Belarus.

The prize committee highlighted the absurdity of Yarashuk’s imprisonment, with Frode Alfheim, president of the Norwegian union Styrke and head of the Svensson Committee, stating:

"It is completely absurd that a man who is a member of the ILO Governing Body is currently in prison for standing up for workers' rights. Trade unionism is not a crime."

Yarashuk’s case has become a symbol of resistance and hope for trade unionists globally, as Belarus continues to crack down on civil society. More than 40 trade union leaders and activists have been imprisoned, and all independent unions forcibly dissolved. The regime’s efforts to silence Yarashuk, including labelling him an “extremist,” reflect a dangerous global trend against freedom of expression and association.

Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:

"The attacks on trade union rights in Belarus are amongst the worst we have seen in modern history. Yarashuk represents everything trade unions stand for and he is willing to fight for it under the worst of oppression."

This is the second time the Arthur Svensson Prize has been awarded to the Belarusian trade union movement. In 2021, the BKDP and its member unions were recognized, but the situation in the country has since deteriorated further.

The Arthur Svensson Prize, awarded annually by Styrke and worth NOK500,000 (US$47,000), will be awarded in Oslo on 11 June 2025. Yarashuk will be honoured either in person or symbolically, depending on his circumstances.

Photo credit: Salidarnast

Lives saved, ships broken: the human cost and promise of ship recycling

But the past two decades has seen a transformation. Through international solidarity, persistent union organizing and targeted occupational health and safety (OHS) training, workers in India and more recently in Bangladesh, are reshaping the shipbreaking sector from the ground up.

Now, with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) entering into force on 26 June 2025, that transformation is facing its greatest test and greatest opportunity.

A landmark moment for shipbreaking

The HKC, adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2009, sets global standards for how end-of-life ships must be dismantled: safely, sustainably and with protections for both workers and the environment. Its entry into force this year will prohibit non-compliant yards from operating, a move that is expected to exclude over 100 shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh alone.

“The shipbreaking industry performs a vital environmental function,”

says Atle Høie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.

“But it must not do so at the cost of human lives. The HKC is a chance to reset the industry on fair, safe and sustainable foundations and unions are essential to that process.”

Building capacity in India

The transformation began in Alang, Gujarat, home to the world’s largest concentration of shipbreaking yards. In the early 2000s, conditions there were dire, with frequent fatalities, toxic exposure and a complete absence of formal training or workers voices. In 2003, FNV Metaal and IndustriALL launched a project to change that reality.

By 2011, the first OHS trainings had begun. These soon evolved into a “train the trainer” model, designed to create a ripple effect of safety knowledge across the yards. The Alang Sosiya Ship Recycling General Workers’ Association (ASSRGWA), which is a part of IndustriALL affiliate SMEFI, became a key partner, helping deliver sessions on fire safety, PPE use and hazard identification.

“Ten years ago, unions in Alang weren’t seen as legitimate actors,”

says Walton Pantland, IndustriALL director for shipbuilding and shipbreaking.

“Now, they’re trusted interlocutors. When there’s an issue, they don’t just escalate, they mediate. That’s the kind of influence that changes lives.”

Another other crucial driver of change in India has been government enforcement. The Gujarat Maritime Board, a state regulatory body, has been instrumental in pressuring yards to comply with HKC standards. Today, 115 of India’s 130 shipbreaking yards are HKC-compliant, with all of them located in Alang.

A different picture in Bangladesh

The story in Chittagong, Bangladesh’s shipbreaking hub, is much different. Here, change has been largely private-sector led, with one standout yard, PHP,  serving as a model of best practice. PHP’s owner, who also heads the employers’ federation, has pushed for HKC implementation and invested heavily in safety protocols with little to no government pressure.

“The government in Bangladesh hasn’t taken the lead the way India has,”

says Ashutosh Bhattacharya, IndustriALL regional secretary.

“And many yard owners have resisted change, even lobbying to delay implementation of the HKC because they’re not ready.”

To make matters worse, the sector has suffered a prolonged economic drop, driven by low steel prices, a global trade boom and post-Covid uncertainty. Yard owners have little incentive to invest. And workers, once numbering 60,000, now stand at around 20,000. Post-HKC, that number could fall to as low as 3,000 or 4,000.If the yards aren’t compliant by June, they won’t be allowed to receive ships for dismantling, and the industry could take a serious hit.

It’s important to note that Bangladesh’s progress toward HKC readiness has been supported by a five-year cooperation programme between the Bangladeshi government and Norway,  a critical effort without which the Convention might not be entering into force, and Bangladesh would almost certainly not be prepared

Training in Chittagong: laying new ground

Recent efforts show what’s possible. In April 2025, IndustriALL and FNV conducted two in-depth OHS training sessions in Chittagong, involving 32 participants from affiliates BMF and BMCGTWF. The sessions, held over four days, covered everything from safe lifting and PPE use to adult learning methods and training design.

A five-hour inspection of the PHP yard followed.

“It was exceptional,”

said FNV safety expert, Martijn van de Beurcht

“From the hull to the bridge, safety procedures were in place. For this yard it is the standard for many others not yet.”

The trainings also sparked conversations about how to expand union-led safety. Participants gave presentations demonstrating how they would pass on their knowledge to others, a cornerstone of the “train the trainer” model.

“This is what global union solidarity looks like,”

says Lennart Feijen, secretary of FNV Metaal.

“Dutch unionists training South Asian workers who will train others, it’s a living chain of empowerment.”

Roundtable and real talk

The visit concluded with a roundtable between unions, employers and government actors. Discussions focused on workplace representation, the role of unions and the need for a Just Transition.

One major outcome was consensus around piloting an Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) — a social protection mechanism for workers who are disabled or killed on the job. Employers expressed interest in further discussions and costing.

Still, deep structural issues remain. Unlike India, where a single national union organizes the sector, Bangladesh’s union landscape is fragmented, with yard-based unions that rise and fall with employment levels.

“That makes it almost impossible to build sustained strength,”

says Bhattacharya.

Worse, employers rarely grant unions access to the yards and existing union leadership is often disconnected from the workers they represent.

“In Bangladesh, unions aren’t taken seriously, and some of that is internal,” Bhattacharya says. “We need to invest in building leadership from the shop floor up.”

A coming storm, or opportunity?

Globally, the shipbreaking industry is bracing for a potential surge. After years of recession, shipping companies are now holding a record number of vessels, many of which are aged beyond 25 years, the typical scrapping age.

However, Trump-era tariffs, on Chinese goods and rising regional tensions have introduced uncertainty. Shipping firms are cautious. But when the boom comes and most believe it will, India is positioned to receive the bulk of the ships, due to its compliance and capacity.

“There’s a backlog of 15,000 ships waiting to be broken,” Pantland explains. “And India is ready, legally, technically and institutionally. Bangladesh risks being left behind.”

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, although the government has ratified the HKC, none of the yards are currently compliant. This means the industry will effectively have to shut down until significant upgrades are made,  and the future remains uncertain.

Rallying around a common vision

To mark the entry into force of the HKC, ASSRGWA is planning a union rally in Alang, followed by a tripartite conference with employers and government representatives in June. The message is clear, for shipbreaking to succeed, all parties must collaborate.

“We need safe and strong unions,”

says Atle Høie.

“That’s the only way this industry can be truly sustainable.”

Plans are also underway for cross-border mentorship, with experienced Indian unionists like Vidyadhar Rane, ASSRGWA general secretary, traveling to Bangladesh to help build worker power. This regional solidarity is a cornerstone of IndustriALL’s approach, linking local capacity to global standards.

A Just Transition must include workers

Shipbreaking is changing, not just in volume, but in nature. Unskilled manual jobs are being replaced by semi-skilled and technical roles: gas cutters, crane operators, safety officers and compliance managers. But if workers are excluded from shaping that future, the industry will trade one form of exploitation for another.

“Just Transition isn’t just a slogan,”

says Feijen.

“It means real investment in training, union representation and social protection, or else this industry will repeat its worst mistakes.”

Twenty years ago, unions weren’t allowed into the yards. Today, they’re saving lives.

The fight for safer shipbreaking is far from over. But with every training, every policy gain and every worker empowered to say “no” to unsafe work, the industry will move closer to the future it deserves.

“The goal isn’t just compliance,”

says Pantland.

“It’s dignity, safety and a real voice for workers. That’s what we’re building, ship by ship, yard by yard.”

Bangladesh Chittagong - Shipbreaking April 2025

Anglo American commits to dialogue with trade unions during demergers

IndustriALL and Anglo American signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on industrial relations, climate change, Industry 4.0 and the future of work. Through the MoU Anglo American committed to ensuring “workers’ rights to union membership and collective bargaining without fear of retaliation, repression or any other form of discrimination.”

The Anglo American global network meets annually with support from the multinational and IndustriALL. The network’s agenda includes promoting social dialogue, responsible mining standards and independent audits, and to jointly address environmental social and governance issues. Further, the MoU stresses on protecting workers interests during the energy transition and decarbonization, Just Transition plans, improved gender relations to address gender-based violence and sexual harassment (GBVSH), and better occupational health and safety. Living and social wages are prioritized. Anglo American’s sustainable mining plans and smart mining including digitalization and automation are also discussed. The meeting is also an opportunity to discuss current and emerging issues concerning the Mou.

The dialogue at this year's meeting focussed on Anglo American’s demergers. Trade union wanted assurance on the continuation of the MoU amid restructuring and demergers of several business units with only the mining copper and iron ore being retained as the core business. For example, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), a leading global producer of platinum group metals with mines in South Africa and Zimbabwe, is going through a demerger. At the completion of the demerger scheduled for June, Amplats will be renamed Valterra Platinum Limited and be listed on the Johannesburg and London Stock Exchanges. Whilst Anglo American will retain 19.9 per cent stake post demerger, it intends to eventually exit from the company. The meeting heard that there is potential for platinum following the catalytic converters resurgence as the electric vehicle market slows down.

Restructuring is also taking place at diamond mining company, De Beers, with mines in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, which is facing stiff competition from lab grown diamonds. Anglo American is also selling its steel making coal assets in Australia to Peabody Energy and has already sold other assets in nickel mining.

The union concerns in current operations included concerns of effects of metals to lactation from mothers and absence of laundry facilities at operations in Botswana, and poor communications with mine managers which leads to mistrust. Other issues raised were inadequate consultations before retrenchment notices.

Davidzo Muchawaya, IRMA Regional Lead for Africa emphasized that unions must use the IRMA audit as a tool to fight for workers’ rights. She cited a recent audit at Anglo American’s Mogalakwena mine complex in Limpopo, South Africa, where 53 workers were interviewed. According to the audit report, the mine received IRMA 50 certification which means it met 40 critical requirements as well as 50 or 75 per cent on business integrity, planning for positive legacies, social responsibility, and environment responsibility. “Topics discussed included terms of employment and working conditions, with specific attention on the treatment of women and vulnerable groups, freedom of association, health, and safety, etc.”

On gender equality, diversity, and inclusion unions said gender stereotypes continued to hinder women’s promotion and that sex for promotions must end. In response, the Anglo American management reassured the meeting that all cases of GBVSH are investigated, and action taken against perpetrators including dismissals.

“The future of the MoU is critical especially with demergers but must hinge on a Just Transition plan that includes discussions on future jobs, stakeholder engagement strategies, accountability, and pathways for decarbonization,” 

said Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director.