Ban Asbestos Across Southeast Asia

ASBESTOS.
NOT HERE.
NOT ANYWHERE.

Australians know asbestos kills.

But in many countries, corporations place the health and safety of workers and communities in danger by mining, manufacturing, and using asbestos. Every day, thousands of people are still exposed to deadly asbestos. While some people profit, other people die.

But we are building a movement of people in Australia to join with unionists and campaigners across South East Asia to support their struggle to ban asbestos and eliminate asbestos-related diseases.

We want to secure an asbestos-free future because as long as asbestos is being used anywhere, it remains a risk everywhere.

Breakthrough Campaigns

CAMBODIA

Cambodia commits to banning asbestos in 2025.

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INDONESIA

Big win in the Indonesian supreme court.

read the story

LAOS & VIETNAM

Asbestos disease diagnosis in Laos and Vietnam.

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ASIA PACIFIC

Blow to asbestos in Asia Pacific countries.

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Take Action

Join Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA

Contribute to our efforts to eradicate asbestos.

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Show Your Solidarity

Be one of the thousands we need to win.

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Show Your Solidarity

Educate your workmates.

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The Impact of Your Solidarity

When we asked lab technician Moniroth about her role in helping secure an asbestos-free future for Cambodia, she told us she’s proud to be able to warn people about the dangers of products that contain asbestos.

By joining the campaign, you can help people like Moniroth protect workers from the dangers of asbestos.

Join us

News From the Field

Big Win: Jakarta Court Throws Out Asbestos Industry Intimidation Attempt in Indonesia but Battle May Continue

February 19, 2025
Asbestos manufacturers in Indonesia sued asbestos-ban campaigners for massive damages simply because they wanted workers to know the deadly consequences of asbestos. However, the court ruled against them.
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LFTU and APHEDA launching Laos National Asbestos Profile

Lao workers set to stop asbestos exposure: Launch of the Lao National Asbestos Profile

February 7, 2025
The Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) has launched the Lao National Asbestos Profile, a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to address asbestos exposure and related health risks. The development of this comprehensive profile began in July 2023 in collaboration with Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA.
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ADB bans asbestos products from future projects Asian governments urged to follow

December 13, 2024
From January 2026, none of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) projects will be permitted to use asbestos-containing materials of any kind. This landmark decision follows a robust four-year campaign, led by trade unions in the region, including the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), with the support of Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA.
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Corporate Bullies: Asbestos manufacturers sue ban asbestos campaigners

September 30, 2024
Following a historic win in the Indonesian Supreme Court earlier this year by the Indonesian ban asbestos network, which resulted in a court order for all asbestos materials to display health warning labelling, asbestos roof sheet manufacturers in Indonesia are suing all those who brought the case to the Supreme Court for damages.
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People's Forum: ASEAN Unionists and civil society unite in Timor-Leste

September 30, 2024
Unionists and civil society groups across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came together last week in a powerful movement for democracy, human rights, freedom, justice, and climate action.
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Campaign Evaluation: Asbestos. Not here. Not anywhere.

September 27, 2024
The Asbestos. Not Here. Not Anywhere. campaign is a priority campaign of Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA. The goal of the campaign for 2020-2024 is to contribute to banning asbestos in South-East Asia and reduce further ARDs with a primary focus on Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Vietnam. The campaign has made significant progress since the mid-term evaluation was undertaken despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Cambodia: Building union asks Labour Ministry to act on asbestos

September 17, 2024
Union representatives from the Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC) have appealed to the Ministry of Labour to introduce regulations to restrict and prevent the use of asbestos in construction to protect worker’s health.
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Migrant workers: The fight against asbestos exposure

August 29, 2024
Migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to asbestos exposure due to their socio-economic conditions. They often work in high-risk sectors, such as construction and demolition, under unsafe conditions that others might avoid. Known as the "3Ds"—Dirty, Dangerous, and Demanding—these jobs often come with lower pay, longer hours, and complex, risky tasks.
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Pacific countries working towards a full asbestos ban

August 14, 2024
Pacific Island countries are taking action to safely remove degrading asbestos from buildings as part of their efforts to ban the importation of asbestos-containing materials (ACM). In 2017, 14 Pacific countries agreed to cooperate and work towards a full ban on asbestos.
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Laos trade unions take action against asbestos hazards

June 27, 2024
In Australia, we are aware of the suffering many workers have endured, which is why we've joined forces with our brothers and sisters in Laos and Vietnam to improve diagnostic capacity.
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Big boost to asbestos disease diagnosis in Laos and Vietnam

June 27, 2024
In Australia, we are aware of the suffering many workers have endured, which is why we've joined forces with our brothers and sisters in Laos and Vietnam to improve diagnostic capacity.
Read More

New asbestos ban: Jakarta Health Office prohibits the killer dust for resident safety

May 29, 2024
A significant victory for our Ban Asbestos campaign has been achieved in Indonesia again. The Jakarta Health Office has declared a ban on asbestos in homes, citing its severe health risks to residents.
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View all Asbestos Posts

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