Palm oil has long been the subject of criticism from various quarters. Amidst of criticism, the global demand for palm oil is increasing, and palm oil plantations are also increasing in many places, in particular in Indonesia, the largest palm oil producer in the world.
This year, in the run up to International Women's Day, on March 8, 2016, AMRC is publishing a series of stories to highlight the struggles and voices of women workers from across Asia.
The Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims (ANROEV), India Ban Asbestos Network (iBAN) and Occupational and Environmental Health Network India (OEHNI) expresses its deep sadness and outrage at continuing denial of justice to the victims of gas tragedy which took place in Bhopal on 3 December 1984.For 35 years, the victims and their family members have been denied just compensation and rehabilitation.
Since China first commenced with its reform and open policy in 1979, it has undergone a gradual process of economic change, resulting in dramatic transformations domestically for the lives of Chinese people, at the same time that such changes have resulted in China having become a crucial component of the global capitalist economy. As the Chinese government pursued policies which encouraged FDI to begin to pour into China, particularly from the early 1990s, China transformed itself into the ‘world’s factory’ built largely on the exploitation of Chinese migrant labour.
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
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.
The Asian Roundtable on Social Protection (AROSP) is a network of grassroots workers’ organisations, trade unions, NGOs, and scholars in Asia that work on the issues of formal and informal workers. AROSP serves as a platform to provide mutual help, facilitate information sharing, and help organisations build their understanding on social protection. As a regional network, it aims to support and consolidate the regional struggle for social protection for the poor across various sectors in Asia.