In Kuala Lumpur, 10 unions and health advocates from across the Asia-Pacific region came together for the 3rd ITUC-AP Asbestos Conference, co-convened by Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA, ACTU, and BWI. Participants planned a new round of trade union actions for 2026, building on recent progress to push governments to transition away from asbestos, raise public awareness, and protect workers from a substance that kills more than 210,000 people every year. The meeting also strongly condemned the asbestos industry’s misinformation campaigns and its attempts to intimidate Indonesian consumer groups and health advocates through defamation cases.
A major win from years of organising: A key outcome of the campaign so far is the creation of a new regional union network—a powerful alliance that will coordinate action across countries, strengthen organising efforts, and help drive the region toward a future free from asbestos.
Time for a full ban on asbestos imports and use across the region.