BWI becomes newest Core Partner of the Sport & Rights Alliance
(Amsterdam, October 22, 2025) – On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) has joined the Sport & Rights Alliance as its newest partner, the SRA announced today. Representing approximately 12 million workers worldwide in construction, wood, and allied industries, this partnership consolidates the sport and human rights movement’s unwavering commitment to securing the highest standards of labour rights, safety, and well-being for the workers who build the world of sport.
“We are delighted to formally welcome BWI to the Sport & Rights Alliance, as they have long been a significant ally to our coalition and movement,” said Andrea Florence, executive director of the SRA. “From their pioneering work on joint health and safety inspections to advocating for and securing tangible protections for construction workers on events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, BWI has set groundbreaking global precedents. The inclusion of BWI in our coalition underscores our commitment to international solidarity and bolsters our collective ability to champion workers’ rights and ensure fair treatment and conditions for all.”
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, BWI is the global union federation grouping democratic and free trade unions from the building, building materials, wood, forestry, and allied sectors, with 365 unions in over 115 countries. BWI is globally renowned for leading campaigns that have directly addressed labour rights abuses associated with major global events – most notably regarding the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar. Their work has focused on securing dignity, safety, and fair wages for the millions of people who construct the stadiums and infrastructure necessary for international sport.
“Joining the Sport & Rights Alliance is a natural and essential step for our federation,” said Ambet Yuson, general secretary of BWI. “Global sporting events are often built on the backs of our members, and we have fought relentlessly to ensure that their work is dignity and safety, not exploitation. We look forward to collaborating with the SRA and its diverse partners to institutionalize human and labour rights throughout international sport, ensuring that the spectacle of a major event never overshadows the rights of the workers who make it possible.”
The timing of this partnership is especially critical as sport governing bodies increasingly look to invest and conduct business in regions requiring significant numbers of migrant workers to build and support the infrastructure of global sporting events. With BWI’s expertise, the Sport & Rights Alliance is now better equipped than ever to engage with governing bodies and host countries to ensure that all future mega-events protect, respect, and fulfill international standards for labor rights and worker well-being.
About the Sport & Rights Alliance
The Sport & Rights Alliance’s mission is to promote the rights and well-being of those most affected by human rights risks associated with the delivery of sport. Its partners include Amnesty International, The Army of Survivors, Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), Football Supporters Europe, Human Rights Watch, ILGA World (The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association), the International Trade Union Confederation, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Transparency International, and World Players Association, UNI Global Union. As a global coalition of leading nongovernmental organizations and trade unions, the Sport & Rights Alliance works together to ensure sports bodies, governments, and other relevant stakeholders give rise to a world of sport that protects, respects, and fulfills international standards for human rights, labour rights, child wellbeing and safeguarding, and anti-corruption.
About Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI)
The BWI is the Global Union Federation grouping free and democratic unions with members in the Building, Building Materials, Wood, Forestry and Allied sectors. The BWI groups together 365 trade unions representing around 12 million members in 117 countries. The Headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. Regional Offices and Project Offices are located in Panama, Malaysia, South Africa, India, Burkina Faso, Chile, Kenya, Russia, Peru and Brazil. Our mission is to promote the development of trade unions in our sectors throughout the world and to promote and enforce workers rights in the context of sustainable development. For more information, visit www.bwint.org.
