The BWI Africa and Middle East Region convened its annual Network on Organising in Chinese Multinational Companies (MNCs) workshop from 13 to 15 May 2026, in Dar es Salaam, with support from FES TUCC and FES Tanzania. The workshop brought together around 30 participants, including 10 women, from 18 affiliates across 15 countries. Discussions focused on strategies for holding Chinese MNCs accountable across the value chain through stronger organising, enforcement of safeguard standards, and improved occupational health and safety (OHS) inspections. Participants shared experiences in monitoring labour conditions in sectors linked to Chinese investment, strengthening workers’ rights protections, and utilising due diligence and safeguard mechanisms to address labour violations. The meeting also underscored the importance of building alliances among trade unions, civil society organisations, and international networks to advance decent work, safe workplaces, and corporate accountability throughout global supply chains.
The intensive deliberations on strengthening trade union resilience through International Finan

cial Institution (IFI) frameworks, alongside Business and Human Rights standards applied to projects implemented by Chinese multinational corporations, were both timely and critical for the industry. The network proved highly impactful, providing deep structural insights into the operational dynamics of multinational capital and equipping participants with strategic tools to defend workers’ rights. The robust thematic sessions significantly enhanced the collective capacity of BWI affiliates to demand compliance with decent work agendas, environmental and financial safeguards, and occupational health and safety standards across major infrastructure projects.

Given the depth of knowledge shared and the urgency of the challenges identified, participants agreed that BWI affiliates should move swiftly to adopt these frameworks. To support this effort, the affiliates agreed to establish a Depository Portal for information sharing, systematic follow-up, and active monitoring of infrastructure projects to ensure that multinational investments translate into fair labour practices, transparency, and sustainable community development. The network also appointed Comfort Agambaa, General Secretary of GCQMWU-Ghana, as Regional Chairperson of the network.

“Chinese multinational corporations have clearly come to stay, especially through the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) across the globe. This reality calls on trade unions and workers’ organisations to buckle up, build stronger solidarity, strengthen organising capacity, and proactively engage Chinese companies to protect and advance workers’ rights and interests,” BWI Global BRI Chairperson Ibrahim Walama said.