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.
Acciona Group marked Workers’ Memorial Day across Spain, the Philippines, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Panama, Peru, the Netherlands and Mexico through a coordinated global safety initiative linked to BWI campaigns. Activities included minutes of silence, workplace training, awareness sessions and safety campaigns focused on occupational health, psychosocial risks, mental health and heat stress. The company also developed materials supporting the “Too Hot To Work” campaign, reinforcing prevention measures and safety culture across projects and construction sites in multiple countries.
In Mexico, BWI affiliate CIT marked Workers’ Memorial Day through a social media campaign supporting BWI’s action on heat stress. The initiative highlighted the dangers extreme temperatures pose to workers and promoted awareness of the need for stronger occupational health and safety protections.
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In Brazil, BWI affiliated unions including SINTRACOM Londrina, SINTRIVEL, Químicos Unificados, SINTEPAV-BA and others marked Workers’ Memorial Day through remembrance events, workplace training, demonstrations and safety campaigns involving around 1,000 participants. Activities highlighted the importance of occupational health and safety, workers’ rights and prevention of workplace accidents. A major protest at the Amanco plant denounced unsafe conditions following a serious injury in which a subcontracted worker lost his hand. Unions also carried out extensive worksite visits and awareness activities linked to the “Green April” campaign for safer workplaces.
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In Panama, BWI affiliate SUNTRACS marked Workers’ Memorial Day with a nationwide programme of workplace assemblies, training sessions, videos and social media campaigns involving over 2,000 participants. Activities commemorated workers killed in past accidents while promoting occupational health and safety, mental health and stronger prevention measures. The union carried out on-site talks and risk prevention training across multiple projects, highlighting workers’ rights secured through collective bargaining and reaffirming its long-standing campaign for safer working conditions and reduced workplace deaths.
BWI affiliate UOCRA marked Workers’ Memorial Day with training, videos, workplace assessments and social media safety campaigns. Activities addressed heat stress prevention, psychosocial risks including stress and harassment, and safety measures for high-risk construction work such as working at height. The union also carried out workplace risk assessments and practical safety training, emphasising prevention, worker participation and the recognition of health and safety as a fundamental right.
In Peru, BWI affiliate, FTCCP marked Workers’ Memorial Day with a broad campaign of seminars, training sessions, videos and social media outreach focused on occupational safety and health in construction. Activities included the certification of the first 50 workplace safety promoters under the “I build health and safety” programme, alongside virtual training on risk assessment and fall prevention. Working with government bodies and industry organisations, the union emphasised prevention, worker education and stronger safety standards to reduce fatal and disabling workplace accidents.
In the Dominican Republic, BWI affiliates including FENTICOMMC, AMACOA, FUNTRACON and FETRACOM marked Workers’ Memorial Day through training, awareness activities and a candlelight ceremony honouring victims of occupational accidents and diseases. Events in San Francisco de Macorís and Santo Domingo focused on workplace risks, legal protections and prevention measures, with particular attention to heat stress and hazardous materials. The activities concluded with a candlelight ceremony attended by more than 300 construction workers.
