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Community health workers (CHWs) and union representatives from South Asia convened in Kathmandu for a three-day forum aimed at improving recognition, working conditions, and the development of women-led unions. The event was coordinated by UNI Global Union with support from the SAGE Fund and included participants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
During the meeting, attendees discussed their experiences organizing CHWs, reviewed progress on securing contracts and labor rights, and participated in training sessions focused on campaigning and leadership skills. Organizers described the forum as an important step toward building a stronger regional movement to advocate for structural changes that would ensure fair treatment for CHWs. Many of these workers are women who often lack formal protections despite their essential roles in public health systems.
“Community health workers are the backbone of healthcare in South Asia, yet too often they are treated as disposable,” said Rajendra Acharya, UNI Global Union’s Regional Secretary for Asia and Pacific. “By coming together across borders, CHW unions are showing that they have the power, solidarity and vision to demand justice, dignity and proper recognition for their work.”
