More than 200 women from trade unions in 60 countries met in Geneva, Switzerland, on 18 and 19 November for IndustriALL Global Union’s World Women’s Conference and called for a transformative agenda to achieve gender equality in unions and at work.

This week, IndustriALL's World Women Conference brought together more than 200 women from around the world to discuss how their unions should operate to ensure women’s equal representation, participation and leadership. In addition, thousands were able to follow the conference on social media.

On a continent with high unemployment, where most of the working-age population of 705 million people work in the informal sector, do claims that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement will create decent jobs stand up to scrutiny?

Textile, clothing, leather and footwear industries employ more than 600,000 people in eight South-East European countries, with the proximity to major European markets providing growth opportunities. But with salaries as low as €200-400 per month in some countries, union leaders are reporting that it is difficult to attract young workers.

The theme for the Africa Industrialization Week 2019 is: Positioning African Industry to supply the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). And unions are calling for the agreement to include workers’ rights and decent work.

By signing the ACT MoU with IndustriALL Global Union in November 2019, Lidl became the first German discounter to commit to ensuring living wages in its garment and footwear supply chain through freedom of association, collective bargaining and responsible purchasing practices.

IndustriALL’s African affiliates are raising their voices for Africa Industrialization Week, 18-22 November, demanding industrialization for economic development and decent work.

IndustriALL affiliate Automobile and Farm Machinery Workers' Union of Russia (AFW) claims that US sanctions are negatively affecting the Russian automotive industry and threatens around 400,000 jobs.

Following a few months of determined and courageous strikes, protest actions and negotiations, on 14 November, Ukrainian miners from state-owned coal mines received their unpaid wages fully from June to September and partially for October. By the end of October, the total wage arrears to the miners of state-owned coal mines amounted UAH 1,172 million (US $47 million) and dated back to June to October.

2019 is coming to an end, but IndustriALL continues to fight for an economic and social model that puts people first. Together with our affiliated unions we challenge the power of multinational companies, while globally, anti-union behaviour by governments and employers becomes more prevalent.

IndustriALL Global Union affiliates around the globe took action on 7 October, the World Day for Decent Work. As well as calling for an end to precarious work, unions demanded better working conditions, maternity rights, mine safety, youth rights and climate justice.

After eight months of negotiations, factories producing for ACT brands in Myanmar have agreed on a Myanmar Freedom of Association (FoA) Guideline with IndustriALL affiliate Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM).

Building union power through organizing is a key priority for IndustriALL Global Union. Organizing helps to achieve our key goals, including a living wage, limits on precarious work, respect for human and trade union rights, healthier and safer workplaces, and more equitable societies.

In June, the International Labour Conference voted overwhelmingly to adopt a new Convention and Recommendation to end violence and harassment in the world of work. The new Convention No. 190 represents an extraordinary opportunity for unions to move their fight against gender-based violence forward.

Since January this year, workers trying to organize at PEPMACO in the Philippines, are met by union busting and violence. IndustriALL unions in the country are condemning the behaviour and calling on company management and the Philippine government to respect fundamental workers’ rights.

The mining industry accounts for more than half of Mongolia’s gross domestic product (GDP). And yet, health and safety in country’s the mines is poor.

Delegates from all over the world gathered near Frankfurt, Germany on 7 and 8 November 2019 to address issues at multinational building materials group HeidelbergCement over workers’ rights, health and safety and ongoing digitalization, and to develop a workers’ response.

After a six-day strike by workers of the Tbilisi hydroelectric power plant, the Georgian Trade Union of Energy Workers, an IndustriALL affiliate, reached an agreement with the employer to increase wages and start collective bargaining.

Renewing the global framework agreement which dates back to 2007, IndustriALL and Inditex, one of the world’s largest clothing retailers, have agreed to set up a global union committee, with the aim of sharing best practices across the industry.

IndustriALL Global Union categorically condemns the coup that forced out Bolivia's legitimately elected president, Evo Morales, on 10 November 2019.