On 20 April 2026, the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland (SASK) officially launched its new four-year programme cycle in Zambia, marking 40 years of international labour solidarity. The event brought together leaders from BWI, the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), ITUC-Africa, the Embassy of Finland, and other partners to chart a shared path toward social justice, workers’ rights, dignity, and inclusive growth through 2029 and beyond. Backed by a €10 million commitment from the Finnish government, the programme will support 26 projects across 14 countries and four regions, with initiatives focused on accessibility and digital training, support for workers with disabilities, leadership development, and stronger negotiation and advocacy capacities in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth.

Opening the proceedings, ZCTU’s Kakunta Kabika stressed that human rights are fundamentally workers’ rights and underscored the need for safe, peaceful, and discrimination-free workplaces. To ground these principles in reality, the launch included a joint site inspection at a nearby infrastructure project where China Jiangxi Corporation is constructing a school for people with disabilities. The delegation, composed of representatives from BWI, SASK, and the National Union of Building, Engineering, and General Workers (NUBEGW), alongside project management, observed both the opportunities and urgent gaps facing workers on the ground.

The walk-about revealed serious workplace concerns that run contrary to the goals of SASK and BWI. The site suffered from poor housekeeping and inadequate occupational health and safety measures, including the absence of clean water and insufficient protective equipment for local workers, while only Chinese managers wore modified hard hats suited for outdoor work. The inspection also exposed the lack of women in construction roles, with only two women on-site confined to kitchen duties due to entrenched gender stereotypes. At the same time, wages remained at the bare minimum, leaving many day labourers vulnerable. In response, NUBEGW committed to formally engage the multinational corporation to push for immediate corrective action.

Following the inspection, NUBEGW, BWI, and SASK reflected on the gains of the past four years of partnership and the need to ensure tangible improvements in workers’ lives throughout the new project cycle. With the support of 700 SASK Ambassadors worldwide, the programme aims to remain resilient, impact-driven, and responsive to changing political and economic conditions. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to help transform unions like NUBEGW into modern, inclusive, and dynamic organisations that genuinely reflect and protect the diversity of today’s global workforce. Congratulations to SASK on the launch of its new program, and BWI looks forward to a fruitful collaboration ahead.