BWI affiliate CMWEU marked Workers’ Memorial Day with a panel discussion involving government ministries, health and safety stakeholders and federation sisters unions CTSO focusing on occupational health and safety standards and the impact of weak enforcement. The union also joined a street demonstration in Rosehill demanding safety improvements, inclusion of migrant workers and addressing climate change impacts on the workplace. Roughly 1,000 workers were involved across both activities.
BWI affiliated union ZCATWU marked Workers’ Memorial Day through awareness meetings in Masvingo and Harare focused on heat stress and the need for climate-protective clauses in collective bargaining agreements and sector policies. Workers were also encouraged to strengthen negotiations at workplace and national level.
BWI affiliate the National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) marked Workers’ Memorial Day through an awareness campaign and workplace action focused on decent work and climate-related occupational health risks, including heat stress. Workers shared experiences and recommendations, and the union also participated in a federation pre-May Day lecture. Over 300 workers were involved in 28 April activities.
In Uganda, BWI affiliate UBCCECAWU is marking Workers’ Memorial Day through workplace sensitisation at Zhongmei Engineering Company, reaching over 300 road construction workers. The union is addressing compliance with core labour standards while emphasising occupational safety and health and the risks of heat stress in demanding outdoor working conditions.
Two BWI affiliates in Ghana have reported 28 April activities.
CBMWU is holding a safety awareness session at S&L Company in Ghana, bringing together 50 participants including union representatives and company management to discuss workplace safety.
GCQMWU is also conducting an awareness activity in Ghana focused on the psychological working environment, involving 60 union representatives from various companies to raise understanding of mental wellbeing at work and related risks.
Tunisian BWI affiliate FGBB is organising a major workplace gathering bringing together around 100 workers, including 36 women, to mark Workers’ Memorial Day. The meeting will focus on the importance of both physical and mental health in the workplace, aiming to raise awareness and encourage discussion among staff about wellbeing and safer working conditions.
Three BWI affiliated unions in Kenya will be marking Workers’ Memorial Day with workplace-focused health and safety activities.
ETAWU is holding a workplace meeting and campaign aimed at strengthening workers’ representatives on occupational health and safety, with a focus on raising awareness of heat stress and wider work safety and health risks.
KBCTFIEU is conducting a workplace visit and awareness campaign at Zenith Fabricators in Isinya, meeting 50 workers and training 30 representatives who will relay information to around 580 union members and 600 workers.
UBCCECAWU is carrying out workplace awareness at Zhongmei Engineering Company, addressing compliance with core labour standards and emphasising occupational heath and safety and heat stress among over 300 road construction workers.