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 – NGO Shipbreaking Platform presents Impact Report 2018/2019
These past two years the Platform has won support for sustainable ship recycling in the financial sector while raising the stakes for ship owners who opt for… Read More
Platform News – Platform’s member BELA awarded the 2020 Tang Prize
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association has been awarded the prestigious 2020 Tang Prize in Rule of Law.
... Read MorePlatform News – NGO Shipbreaking Platform awarded grant by Royal Academy of Engineering and Lloyd’s Register Foundation
Engineering X has awarded nearly £1 million in grants to projects aimed at tackling challenges of decommissioning ships and offshore structures.
... Read MorePlatform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #35
Four workers suffered an accident on South Asian beaches in the third quarter of 2023.
... Read MorePress Release – Bangladesh: ship explosion exposes regulatory failures
Deadly accident in a yard with Hong Kong Convention certification claims six lives.
... Read MorePlatform News – Maersk maintains beaching mantra and chooses to ignore facts revealed by Danwatch
After investigative journalists have revealed the severe short-comings of Maersk’s shipbreaking practices in Alang, India, the shipping giant blatantly disregards the findings. In an official statement, Maersk… Read More
Press Release – Appeal Court confirms prison sentence for Norwegian ship owner
According to the Appeal Court, having sold the vessel to a middle man and not directly to a beaching yard does not provide for exempting the ship owner from being held liable for having committed an environmental crime.
... Read More