Press Release – South Asian trade unions assert their rights
In Chittagong, Bangladesh, on the International Labour Day of 1 May, the Platform member organisation YPSA brought together shipbreaking workers for a demonstration to claim their right for a healthy and safe workplace.
OSHE, another Platform member, and YPSA also organised demonstrations on the World Day for Health at Work, on 28 April. Concerns related to especially the vulnerability of young workers in hazardous occupations such as shipbreaking were raised, and the call for safe working conditions was joined by prominent trade union representatives.
These events have taken place at a time when the shipbreaking industry has seen a high number of accidents occurring in the yards in the first quarter of this year, with already 10 workers who have lost their lives.
In Pakistan, the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), member of IndustriAll, has been officially recognised as a trade union in the re-rolling mills. The mills in Gadani receive the scrap metal that originates from, amongst other, the shipbreaking activities and employ about 15,000 workers. Whilst NTUF has faced difficulties in being recognised as a trade union at the shipbreaking yards in Gadani, its acceptance as a collective bargaining association at the re-rolling mills will greatly benefit the workers who do not have a written contract and work in precarious conditions.
“Official recognition of the re-rolling mill workers’ union is an important achievement and will pave the way for the union being able to improve working conditions, health and safety, social security and wages”, said Nasir Mansoor from NTUF.


Related news

Platform News – The new lobbyist of beaching, Maersk, ignores concerns of environmental and human rights experts
When Maersk decided earlier this year to sell two end-of-life ships to beaching yards in Alang, India, a broad coalition of European environmental and human rights NGOs… Read More

Press Release – Ship recycling in Aliağa under the spotlight
Our new report Ship Recycling in Turkey provides a comprehensive analysis of the current challenges faced by the ship recycling sector in Aliağa and also underscores the immense potential for driving forward sustainable practices.
... Read More
The Toxic Tide – 2024 Shipbreaking Records
2024 shipbreaking records: most shipping companies continue to opt for the highest price at the worst scrapping yards.
... Read More
Press Release – Investigations on the Harrier tighten as it reaches Turkey for recycling
Norwegian press DN revealed this summer that Aqualis Offshore and insurance company Skuld Maritime Agency are under investigation for their involvement in the attempt to illegally export… Read More

Press Release – Brazilian government asked to stop dumping toxic ships on South Asian beaches
The Brazilian CONTTMAF trade union federation and its member SINDMAR [1] have recently criticized the shipbreaking practices of Transpetro, the oil and gas transportation subsidiary of… Read More

Press Release – Container shipping asked to clean up its act in view of upcoming scrapping wave
Numerous container ships are predicted to be sold for scrapping in the near future.
... Read More