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In South Africa, so-called food handlers serve school meals to over nine million children every day as part of the national school feeding programme.
Despite the importance of their work, these women have long been regarded as ‘volunteers’ and have been denied access to basic rights such as unemployment benefits.
When many contracts were due to expire in 2025, the food handlers organised themselves and turned their individual struggles into a collective fight.
With support from the Palme Center’s partner organisation, the Labour Research Service (LRS), they organised protests outside employment offices (which also handle labour law and social insurance), ran social media campaigns and launched a petition.
The campaign led to tangible results.
For the first time, food delivery workers were able to access unemployment benefits. At the same time, the Department for Education removed the word ‘volunteer’ from the job title.
Podcast gives workers a voice in Bosnia and HerzegovinaIn Bosnia and Herzegovina, issues relating to working conditions and trade union rights have long struggled to gain a foothold in the public debate. Traditional media rarely give space to workers’ perspectives.
To change this, Božo Marić, president of the Public Administration Trade Union of Republika Srpska, launched the podcast “Bez rukavica” – “Without Gloves”.
With support from the Palme Center, a new platform was created for open discussions on labour law, social justice and current political issues.
The podcast has quickly gained significant traction. Within the first 40 days, the programme had already reached around 1.5 million views on YouTube and social media.
The initiative creates a new public arena where workers, politicians and employers can engage in dialogue. It demonstrates how trade unions can make workers’ conditions more visible in the public debate.
Trade unions take their place in African trade policyThe African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) covers over a billion people and could have a major impact on jobs, industry and economic development across the continent.
Despite this, trade unions were long excluded from both the negotiations and the implementation of the agreement.
Thanks to support from the Palme Center’s partner organisation, the Labour Research Service (LRS), the situation has now begun to change. Trade unions in nine African countries have strengthened their knowledge of trade policy, developed joint demands and pushed to gain influence over how the agreement is to be implemented.
This work has yielded concrete results.
In both Rwanda and Namibia, trade unions have now secured seats on the national committees responsible for implementing the AfCFTA. This means that, for the first time, workers’ perspectives are represented in key decisions on trade and economic policy.
This change marks an important step towards trade policy in Africa taking greater account of working conditions, employment and social justice.
Breakthrough dialogue within the energy sector in North MacedoniaAs coal-fired power in the Pelagonia region is phased out, concern is growing among workers and people in local communities.
At the energy company REK Bitola, relations between management and trade union representatives have long been characterised by mistrust and uncertainty about what the transition will mean for jobs and livelihoods.
Together with the Palme Center, our partner organisation MKC Bitola created a forum for dialogue within the Local Economic and Social Councils (LESC). In 2025, representatives of company management and trade unions gathered for the first time for a joint discussion on the future energy transition.
The discussions provided a space for workers to openly voice their concerns about losing their jobs and facing reduced incomes, whilst company management acknowledged the need for better dialogue regarding the changes ahead. Experiences from other European coal regions demonstrated how a just transition can best be achieved through collaboration between companies, trade unions and the local community.
The meeting marked a clear breakthrough. The focus shifted from concerns and conflicts to how the transition can be managed collectively. As a next step, an international exchange of experiences with trade unions from other coal-mining regions in Europe is now being planned.
By establishing dialogue between workers, industry and civil society, this work contributes to a fairer climate transition in which people are given a say in their future.
Tent schools brought hope to children in GazaDuring the year, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened. Civilians have faced starvation as the Israeli government blocked emergency aid whilst the bombings continued.
In the midst of the war, the Palme Center’s partner Pyalara set up simple tent schools for children in Gaza. There, children could receive lessons in Arabic, English and mathematics – but also draw, sing and play.
For many, the schools provided a moment of safety in an otherwise dangerous and uncertain existence. In total, the initiative reached over 700 children aged between 7 and 13.
Thanks to the solidarity of many people in Sweden, support from the Palme Center’s fundraising campaign has been able to be channeled to civil society organisations helping the people of Gaza.
In addition to the tent schools, the organisation Democracy Workers Rights Center (DWRC), for example, has carried out initiatives during the year to create jobs and strengthen people’s ability to support themselves in the midst of the disaster, including through vocational training and short-term employment schemes.
Trade union campaign secured housing allowances in EswatiniIn Eswatini, many who work in the public sector lives in overcrowded and substandard housing with low income.
Following efforts of trade unions to improve these conditions, the government decided to introduce a housing allowance of E2000 per month for non-academic staff and other low-income earners in the public sector.
Behind this success is the national trade union confederation TUCOSWA, together with its affiliated unions ATUSWA, NAWUSHI, NAPSAWU and SNAT.
Through campaigns, negotiations and joint demands, they highlighted the workers’ difficult living conditions and called for better terms. They highlighted how many workers on the lowest pay scales are forced to live in simple huts or temporary accommodation, whilst the cost of living rises.
This grant represents an important step in a country where nearly 60 percent of the population lives in poverty. At the same time, this success demonstrates how strong trade union organisations can improve workers’ conditions and contribute to greater equality.
From conflict to dialogue on labour law in Bosnia and HerzegovinaWhen Bosnia and Herzegovina began reforming labour law linked to EU integration, political tensions in the country simultaneously increased.
The issue of the minimum wage in particular created conflict – making trust between authorities, trade unions and civil society weak.
In May 2025, the Palme Center, together with the Forum Left Initiative (FLI), took the initiative to bring together key stakeholders in Sarajevo. During a four-day programme, politicians, trade union representatives and civil society organisations met to discuss labour law, social dialogue and labour market reforms.
The dialogue made it possible to discuss concrete solutions regarding the minimum wage, labour inspections and how the reforms could be implemented more fairly.
The initiative proved to be particularly important for the decision to raise the minimum wage to 1000 KM in 2025.
By creating a forum for open dialogue, the initiative helped to strengthen trust between the prevailing parties and create better conditions for fair labour market reforms.
Improved conditions for Albanian sanitation workersSanitation workers in Elbasan have long worked under poor conditions, with low wages and limited influence over their working conditions. Many of them belong to Roma and Egyptian minorities – and work in a sector that is often undervalued despite its crucial role in society.
Through organising and dialogue, workers, civil society organisations and trade union actors succeeded in improving conditions during 2025.
The organisation Youth Roma and Egyptian Movement (YREM) brought workers together to document the problems and formulate joint demands for fair wages and better compensation for night work. Ahead of May Day, YREM brought together Elbasan municipality, sanitation companies and trade unions to discuss the situation.
The dialogue led to concrete results – waste transport workers’ pay rose of 12.5 percent, along with a pledge of a 37.5 percent increase for day work and 50 percent for night work for street cleaners.
The agreement means better incomes for sanitation workers and marks an important step towards stronger social dialogue between workers, companies and local authorities.
Updating the paralegal manual in South Africa – rights in practiceIn South Africa, the Palme Center’s partner organisation, the Education and Training Unit (ETU), has updated the Paralegal Manual this year.
The manual provides practical guidance on laws and legal processes that affect people’s daily lives, and is specifically designed for counselling offices, civil society organisations, trade union representatives and others who support vulnerable groups.
The manual comprises over 1,000 pages and is available online, via the Legal Fundi app and in print.
The material is used by civil society, government bodies and local representatives to provide practical support on issues relating to working conditions, social security and legal processes.
By further developing these much-needed methodological resources in collaboration with other actors, ETU is helping more people to assert their rights in practice.
40 000 Burmese refugees granted the right to work in ThailandTens of thousands of people who have fled the war in Myanmar have long lived in camps in Thailand without the opportunity to work legally and support their families. As international aid has decreased sharply, the uncertainty is increasing further for these already vulnerable communities.
Through joint advocacy efforts by a progressive parliamentary partner in Thailand, civil society organisations and the SocDem Asia network, the situation has begun to change.
In December 2024, policy workshops were organised where Thai politicians, researchers and representatives of Burmese communities met. In March 2025, a conference on Myanmar was held in the Thai parliament, focusing on living conditions and security in Thailand’s border areas.
This resulted in more concrete policy proposals regarding access to the labour market, education, healthcare and legal status for people from Myanmar in the country.
The Palme Center’s Thai partner organization adopted the proposals as part of their parliamentary agenda and pushed the issue alongside civil society.
When the Thai government finally took action, the result became that around 40 000 refugees from Myanmar got granted work permits in Thailand.
For many, this decision means legal income for the first time, greater security and increased dignity. At the same time, it opens the door to further discussions on education for children, access to healthcare and more long-term social inclusion.
