Progress and challenges in Bangladesh’s shipbreaking sector

A key part of the mission was a five-hour yard visit, where union representatives and safety experts inspected a vessel being dismantled. The visit showed world-class safety procedures and a detailed waste management process, an example of what a safe and sustainable yard could look like.

But the yard stands out as an exception.

“This level of safety and attention to detail is led by the private sector, without real government pressure,”

said Walton Pantland, IndustriALL director for Shipbuilding and Shipbreaking.

“It is not representative of the rest of the industry.”

Over four days, IndustriALL held two occupational health and safety (OHS) training sessions in Chittagong. Delivered in partnership with FNV Metaal and involving 32 participants from IndustriALL’s affiliates BMF and BMCGTWF, the programme combined technical knowledge with teaching skills in a “train the trainer” model.

The technical modules included essential safety topics such as the use of personal protective equipment PPE, fire prevention, lifting operations, equipment inspection and the use of cranes and tensile cables. Workers were also introduced to international standards like marine pipe colour coding. The second module empowered participants to deliver training themselves, covering adult learning styles, how to build a training session and communication techniques.

“This is a practical example of global union solidarity: health and safety experts from our Dutch affiliate FNV Metaal providing training for our shipbreaking affiliates in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan,”

said Pantland.

The roundtable discussion that followed brought together unions, employers and government representatives. Discussions focused on the need for strong unions at the ground level. Consensus from employers was lacking, as well as the role of government in ensuring effective oversight. One breakthrough was agreement on exploring the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in the shipbreaking sector. All parties agreed to continue discussions on costs and implementation.

“There was real openness to the EIS, which could provide vital social security in cases of disability or death,”

said Pantland.

“It’s a step toward a fairer industry.”

With seven Bangladeshi yards currently HKC-compliant and more than 100 at risk of closure, the road ahead will be bumpy. Mechanization, declining ship volumes and a lack of safety nets are already reshaping the workforce. But these trainings and the emergence of local trainers, a sign of a growing movement to make sure that the industry transition includes decent jobs, better protections and worker voice at every level.

“The HKC cannot succeed in isolation, we need shared responsibility across borders. By investing in training, empowering unions, and setting clear safety benchmarks, we can raise the standard for shipbreaking not just in Bangladesh, but across South Asia,”

said Ashutosh Bhattacharya, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary.

Wage theft at Rio Zimbabwe starves mine workers

Rio Zim which owns Cam & Motor Mine, Renco Mine and Murowa Diamonds says it is facing operational and financial challenges and has sent most of the workers on leave. Only a few workers in the security and engineering departments are going to work. this is not the first time that Rio Zim has defaulted on wages. According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, in 2022 workers went on strike after they were not paid also for five months at Murowa Diamonds.
 
Rio Zim, which is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, is a mining and metals company that owns gold mines, a nickel refinery and has stakes in coal mining and processing of copper and platinum group metals. Rio Zim became a Zimbabwean owned company when it separated from Rio Tinto plc.
 
According to ZDAMWU, affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, the workers have run out of money for food and school fees for their children. ZDAMWU has 1,167 members at Rio Zim.
 

“This prolonged period of unpaid wages is creating a humanitarian crisis that is affecting workers, their families and surrounding communities leading to severe financial hardships and emotional distress,”

said Justice Chinhema, ZDAMWU general secretary. The union has written to the ministry of labour to intervene.
 
Responding to the union plea, Rio Zim gave food parcels to workers on 9 April. While ZDAMWU welcomed the food parcels, the union insisted that Rio Zim must pay the outstanding wages to improve the workers’ plight. The food parcels are worth only US$20 when a general worker for instance earns $372 per month.
 
ZDAMWU has taken the case to the National Employment Council(NEC) of the Mining Industry which is made up of employers and employees of mining industry as defined by Zimbabwe’s Labour Act. The NEC promotes industrial harmony through collective bargaining, dispute resolution and setting up minimum conditions of employment.
 
Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub-Saharan Africa said:

“Rio Zim must stop sacrificing workers’ livelihoods when faced with financial difficulties but instead they should adopt strategies that protect workers’ wages and benefits.” 

Canada: Heidelberg workers locked out over job cuts

In Thompson-Okanagan, over 30 employees represented by Teamsters Local 213 have been locked out since 17 January, after contract negotiations broke down. Workers say they have been seeking a fair wage increase, improved scheduling and safer working conditions following the expiry of their collective agreement at the end of 2024.

“We showed up to bargain in good faith, but the company isn’t listening,” 

said a worker on the Kelowna picket line. Pickets have been established at sites in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops.

At Heidelberg’s cement plant in Delta, 76 members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local D-277 were locked out on 13 January, after talks stalled over management’s push to contract out unionized jobs. The union argues this move threatens long-term job stability and undermines skilled local labour.

“We’re not asking for anything outrageous. We just want to protect our work and our future,” 

said a Boilermakers representative outside the Tilbury facility.

Despite mediation efforts, both disputes remain unresolved. Workers at both sites say that Heidelberg Material’s actions signal a broader shift away from respecting collective agreements.

Says IndustriALL materials director Alex Ivanou:

“Heidelberg Materials must return to the table in good faith and respect the rights of its workers. This isn’t just about one site or one country—it's about global solidarity and holding multinational companies accountable for fair treatment wherever they operate.”

Photo credit: Boilermakers Lodge 277, Teamsters Local 213

AI won’t wait — so neither should workers

Not long ago, a shipyard introduced a new assistant to improve safety. It was not a human colleague, but a robot called “Spot”, an AI-powered tool capable of patrolling work areas, detecting gas leaks invisible to the human eye and monitoring heavy equipment. 

Jakarta, Indonesia, 04 09 2022 : Yellow robot dog, suitable for industrial detection and remote operation. Mini robot guard Spot. Shutterstock Hendra Yuwana

What set this deployment apart was the process behind it: the union was actively involved. Workers were consulted. Concerns were acknowledged. In this case, technology was shaped to serve people, not to replace or disempower them.

This is what we mean when we speak of a Just Transition. It is not about rejecting innovation, but about ensuring that innovation is aligned with rights, safety and human dignity.

Across our global network of affiliates, we are hearing concerns about the introduction of AI, often without dialogue, safeguards or accountability. Algorithmic management, digital surveillance and data-driven performance tracking are no longer theoretical, they are already changing work. And too often, they do so in ways that blur the line between efficiency and exploitation.

These effects carry significant consequences. Women remain underrepresented in AI-related employment and the systems themselves frequently mirror and reinforce existing inequalities. One study found that 44 per cent of AI systems showed gender bias, while a quarter exhibited both gender and racial bias. In many low-income countries, only 20 per cent of women have internet access. This is not just a digital divide; it is a structural exclusion from the economy of the future.

Unions must not only demand gender-aware AI systems, but also actively support pathways for women and gender-diverse workers to access digital and technical roles. If AI is allowed to evolve in a space where women are absent, the inequalities will be built into its code.

At its core, this is about more than technology. It is about governance, inclusion and accountability. Who will shape the rules? Who will benefit from the wealth AI generates? And who will carry the costs?

"These are fundamental trade union questions."

At IndustriALL, we are responding with care and commitment. I lead our Industry 4.0 Expert Group, which brings together affiliates, experts and youth representatives to develop a comprehensive policy framework on AI. Our approach is grounded in lived realities: we are listening to workers, gathering evidence from our affiliates and prioritizing five key areas, algorithmic transparency, skills development, occupational health and safety, redistribution of wealth and organizing power.

EXCO Geneva 2024

In 2024, our Executive Committee began its first strategic debate on AI. In June 2025, our Executive Committee will debate and adopt IndustriALL’s global AI policy. This will be a landmark moment, not just for our organization, but for every worker facing the uncertainties of algorithmic change. We are also holding youth forums, advancing gender equity in digital transformation and identifying concrete union strategies that have already delivered results. This is about ensuring that workers are not simply observers in the AI transition, but active participants and co-creators of its outcomes.

Reflecting on my own country, Japan, I sometimes wonder why the AI conversation feels so different there. After being away for over 14 years, I notice that Japan has quietly and steadily integrated AI technologies into daily life. While companies don’t adopt new tech at lightning speed, they seem to engage with society more deliberately, cultivating public trust and social consensus around these changes. Today, Japan has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world, less than 3 per cent, and hasn’t experienced the same kind of AI disruption felt elsewhere.

This may also be shaped by Japan’s aging population and shrinking workforce, which creates both pressures to automate and societal acceptance of supportive technologies, especially in care, logistics, and service sectors.

Is this due to cultural pace, structural caution, demographic realities, or a deeper integration of social values into technological change? I don’t have the answer yet. But I believe it holds important lessons for how we approach the AI transition globally, with intention, inclusion, and a steady hand.

If you are a trade unionist wondering how to respond to AI, I want to reassure you: the labour movement has faced moments of intense transformation before. From the age of industrialization to the digital era, our strength has always been our ability to organize, to demand fairness and to place human values at the heart of industrial change.

AI should not be a new force that decides your future without your knowledge or consent. It must be negotiated. It must be transparent. And it must be implemented with human dignity as a non-negotiable principle.

We cannot afford to wait until job losses accelerate, gender gaps widen, or decisions are made beyond the reach of democratic input. The time to act is now, through collective bargaining, through social dialogue and through renewed global solidarity.

Let us bring the same clarity of purpose and collective strength to this new frontier.

Because while AI may be driven by data, its impact is deeply human. Let us ensure that in this next chapter of industrial change, no worker is left behind.

Call to protect workers' rights in Zambia’s mineral sector

The research entitled the impact of foreign direct investment on labour and trade union rights in Zambia’s critical minerals sector was conducted by Sekondi Consult.

With rich critical minerals deposits being found in the Copperbelt and other areas, trade unions fear that without compliance the minerals rush threatens gains made through collective bargaining and social dialogue. The minerals, which include copper, cobalt, lithium, tin, graphite, coltan, manganese and rare earth elements used in the manufacturing of renewable energy systems, electric vehicle batteries and energy storage solutions, have attracted investors from Canada, China, India, United Arab Emirates, the USA and other countries. Local investors and state-owned companies are also involved.
 
The workshop in Kitwe, 25-28 March, aimed at using the research findings to strengthen the Sub-Saharan Africa energy network (SSAEN) strategies for the energy transition. Twenty participants from Mine Workers Union of Zambia, affiliated to IndustriALL and representatives from artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) in North Western Province engaged in discussions on the report. Other participants were from IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), FES Zambia and the FES Trade Union Competence Centre for SSA (FES TUCC) which commissioned the research. The workshop was also supported by the United Federation of Danish Workers 3F which has a Just Transition programme with IndustriALL affiliates. 
 
The report stated that 27,737 workers were employed by sub-contractors under precarious working conditions and said unions should campaign against this. 

The workshop mentioned that environmental, social and governance standards were being neglected by some multinational corporations (MNCs) to the detriment of communities and the environment. To reverse this, the unions recommended that the Zambia Environmental Management Agency should monitor the environmental impact of mining and enforce regulations including in ASM. The researchers added that the government of Zambia is in the process of establishing a desk or an ASM department. 
 
An example of poor environmental standards was given from the collapse of the tailings dam at Chinese MNC Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited copper mine in Chambishi on 18 February. The tailings polluted and poisoned drinking water with 30 000 cubic meters of concentrated acid and heavy metals. The toxic effluent was discharged into Mwambashi River, a tributary of the Kafue River – the country’s most important source of water which supports about 12 million people with drinking water, fish and crop farming and supplies the capital Lusaka as well as the city of Kitwe. 
 
There were discussions on the memorandum of understanding on developing an integrated value chain on electric vehicles (EV) battery industries signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United States of America and Zambia in 2022. Participants mentioned that the DRC’s University of Lubumbashi is already manufacturing EV batteries. 
 
The research recommended that the critical minerals sector should promote decent work: fundamental rights at work, occupational health and safety, job creation, job protection, social protection and maternity protection. On gender equality, there were calls to amend existing labour laws to allow women to be employed as miners using a quota system.
Thelma Nkowani, vice chairperson of the Women in Extractive Industry, Trade and Value Addition Association of Zambia dismissed stereotypes that mining was only for men:

“Women in mining are efficient, they work to the best of their ability.”

“Critical minerals underpin renewable energy and EV industries and are cornerstones of global decarbonization. Mining operations in the sector must ensure workers’ rights are protected and improve working conditions,”

says Paule-France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for SSA.

Korean unions welcome decision to uphold impeachment of President Yoon

Accompanied by a cheering crowd including trade unionists, the Korean constitutional court has upheld the decision of the national assembly to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The eight-panel constitutional court unanimously ruled that Yoon had violated the Korean constitution and failed to comply with the procedural requirement of proclaiming martial law. The judges said the acts of Yoon had damaged democracy and people’s political rights.

On the night of 4 December 2024, Yoon proclaimed martial law, banning all political activity, accusing opposition leaders from Democratic Party of paralyzing the National Assembly. He ordered the military to expel parliamentarians from the National Assembly building, when a voting to end the martial law was going on.   

On 14 December, the National Assembly successfully passed a motion to impeach Yoon with the support of more than two-third parliamentarians. After today’s constitutional court decision, which is not appealable, a new presidential election will be held within 60 days.

In the past four months, IndustriALL Global affiliates Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) and Federation of Korean Metalworkers' Trade Unions (FKMTU) have been mobilizing members to participate in demonstrations to demand immediate removal of Yoon from the presidential office. KMWU has organized four national strikes for the democratic struggle.

In the demonstrations, the unions urged the constitutional court to impeach the President and his rebel group immediately, calling for realizing a world of democracy, equality and peace. Yoon has launched a series of attacks against trade unions since he assumed office in 2022.

In 2023, the Korea's National Intelligence Service raided the office of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), alleging two unionists from KWMU and another KCTU affiliate of violating the National Security Act. The police violently attacked FKMTU secretary-general Kim Jun-yeong during a sit-in protest at the POSCO steel mill, imprisoning him from June to November 2023.

In the same year, the Korean police investigated 950 officials from the Korean Construction Workers’ Union, leading to self-immolation of Yang Hoe-Dong. Yoon also issued an administrative order to force protesting truckers demanding the minimum freight rate to return to work, failing to do so the unionists could be jailed or penalized.

KMWU president JANG Chang-year says:

“Ultimately, the last bulwark of defense against dictatorship and the rise of the far right is the labour movement. Only when the working class around the world stands united can we defend ourselves. Trump is launching an attack against the working class in the United States and across the globe. Workers around the world can win only by building a united front and a united struggle.  

We now send our spirit of struggle from South Korea to the workers of Türkiye. We offer our international solidarity to the struggle of Turkish trade unions standing up against Erdoğan’s dictatorship.”

The FKMTU president, Kim Jun Young, says:

"For 123 days, since the beginning of martial law, it has been a time filled with anxiety and hardship for the citizens of Korea. But just like eight years ago, it was also a moment that reaffirmed the democratic resilience of Korea. It was also a time when we confirmed that forces denying the republic system of Korea have taken root throughout various parts of society.

"Although civil war was averted, new challenges have emerged for workers. FKMTU is now faced with the task of thoroughly clearing away the ruthless, lawless and irrational labour repression and labour policies of the Yoon administration. We are also tasked with pushing through laws and policies that reflect the urgent demands of workers. During the years under the Yoon administration, we have been too preoccupied with defense to achieve these goals — now, we must gather our strength again and push forward."

IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie says:

“IndustriALL commends the verdict of the constitutional court that defends democracy and rule of law in Korea. We congratulate KMWU and FKMTU for the successful campaign to remove the anti-union president from office, the active involvement of our affiliates shows the key role of independent trade unions in defending democracy and rule of law.”
 
 

Global Union network defends O-I Glass workers' rights

European Works Council secretary Vincenzo Guzzo Menzo, representing 10 European countries, outlined key concerns. Health and safety remain central, with uneven standards across plants. For instance, one shared a video with the company showing water leaking onto workers and electrical equipment during a thunderstorm, highlighting the need for uniform safety protocols.

Heat stress is another major concern. Solar radiation, combined with furnace heat, creates dangerous conditions. While some sites have cooling booths, they are not widespread. 
Workers have requested alternatives like cooling jackets, with little success.

The Brazilian glassworkers’ union Sindicato dos Vidreiros denounced fraudulent practices in the occupational health procedures at Owens Illinois SP. According to the union the company has been reported to the ministry of labour for failing to recognize occupational diseases.

Wider industry challenges were also discussed, including ongoing impacts of COVID-19, inflation, and energy price spikes linked to geopolitical conflicts like the war in Ukraine. While O-I remains a leader in container glass, demand has declined due to competition from alternative packaging and reduced alcohol consumption.

Unions strongly criticized O-I’s global ‘Fit to Win’ cost-cutting initiative, which aims to save US$300 million. It has led to around 1,500 layoffs and eight furnace closures in 2024. The Bellavista plant in Callao, Peru, closed in August 2024, with 110 workers losing jobs. 

Although some were offered positions at the Lurín factory in Lima, union FETRIMAP claims legal procedures were not followed. In Spain, 168 workers were also made redundant after the Barcelona plant’s closure.

Participants resolved to pressure company management for fair solutions, challenge the impact of 'Fit to Win' and strengthen global union coordination.

Alex Ivanou, IndustriALL’s materials director, closed the meeting, affirming solidarity:

“In these difficult times, IndustriALL stands firmly with O-I workers. Your courage is the foundation of a fairer future. We will not back down in the fight for dignity, safety and security on the job.”

NSEU concludes collective bargaining agreement with Samsung

The affiliate of Federation of Korean Metalworkers' Trade Unions (FKMTU) mobilized 6,000 union members for an indefinite strike in July last year in Hwaseong. Few more strikes occurred in the following months. Samsung management refused to back down. 
 
The collective agreement signed by NSEU includes a 5.1 per cent wage increase, 3 per cent basic increase and a 2.1 per cent performance increase. Both parties agreed to establish a joint task force to enhance the performance-based remuneration system.
 
The agreement also grants all employees 2 million Familynet Mall points, 30 Samsung Electronics shares and introduces a post-retirement hiring system for employees’ children.
 
Approximately 88 per cent of NSEU members ratified the decision.

The FKMTU president, Kim Jun Young, said:

“The long and strenous struggle has finally led the National Samsung Electronics Union to reach an agreement. However, the past three years have also reaffirmed Samsung’s persistent adhearance to its no-union policy. The company’s irresponsible attitude throughout the collective bargaining process has rendered chairman Lee-Jae-yong’s declaration to abolish the no-union policy meaningless. Until the disregard and hostility toward labour unions within the Samsung Group are completely eradicated, the unions and workers of Samsung will continue their fight and in that fight the Korean Metal Workers’ Federation will always stand in solidarity.”

IndustriALL ICT, electrical and electronics director Alexander Ivanou said: 

“IndustriALL congratulates the National Samsung Electronics Union for the perserverance and dedication in securing a well-deserved agreement that champions fair wages, benefits and future opportunities for employess and their families.”

Photo: Shutterstock

Humanitarian aid must reach Myanmar’s people, not the military junta

Following the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake, instead of prioritising rescue and humanitarian support, the military escalated aerial bombings on civilian communities, including in Chaung U (Sagaing), Phyu (Bago), and Naung Cho (Shan). Such appalling acts, under the guise of disaster management, demonstrate a blatant disregard for human life and dignity.

Myanmar’s history painfully reminds us how the military regime exploits disasters, using humanitarian aid as a political and military weapon, as seen during Cyclone Nargis (2008), Cyclone Mocha (2023), and Typhoon Yagi (2024). Aid intended for survivors has repeatedly been diverted, restricted, or manipulated for regime gain, resulting in prolonged suffering and increased death tolls.

The continued contempt for international law and total disregard for international obligations of the military should keep the international community, including UN agencies, on the alert not to be abused by the military to continue to impose itself on the Myanmar people. The military must stand aside for aid and humanitarian intervention to reach all the Myanmar people and for the Myanmar people to rebuild their lives and livelihoods in peace and democracy.

We, therefore, urgently:

Myanmar’s workers, communities, and ethnic peoples urgently require aid and protection, not bombings and obstruction. The extraordinary resistance of the people of Myanmar, ethnic groups, and civil society in the face of adversity demonstrate their leadership in delivering essential humanitarian aid. The NUG’s immediate declaration of a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief starkly contrasts with the junta’s continued violence and delayed reaction in calling off military operations.

The legitimacy and credibility of international humanitarian action depend on principled, decisive, and accountable delivery of aid. The global community must not repeat past mistakes that allowed humanitarian aid to empower Myanmar’s military oppressors.
As trade union organisations representing workers globally, we reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Myanmar and call for immediate and sustained international pressure to end this humanitarian crisis.

The earthquake has hit communities already enduring the junta’s brutal campaign of killings, forced labour, displacement, and repression. Yet in the face of devastation, the people of Myanmar continue to show unbreakable morale, determination, and unity. Their resolve is a powerful inspiration to the global labour movement. The international community must stand with them, clearly, decisively, and without delay – on the side of justice and human dignity.

Building and Woodworkers International    

International Trade Union Confederation

Education International    

IUF

International Domestic Workers Federation    

Public Services International

IndustriALL Global Union    

Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD

International Federation of Journalists    

UNI Global Union

International Transport Workers Federation    

Photo: Mandalay, Myanmar 28 March, 2025: An earthquake hit the city center, causing buildings to collapse. Rescuers are helping the injured. Credit: somkanae sawatdinak

Coal is dead, long live coal: strategies from Global South unions

The main questions in the debates as put by Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL Global Union director for mining are: “Can coal be clean, and does it have a future.” Further, what is the role of coal in decarbonisation and the Just Transition? These were the key questions that over 30 participants from IndustriALL affiliates and labour support organizations from the Global South countries in Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa discussed. The unions stressed that a Just Transition from high carbon fossil fuel energy generation to low carbon economies, whose main sources is renewable energy, must prioritise workers interests.

Mpufane said the future of coal should be discussed within the context of a Just Transition for coal mineworkers and power dynamics in the energy transition. He said that in most instance, the Global North exerts pressure on the Global South to decarbonize while simultaneously using other fossil fuels. He said: 

“The US, Canada, and Australia – the self-styled climate champions – have issued 60 per cent of new oil and gas licenses since 2020.” 

Kemal Ozkan, IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary said a Just Transition must consider job security as coal mining employs 7 million workers globally, with 2.5 million from the Global South. He argued that “a rapid phase-out of coal risks massive job losses.” There were social costs to mine closures that included lost wages, community collapse, and the destruction of local and regional economies. But these can be mitigated by a Just Transition plan that protected workers interests, he said.

The online seminar discussed how unions were responding to the debates on the future of coal. Igor Diaz said 80,000 livelihoods in Colombia depended on coal, yet the government’s energy transition announcements lacked a concrete labour plan. In response, the unions proposed retraining subsidies, public investment in clean coal research and development, and a joint action plan for inclusive transition policies that protected workers’ welfare.

Martin Kaggwa, director of the Sam Tambani Research Institute, affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa, said trade unions must embrace technology’s potential to make clean coal. He gave examples of coal direct chemical looping (CDCL), a process which reduces carbon emissions by 40 per cent when compared to traditional combustion. He argued that if CDCL is increased there are chances that it could extend coal’s economic life. The technology aligns with climate goals and offers opportunities for transition strategies for coal-dependent economies in the Global South, he said.

One of the issues raised by the online seminar is the protection of workers’ rights amid retrenchments by coal mining companies. Busisiwe Matizerd from the NUM said unions must continue to fight retrenchments and precarious working conditions by coal mining companies that included Seriti which recently retrenched over 1137 workers in South Africa.

The online seminar heard that in Indonesia, where coal provided affordable electricity which constituted 60 per cent of the country’s national grid, unions were resisting privatization of public power utilities which they feared would make electricity expensive for workers and the poor.

As a way forward, the IndustriALL regional secretaries of Latin America and the Caribbean, South East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, agreed to a joint action plan and coordinated responses on the South-South trade union position on the future of coal. For example, the unions agreed to document their local transition experiences, for example, from Colombia’s stalled reforms and Botswana’s labour laws. The unions will also engage groups like Future Coal on environmental, social and governance issues, and amplify the Global South trade union voices on the urgency of a Just Transition for coal miners.

Photo: Coal mine in Ethiopia, Flickr, Jasmine Halki