Geneva, 22 October 2025 – The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) is marking its 20th Anniversary with a renewed commitment to global solidarity, accountability, and the protection of workers across borders. Two decades after its founding, BWI continues to expand its reach and alliances to ensure that labour rights keep pace with globalised supply chains and mega-sporting events’ infrastructure.

To commemorate this milestone, BWI brought together union leaders, international organisations, and leading multinational companies in a Global Multinationals’ Conference on Workers’ Rights in Supply Chains, reaffirming the commitment of global industries to deliver decent work and remedy for all. The conference highlighted progress achieved through International Framework Agreements and set out new pathways for cooperation between trade unions and multinational companies on inspections, due diligence, and responsible procurement.

Marking two decades of global campaigns for workers’ rights around the world, BWI formally joins the Sports and Rights Alliance (SRA), a coalition of human rights and labour organisations advocating for upholding human rights in the governance of global sport. This step consolidates BWI’s long-standing engagement in mega-sporting events and amplifies its voice in ensuring that human rights commitments translate into real improvements for workers.

On the occasion of its 20th Anniversary, BWI marked a defining moment in its global campaign for decent work and safety standards by signing a groundbreaking Collaboration Agreement with FIFA.

The agreement establishes a structured process for joint labour inspections, worker training, and corrective action across all FIFA tournaments. With upcoming tournaments in North America (2026), Brazil (2027), Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay (2030), and Saudi Arabia (2034), the new framework will help ensure that labour rights and remedy for construction workers building the sport infrastructure remain central to global football’s operations.

“This agreement provides a clear process not only to monitor and prevent, but also to remedy potential abuses, ensuring that commitments to human rights translate into concrete improvements for workers,” said Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary.

From construction sites to forest communities and global sporting events, BWI’s 20th anniversary marks not only a celebration of past victories but also a renewed pledge: to globalise workers’ rights across supply chains and industries, wherever work is done and whoever the employer may be.