Mauritius slowly moves to demolish asbestos legacy19 May, 2026On 12 May, the Mauritian parliament voted to demolish the remaining asbestos social houses, a long-overdue recognition of the dangers posed to working-class families and communities. For the Confederation Des Travailleurs des Secteurs Publique et Prive (CTSP), an IndustriALL affiliate, as well as the Construction, Metal, Wooden and Related Industries Workers Union (CMWEU) , the vote is a moment of vindication. These two unions have campaigned for demolition for decades.
IndustriALL withdraws from human rights agreement with Mercedes-Benz19 May, 2026IndustriALL Global Union has withdrawn from its Principles of Social Responsibility and Human Rights agreement with Mercedes-Benz Group, after the company repeatedly violated the agreement's core commitments and refused all attempts to find a constructive way forward.
MENA youth take their seat at the table13 May, 2026Young trade unionists across the Middle East and North Africa(MENA) regions have formally established the MENA regional youth committee, marking a significant step forward in building youth leadership within the industrial trade union movement.
Give workers a vision and they will help with solutions13 May, 2026In communities where workers are calculating whether their wages will cover transport costs and food prices, abstract climate narratives fall flat. What workers respond to is a concrete vision of something better, not a warning about calamity.
Hormuz crisis exposes energy skills gap13 May, 2026The military attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that followed, have sent energy prices surging and triggered fuel shortages, rationing and inflationary pressure across the global economy. Governments are now making some of the most consequential energy decisions in decades, fast and without workers.
Deregulation drive weakens worker protections across South Asia12 May, 2026Across South Asia, unions report diluted labour protections and weakened collective structures. What is presented as reform is in reality a restructuring of power away from workers.
Workers the last to know: KONE’s mega-deal with TK Elevator11 May, 2026On 29 April 2026 KONE Corporation and TKE announced that KONE and a consortium led by Advent and Cinven have entered into an agreement to combine KONE and TKE in a cash and share transaction, implying a total enterprise value for TKE of EUR 29.4 billion (US$34.6 billion). This deal was made without prior consultation of unions and workers’ representatives, denying them their legal consultation rights.
African trade unions seek a seat at the climate table7 May, 2026At a meeting in Accra on 4 and 5 May, the African group of negotiators (AGN), the bloc that coordinates climate negotiating positions on behalf of 54 African countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), agreed on a workplan to establish a labour liaison mechanism ahead of the 31st conference of the parties (COP 31).
Deaths in certified shipbreaking yards expose enforcement failures7 May, 2026Two recent incidents in Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry have exposed serious safety failures. Both yards claim compliance with the Hong Kong International Convention (HKC), yet workers continue to face life-threatening risks
Asia Pacific unions tackle low wages in the garment sector7 May, 2026Asia Pacific is the engine of global garment and textile production and home to some of its most exploited workers. The region accounts for around 60 per cent of global exports of garments, textiles and footwear and employs more than 40 million workers. Yet for the workers stitching the clothes that fill the shelves of global brands, wages have remained structurally low.
