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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.