After a petition to the Prime Minister, marches and demonstrations by thousands of workers to the ministry of labour and to parliament, the Government of Lesotho finally agreed to a minimum wage of LSL2,000 (US$138) for factory workers.

On 12 August 2018, two days before Pakistan’s Independence Day, a total of 19 including 13 coal miners and six rescue workers died in a horrific accident at Sanjidi coalmine near Quetta in Baluchistan province.

While workers were repairing amoniac and tar containing boiler, an explosion happened on 3 August 2018 at the coke producing company GIKIL (Global Ispat Koksna Industrija d.o.o.) in the city of Lukavac with a result seven workers were seriously wounded. GIKIL is a partnership between Global Steel Holdings (GSHL) and Coke and Chemical Conglomerate (KHK) owned by the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

IndustriALL Bangladesh Council hold a human chain protest on 11 August 2018 calling for the increase of monthly minimum wages of readymade garment workers from current 5,300 BDT (US$62) to 16,000 BDT (US$188).

Tunisian trade unions representing the private sector, under the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), accused employers’ organization, the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) of not taking its demands seriously relating to an agreement on the increase in wages in the private sector concluded on 10 March 2018.

IndustriALL Global Union today visited the picket line of a MM Süperpak Ambalaj factory in Izmir, Turkey, where workers are on their 52nd day of strike action. Management shows bad faith by refusing to meet while pressurizing union members in Gaziantep to quit the union.

Since May collective bargaining between management of the TenarisSilcotub steel factory in Zalău, Romania producing pipelines and its workers has not reached any progress.

Oil and gas workers employed by multinational, Sasol, with operations in Canada, USA and South Africa, are demanding better wages and working conditions.

34 young trade union activists from IndustriALL Indian affiliates gathered in Nagpur on 8-9 August to discuss challenges faced by young workers at workplaces and called for renewed efforts to recruit more youth in to trade union movement.

With the Zimbabwe National Army’s killing of six people, including workers and street traders, in post-election violence Zimbabwean unions are doubtful of the prospects for a democratic transition.

On 6 August, on the 84th day of a picket outside the gates of the factory of Flormar, the Turkish subsidiary of French-based cosmetic giant Yves Rocher, security forces intervened in an attempt to end the resistance of 132 dismissed workers.

IndustriALL Global Union opens a new period in supporting its Iranian affiliate the Union of Metalworkers and Mechanics of Iran (UMMI) through a leadership capacity building session in Sapanca, Turkey, on 6-8 August, to develop a plan for further cooperation and solidarity. IndustriALL’s Turkish metal affiliate United Metalworkers’ Union (Birleşik Metal-İş) provides essential input.

300 workers in Uruguay employed by Canadian mining company Orosur risk losing their jobs if the country’s only gold extraction and processing company closes down its operations.

IndustriALL Global Union has signed a global framework agreement with multinational fashion brand, Esprit, committing to respect, protect and champion the human rights of workers in its supply chain.

Norwegian elevator constructors’ union who went on strike when their employer Orona, a multinational lift producing and maintenance company based in Spain, refused to negotiate a collective agreement, has won an important victory.

Turkey's Constitutional Court has ruled that the cabinet decree banning IndustriALL’s affiliate United Metalworkers’ Union (Birleşik Metal-İş) decision to strike in 2015 is a clear violation of the trade union rights enshrined in the country's constitution. The Court also ruled the Turkish government to pay compensation to Birleşik Metal-İş.

IndustriALL is implementing the project Organizing workers in the RMG sector in Bangladesh with support from FNV Mondiaal. IndustriALL is looking to hire a coordinator for the project who will primarily report to the IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary and will work closely with IndustriALL s TGSL director and programme officer.

IndustriALL is implementing the project Advancing social justice and workers' rights in the export processing zones and industrial areas in Sri Lanka with support from our Canadian affiliate UNIFOR. IndustriALL is looking to hire a coordinator for the project who will primarily report to the IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary and will work closely with IndustriALL's directors and project officer. The project is set to run from September 2018 until December 2020.

IndustriALL South Asia Office organized consecutive workshops for auto sector workers on 28-29 July, and for garment workers on 26-27 July in Chennai, focusing on strengthening union power.

Colombia is another of the resource-rich, conflict-ridden countries favoured by Glencore. The company is well known in the country for its violations of the environment and workers rights, including health and safety and the freedom of association.