Labor's Reach: Asia-Pacific

Across the globe, a wave of strikes and protests highlights the escalating struggles of workers against deteriorating conditions and inadequate compensation. Tea plantation workers in West Bengal are protesting the severe lack of clean drinking water, a basic necessity impacting their health and well-being. This demonstration underscores the dire living and working conditions often faced by agricultural laborers in developing nations. In Australia, bus drivers initiated a work stoppage in response to stagnant wages and persistent safety concerns. Their action reflects a broader trend of workers demanding fairer compensation that keeps pace with the rising cost of living and addresses workplace hazards. The drivers are prioritizing a safe working environment along with fair pay. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, doctors took to the picket lines to protest understaffing and low wages within the healthcare system. This strike illuminates the strain on public services and the growing discontent among essential workers who are struggling to provide quality care while facing inadequate resources and insufficient remuneration. The doctors' strike jeopardizes medical services and is indicative of a nationwide crisis. These diverse yet interconnected struggles illustrate a global surge in working-class resistance against austerity measures, declining living standards, and the erosion of worker rights. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/31/nlgz-m31.html