A Labor Day and 28 April commemoration was held jointly with the Ministry of Labor, Qatar, community leaders and leaders from BWI affiliates GFBTU from Qatar, Bahrain and UAE. The event was held at Crowne Plaza, Doha.
Category Archives: 2025 Asia-Pacific
Myanmar: 28 April photo campaign, despite severe difficulties – BWFM
Under the dire situation after the earthquake and under pressure from the military junta BWI affiliate BWFM conducted a photo campaign by their members.
Bahrain: Statement by the General Union of Bahrain Workers’ Unions on the occasion of International Workers’ Memorial Day
Statement by the General Union of Bahrain Workers’ Unions on the occasion of International Workers’ Day.
This year’s International Workers’ Day looks upon us in what the General Union of Bahrain Workers’ Unions is fighting as always, one of the most important social battles that we have never fought since its founding until its date, which is the battle for Bahrain’s priority in employment and job opportunities, we believe in him the right of Bahraini citizen to occupy the available jobs, because he is the first of its kind. Managing and operating the economic process in all working and production sites. Our General Union has chosen the slogan “Bahraina Priority for Sustainable Social Justice” as the slogan of this year, which reflects its commitment as a trade union to prioritise the Bahraini worker in job opportunities and to promote the stability, justice and progress of the society. And our union sees no excuse to withdraw from this slogan, no matter how modern technology has developed and how many new styles of work, if the son of the country remains the best, and it has been practically proven that he is the best, to rise up and develop his national economy and turn his wheel to make good the quarter of the country and bless his children with his universal good.
Our General Union announced its comprehensive strategic vision in August 2020, in which it presented practical and effective solutions to address many of the issues of our contemporary society. On its head, the issue of reforming the labor market, unemployment, social security, electoral deficiencies, and the analysis of citizens in jobs with a monthly income of more than 700 dinars, which are currently employed by non-national labor. In this comprehensive overview of possible and applicable opinions and suggestions are drawn into one goal and that is Baharna Kawwya in the local labor market. The slogan “Bahraina is a priority for sustainable social justice” comes to translate this vision into its strategic dimension, where it represents a serious national call to develop labor market policies, which will elevate the status of the maritime worker and re-engineering the priorities of employment and operation on the foundations of social justice and empowerment. Putting the Bahraini worker at the heart of the national production process and enabling him to manage and operate it is not only an option but also a necessity to achieve a balance between economic growth, protection of social gains and ensure the sustainability of pension funds in order to achieve a well rooted social justice and a more orderly and stable future.
Palestine: شاهر يؤكد أهمية تعزيز شروط الصحة والسلامة المهنية في أماكن العمل
أكد شاهر سعد الأمين العام لاتحاد نقابات عمال فلسطين، على أهمية ضمان الالتزام بمعايير الصحة والسلامة المهنية في أماكن العمل، ودور الصحة والسلامة المهنية في تحسين المنتج الوطني، مع مواكبة التطورات التكنولوجية.
وقال سعد أن الاتحاد وعبر دائرة السلامة والصحة المهنية اطلقت حملة ” صحتك بتهمنا ” من اجل زيادة وعي ومعرفة العمال بإرشادات وإجراءات السلامة والحصة المهنية الواجب اتباعها داخل مواقع العمل والتي تساهم في الحفاظ على صحتهم وسلامتهم.
وطالب سعد بتفعيل قانون رقم (3) لسنة 2019 بشأن لجان ومشرفي السلامة والصحة المهنية في المنشئات، منوها الى ان الاتحاد أهل 25 مشرف صحة وسلامة من اجل زيارات لاماكن العمل من اجل الحد من المخاطر.
ونوه الى أن الاتحاد يستعد لتوزيع الاف النشرات للصحة المهنية إضافة الى لوحات ارشادية ثابتة في مواقع العمل من اجل تذكير العمال وتوعيتهم.
وقال ان المخاطر الجمة التي نشعر بها حاليا مرتبطة أولا بالمخاطر التي يتعرض لها عمال الضفة الذين يخاطرون بحياتهم من اجل لقمة العيش، وتعرض الكثير منهم للموت او الإصابة اثناء محاولتهم اجتياز الفتحات والجدران الفاصلة، وملاحقة قوات الاحتلال لهم.
وطالب وزارة العمل تشكيل اللجنة الوطنية للسلامة والصحة المهنية من اجل ان يكون هناك متابعة حثيثة لأي مخاطر في بيئة العمل.
وشدد سعد على أهمية تعزيز التوعية بمعايير الصحة والسلامة المهنية والشراكة بين أطراف الإنتاج، خصوصا في موضوع الصحة والسلامة المهنية، لما يسهم من تعزيز المنتج الوطني الفلسطيني، معتبرا أن الصحة والسلامة المهنية من أهم شروط ومعايير العمل اللائق.
ونوه سعد الى ان الاتحاد العام ينشط دوما في تنفيذ ورش عمل، والمشاركة مع اطراف الإنتاج في الزيارات الميدانية إلى مواقع العمل، من أجل الاطلاع على واقع السلامة والصحة المهنية والبيئة الآمنة للعمال ضمن الشراكة الحاضرة بين أطراف الإنتاج، وتعزيز الحوار الاجتماعي واللقاءات الدائمة الهادفة إلى توحيد الجهود من أجل سلامة العمال.
ودعا الأمين العام لاتحاد نقابات عمال فلسطين أصحاب العمل الى توفير معايير السلامة اللازمة لحماية العمال، ونشر ثقافة السلامة المهنية في بيئة العمل. مشدد على أهمية الاهتمام متابعة شروط الصحة والسلامة المهنية في المنشآت والتأكد من مدى تطبيقها على مدار العام، حتى نصل إلى بيئة عمل آمنة وصحية
Shaher Saad stresses the importance of enhancing occupational health and safety conditions in the workplace
Shaher Saad, Secretary-General of the Palestine Trade Union Confederation, stressed the importance of ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety standards in the workplace, and the role of occupational health and safety in improving the national product, while keeping pace with technological developments.
Saad said that the union and through the Occupational Safety and Health Department launched the ” campaign on your charges ” in order to increase the awareness and knowledge of workers of safety guidelines and procedures and the professional share to be followed within the work sites that contribute to preserving their health and safety.
Saad called for the activation of Law No. (3) for the year 2019 regarding committees and supervisors of occupational safety and health in establishments, noting that the union is the people of 25 health and safety supervisors for visits to workplaces in order to reduce risks.
He noted that the Federation is preparing to distribute thousands of bulletins for occupational health in addition to fixed guidance boards in the workplace in order to remind and educate workers.
He said that the great risks that we currently feel are related first to the risks faced by bank workers who risk their lives for a living, and many of them were subjected to death or injury while trying to cross the holes and separation walls, and to pursue the occupation forces.
The Ministry of Labor called for the formation of the National Committee for Occupational Safety and Health in order for there to be a vigorous follow-up of any risks in the work environment.
Saad stressed the importance of promoting awareness of occupational health and safety standards and partnership between production parties, especially in the matter of occupational health and safety, as it contributes to strengthening the Palestinian national product, considering that occupational health and safety are among the most important conditions and standards for decent work.
Saad noted that the General Union is always active in implementing workshops, and participating with production parties in field visits to work sites, in order to learn about the reality of occupational safety and health and the safe environment for workers within the present partnership between the parties to production, and to promote social dialogue and permanent meetings aimed at unifying Efforts for worker safety.
The Secretary-General of the Palestine Trade Union Confederation called on employers to provide the necessary safety standards to protect workers, and to spread a culture of occupational safety in the work environment. Stressing the importance of attention, following up the conditions of occupational health and safety in establishments and ensuring the extent of their application throughout the year, until we reach a safe and healthy work environment.
Bangladesh: Focusing on safer and fairer workplaces for Workers’ Memorial Day
On April 27th, 2025, OSHE Foundation celebrated International OSH Day and its 25th anniversary at Hotel Asia Dhaka. The event, titled “Saving Lives at Work: Reflections on International OSH Day and National Dialogue,” focused on safer, healthier, and fairer workplaces in Bangladesh. This year’s theme, “A Paradigm Shift in Safety and Health: The Role of AI and Digitalization in the Workplace,” explored the impact of emerging technologies on safety. Continue reading Bangladesh: Focusing on safer and fairer workplaces for Workers’ Memorial Day
Indonesia: Serbuk Indonesia lays bare hidden dust crisis [Video]
On the eve of International Workers’ Memorial Day #IWMD2025, Serbuk Indonesia laid bare a hidden crisis through a powerful new video: the harrowing toll of wood dust on workers’ lives. Behind every crafted piece lies a silent, deadly hazard ; one that scars lungs, steals breath, and ends dreams. Through the voices and faces of affected workers, SERBUK reminds us that health is not a privilege but a right, and that no worker should risk life and limb to earn a living. Let this be a call to action: to demand safer workplaces, stronger protections, and dignity for every worker who builds our world, one breath at a time. #StopDeadlyDust
Türkiye: Joint 28 Ppril call for safe and decent working conditions – Türkiye Yol-İş Sendikası, AĞAÇ-İŞ, CIMSE-IS and Türkiye Orman-İş Sendikası
BWI affiliates in Türkiye, Türkiye Yol-İş Sendikası, AĞAÇ-İŞ, CIMSE-IS and Türkiye Orman-İş Sendikası, held a joint meeting to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day #IWMD2025 by calling for safe and decent working conditions for all workers in line with the BWI’s action call.
Unions declared that the field of occupational health and safety in Turkey has been regulated by a separate law since 2012. What has happened since then shows that legal regulations alone have no benefit in preventing occupational accidents.
They stressed the fact that it is trade unions having a great influence on the formation of an OSH culture as workplace accidents are much lower in unionised workplaces compared to other workplaces. Unionised workers avoid unsafe behaviours in the workplace.
Therefore, the union is actually the guarantee of safety. For this reason, they call for the need of removing the obstacles to organisation is also very important in terms of preventing occupational accidents.
Jordan: GWTUC taking action against deadly dust on 28 April
From the heart of Jordan, BWI affiliate GTUCW is taking action! As part of this year’s International Workers’ Memorial Day, they are leading the fight against deadly dust, running the campaign across multiple workplaces to demand safer, healthier conditions for all workers. No more toxic air! Our lives depend on it! #IWMD2025 #StopDeadlyDust
Philippines: Photos from EEI Grand Middori Project commemoration
World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025 – EEI Grand Middori Project
Asia: On 28 April AMRC demands “Real change. Justice must not end with remembrance”
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤
Today, 𝟐𝟖 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥, we remember the countless workers who have lost their lives, health, and dignity due to unsafe and unfair working conditions, which come with occupational risks, injuries, and diseases.
From the 1993 Zhili factory fire in Shenzhen and Kader factory fire in Thailand, the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, to the ongoing struggles of the 2020 LG Vizag gas leak in India, the 2023 Morowali Park explosion in Indonesia, and asbestos victims across Asia, these tragedies remind us of the heavy cost of neglect, corporate greed, and the lack of government accountability.
We honor the voices of victims and survivors. We must listen to them, stand with them, and demand real change. Justice must not end with remembrance; it must drive action for safer workplaces and stronger protection for all workers.
𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠.