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The Asian Roundtable for Social Protection (AROSP) Network Newsletter June 2017 is out!

Get updates about Social Protection realities from China, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

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Global call for action to scientists, doctors, researchers and groups affected by asbestos

An influential group of scientists and researchers today launched a global campaign to counter the misinformation from the asbestos industry, particularly in Asia, about the cancer causing product. 

At least 47 workers were killed and many more were severely injured, when a fireworks factory exploded in Tangerang district, Indonesia on Thursday, October 26. Located in one of biggest industrial area in Indonesia, the PT Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses (PBCS) factory is now being suspected by the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower of not having appropriate work safety procedures. The allegation came after it was discovered that the factory gate was always locked and this trapped many workers inside the factory when the accident occurred.

This manual reflects the result of several trainings, workshops, and conversations in the past three years of grassroots organisers in Asia with whom Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) have worked together to learn how the grassroots workers understand the concept of social protection and evaluate the social protection programmes in their countries. More importantly, the participatory processes that served as the foundation of this manual helped in the formulation of a grassroots perspective on social protection as well as the grassroots workers’ social protection demands.

This book provides an insight into how we see the global trajectories of capitalism from a labour perspective in the specific context and setting in Asia. It represents an ongoing effort by labour activists to challenge capital in their particular context. The book discusses a unique perspective on efforts towards the changes of labour relations, with concrete examples of the implementation of different workers’ organizing strategies and initiatives.

Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC), Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims (ANROEV), GoodElectronics Network (GE), International Campaign for Responsible Technology (ICRT), IPEN

Date: 16 June, 2017

Asia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Partly, the rapid economic growth is due to the rise of Factory Asia as manufacturing as well as the deepening of agricultural and extractive transnational corporations'  (TNCs) operations in the region. Investments by TNCs are welcomed by the Asian governments, which have been adopting neoliberal economic policies more than ever.

The Occupational and Environmental Health Network of India (OEHNI) published the National Asbestos Profile of India on April 28, 2017 - International Workers Memorial Day. The hazards of Asbestos are well known. 55 countries have banned its use, trade, import, mining, manufacturing and other economic activities related to asbestos. Nepal banned asbestos in 2014 while Sri Lanka has declared to ban import of asbestos roof sheets from 2018. The Government of Sri Lanka plans to cease use of all asbestos products by 2024.