40 000 power loom workers in Pakistan strike for better wages11 August, 2022Over 40,000 power loom workers in Faisalabad responded to a call for a strike to demand social security cover and an increase in wages. The workers, who have been on strike since 1 August, have also been demonstrating on the streets of Faisalabad where over one million workers are employed in power looms.
Sri Lankan unions launch campaign for minimum wage rise1 March, 2022Twelve unions across Sri Lanka have launched a joint campaign to demand a rise of 10,000 rupees (US $49) in the monthly minimum wage of private sector employees, and to oppose the government’s decision to exclude private sector employees from a scheme that grants a monthly allowance of 5,000 rupees (US $25) to public sector employees and pensioners.
Worker killed at Kabir Steel shipbreaking yard11 February, 2022On 31 January, a worker was killed in an accident at Kabir Steel shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda municipality, Chittagong, Bangladesh, while working at night – despite a court order prohibiting the practice.
Sustained campaign by carpet workers in Pakistan yields wage rise4 February, 2022After a sustained campaign by Ittehad Labour Union Carpet Industries Pakistan (ILUCIP) and workers in the carpet industry, the Punjab Government in Pakistan announced a wage increase of 2,500 PKR (US $14.21) for industrial workers in June 2021. When employers failed to comply, workers took action.
Serious concerns remain about health and safety in India28 January, 2022In 2021, the Indian manufacturing industry was beset with accidents, with an average of seven accidents reported per month, killing over 162 workers and leaving others disabled for life or badly injured. A number of accidents in the first few weeks of the new year shows that this trend is likely to continue.
Two workers killed in one week at Holcim plants in India22 October, 2021In the space of one week, two fatalities occurred at two separate ACC cement plants in India. The circumstances surrounding the accidents has not been made clear to unions. ACC is owned by Holcim.
Indian unions protest privatization of Visakhapatnam steel plant4 August, 2021On 2 August, with the Indian parliament in session, national trade union leaders joined hundreds of workers in the “Chalo Parliament” (“Let’s go to parliament)” protest in Delhi against the privatization of the Visakhapatnam steel plant in Andhra Pradesh.
Bangladesh garment workers suffer as factories reopen during Covid-19 lockdown3 August, 2021On 1 August, Bangladeshi garment export factories resumed operations with just two days’ notice, despite the strict lockdown imposed across the country.
General Motors India illegally retrench 1,086 workers28 July, 2021General Motors, at its Talegaon plant near Pune, India, retrenched all 1,086 unionized workers on 12 July, after they did not accept the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) offered by the company. General Motors is in the process selling its Pune plant to Great Wall Motors, a Chinese company.
Indian auto workers face growing precarity and industrial relations crisis27 July, 2021In an online meeting held on 23 July, IndustriALL Global Union auto affiliates expressed concern that the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated attacks on workers’ rights, undermining social dialogue and union rights. They called for joint action to strengthen union power.
