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Albanian oil workers at the Chinese company Bankers Petroleum has, over the year, mobilised for better conditions and respect for collective agreements.
Over 60 percent of members took part in the demonstrations and a three-week strike, whilst several workers also went on hunger strike.
The workers, organised in the Union of the Hydrocarbon Sector, protested against low wages, delayed payments and the failure to comply with collective agreements. When dialogue with the company failed to yield results, the mobilisation intensified, which quickly attracted national attention.
The increased pressure and intensification led to the Labour Inspectorate and the Ministry of Economy stepping in as mediators. The parties reached an initial agreement on a financial review of the company’s operations as a basis for addressing the demands.
The Palme Center contributed through international solidarity and advocacy work.
Although the process is still ongoing, the mobilisation has already strengthened the workers’ self-confidence, highlighted working conditions in the oil industry and contributed to a stronger social dialogue.
Youth mobilisation paved the way for new female leader in the PhilippinesIn San Jose del Monte, local politics has long been dominated by political dynasties, large campaign budgets and traditional electoral machinery.
In the most recent local election, a new generation of voters showed that politics can also be built from the bottom up. With the support of hundreds of young volunteers, human rights lawyer Atty Ronalyn Pordan succeeded in winning a seat on the city council through a campaign built on dialogue and grassroot mobilisation.
Ronalyn Pordan was no typical candidate. For several years she has, as a lawyer, offered free legal advice to vulnerable groups in for example land- and labour disputes, and cases of violence against women.
When she decided to run in the election, she lacked both financial resources and the backing of a political dynasty. Instead, her campaign was built on a growing a network of young people inspired by her work.
Through the Palme Center’s partner organisation, the Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF), several of the young volunteers received training in how to run so-called grassroots campaigns – campaigns based on dialogue and organisation rather than money. Young activists organized themselves into local teams, went door-to-door, visited small shops and spoke with families in their neighborhoods.
The campaign’s motto became “Kwento, hindi kwarta” – “Stories, not money”.
The campaign quickly grew into a broad movement – the Purple Movement – which symbolised her feminist values and vision of a more inclusive political realm. When the votes were counted, it was clear that the grassroot mobilisation had succeeded. Despite limited resources, Ronalyn Pordan won a seat on the city council. The victory marks more than just an election result.
It shows that young people can change politics through organisation and participation. Today, many of the volunteers continue to work alongside Pordan on issues such as education, social services, youth participation and the protection of vulnerable groups.
Massive movement against corruption changes the Philippines political landscapeFollowing the 2025 election, the progressive Akbayan party is at the center of a new political dynamic in the Philippines. The party became the largest in the country’s party-list system and received a record number of votes, securing the maximum number of seats in Congress. This success is closely linked to a broad popular movement against corruption, with the party’s campaign emerging following revelations of widespread embezzlement linked to the state budget for flood protection.
Together with civil society organizations, local leaders and youth movements, Akbayan mobilized a national movement for accountability and reform. Demonstrations brought together thousands of people across the country and focused their attention on how political dynasties and clientelism enable systematic corruption.
A key force in the mobilization was the young activists participating through the Akbayan Youth wing. Their ‘Youth Against Kurakot’ campaign organized a new generation of young people demanding transparency and accountability from those in power. The protests on EDSA – one of Manila’s main roads and a symbolic site in the Philippines’ democratic history – demonstrated a growing youth engagement in political change.
The collaboration with SSU has helped strengthen the act of organizing, political education and inclusive leadership within the youth movement. Through training and the exchange of experiences, more young people have become involved in the work for democracy and accountability.
This mobilization has put strong pressure on decision-makers to push through reforms against political dynasties and strengthen anti-corruption legislation.
Civil society in Albania strengthen dialogue on labour lawWhen changes in Albanias labour law were adopted in 2024, the process drew strong criticism. The legislative changes were implemented without sufficient dialogue, which caused concern among employees and trade unions.
The Palme Center’s partner organisation Center for Labor Rights (CLR) drew attention to the shortcomings of this process through analyses, advocacy work and dialogue with responsible institutions. They also lodged a formal complaint with the country’s commisioner, who initiated an investigation of the legislative process.
The investigation showed that the requirements for consultation with affected actors had not been met. It was therefore recommended that the government strengthen the consultation process and involve the labour market to a greater extent through the national labour council.
As a result of CLR’s work, the responsible ministry is now committed to improving dialogue with civil society and trade unions in the event of future changes to labour legislation. This marks an important step towards more transparent decision-making processes and stronger empowerment for workers in Albania.
Legal Aid strengthen legal protection for trans women in TurkeyIn 2025, Palme Center’s partner organisation Legal Aid helped to strengthen legal protection for trans women subjected to violence and arbitrary arrests. Ahead of Trans Pride Week in Istanbul, the organisation, together with the human rights organisation HRA Istanbul, coordinated on-site legal support during the demonstrations. Lawyers were present as observers and were able to intervene immediately when trans women were arrested.
These efforts led to faster releases and encouraged more trans women who had been subjected to violence to report abuse and initiate legal proceedings. The organisation also documented violations of human rights during arrests and in custody, which strengthened the legal possibilities of pursuing the cases further.
Through joint actions with other human rights organisations, violence against trans women was highlighted through social media, panels and public discussions. Several cases were subsequently raised politically and brought to the attention of the Turkish parliament through questions and interpellations from MPs.
In solidarity with our Serbian partner CATUSThe Olof Palme International Center stands in solidarity with trade unions in their efforts to defend workers’ rights. The Palmecenter therefore joins our member organisations, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) and Runö Folk High School, in supporting the Serbian trade union confederation, the Independent Trade Union of Serbia (CATUS), in its demands for dialogue and negotiations with the Serbian government on wages, arbitrary dismissals, collective agreements, and other long-neglected issues.
These demands include immediate action to initiate constructive dialogue on minimum wages and wage policies in the public sector, as well as ensuring the timely payment of wages and compensation for past delays. The state must act as a guarantor of workers’ rights and restore lost purchasing power to prevent further escalation of the conflict and to ensure stability and legal certainty in Serbia.
We urge the Government of Serbia to meet these demands within the timeframe specified by CATUS, as the persistent lack of respect for existing laws has severely weakened the position of workers. It is essential that collective agreements are introduced and upheld in all sectors, and that public-sector wages are raised to a level that ensures a dignified standard of living. These demands are legitimate, well-founded, and vital for safeguarding workers’ rights and ensuring socially sustainable development in the country.
See link for the full statement from LO, Runö, and the Palme Center.
Annual Report 2024The Olof Palme International Center is the Swedish labour movement’s umbrella organisation for international solidarity and advocacy. We work for democracy, human rights, social justice, sustainability and peace in the spirit of Olof Palme. Through cooperation with civil society organisations, trade unions and progressive political parties in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, we contribute to popular influence, global justice and common security. Through knowledge sharing, debate, joint actions and fundraising, we help to ensure that the Swedish labour movement has a global perspective and stands up for international solidarity.
In 2024, we collaborated with 190 local partners in 38 countries, carrying out activities worth over 185 million SEK.
Read more about our activities and achievements with our partners and allies around the world in 2024:
EUkraine 1st Progressive Summit – towards EU membership and Fair recoveryUnder one roof, politicians, civil society representatives, trade unions, academics, veterans, and youth movements will come together to discuss Ukraine’s post-war future within the European community.
The goal of the Summit is not only to reaffirm our shared commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and consolidated international support during the ongoing Russian aggression, but also to make Ukraine’s EU accession process a driver of social dialogue, justice, and inclusion.
Equally important, the Summit will serve as a platform to strengthen cooperation with Ukrainian progressive organizations that have long been working to advance democracy, social equality, and civic participation — the very values that shape Europe’s common future.
The two-day conference will be held in Ukrainian and English, with the possibility to join online:
The Summit is organized by the Party of European Socialists (PES), the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D Group), Olof Palme International Center and other leading European partners, in cooperation with the Social Democratic Platform of Ukraine.
Strike in Albania: In solidarity with Sindikata Sektorit Hidrokarbur members
Dear Prime Minister Edi Rama,
The oil workers organized in the ‘Sindikata Sektorit Hidrokarbur’ are now on the 3rd day of strike, demanding that Bankers Petroleum Albania fulfils the collective agreement the partners have signed.
The Olof Palme International Center expresses its solidarity with the oil workers and their actions for ensuring fair wages and good working conditions and we urge you to invite the partners to the negotiating table as a way to show your commitment to the social dialogue.
The ongoing concerns regarding low salaries and inadequate working conditions for oil workers are matters that have been raised for some years now and demand urgent attention. With the EU approximation additional pressure will be put on the labour market as increased competitiveness remain a key priority in the enlargement process. The necessary reforms of the economy need to be facilitated by a well-functioning labour market based on a fluent dialogue between government, employers and workers.
We urge the Socialist government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Sindikata Sektorit Hidrokarbur and Bankers Petroleum and work towards a resolution that addresses the legitimate grievances of these workers.
The Palme Center is since many years supporting initiatives that aim to ensure the respect for socio-economic and labour rights in Albania and we are an ally of your ambitions to raise salaries and improve the standards of working conditions.
– Oscar Ernerot, Secretary General, Olof Palmes Internationella Center.
Silence is complicity. We demand immediate action!The civilian population in Gaza is at risk of starving to death. For nearly two months, Israel has blocked all emergency aid – while bombs continue to fall on a population repeatedly forced to flee.
The Israeli government does not hide its intentions: to drive a people from their land. This is ethnic cleansing. One of the gravest crimes against humanity.
The cynicism is brutal. In recent days, Israel has started to allow in a fraction of the aid that is needed – not to protect civilians, but to silence international criticism. The UN is clear: the aid amounts to a drop in the ocean.
What is happening is not only a humanitarian catastrophe marked by clear and severe breaches of international law – it is a moral collapse of the international community. When we allow this to continue without consequences, we erode international law and all principles of human rights and human dignity. Violence is also escalating in the West Bank, perpetrated by Israeli settlers and the Israeli military.
We demand an immediate return to ceasefire with the release of hostages, international protection for civilians, and full humanitarian access to Gaza. We demand accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The international community – including Sweden and the EU – must stop shielding the actions of the Israeli government. It is time for the Swedish government to take a firm stand for international law.
Words are not enough. Therefore, we demand:
The General Assembly of the Olof Palme International Center, Stockholm, 21 May 2025.
