On 30 May 2017, the BWI affiliate in Kyrgyzstan the Construction and Building Materials Industry Workers' Union organized a manifestation under the slogan "Everyone Has a Right to Decent Work and Safety". 100 union members and students of vocational schools marched on the street of Bishkek to attract attention of state authorities, employers and society to the problem of high accident rate in construction sector in the country, which the union connects to growing practice of bogus self-employment when workers buy «patents» and conclude with contractors not the labour but service agreements.
During the opening meeting, the President of CBMIWU of Kyrgyzstan Toktogul Sultakeev underlined that «construction sector is the biggest employer. At least 10% of GDP is construction and building materials production». But construction is also famous for high accident rates, and while the figures for the sector remain high – more than 500 accidents annually in construction in Kyrgyzstan, the number of accidents in union organized workplaces continues to decrease.
The March was preceded by OHS at Work photo exhibition prepared by 10 workplace branches of CBMIWU in the framework of BWI Spring Offensive photo competition.