WORKERS from around the world gathered in London yesterday to demand that mining giant Rio Tinto clean up its act.

Rio Tinto, one of the world’s biggest companies with assets worth £72 billion, faced vocal criticism and protests outside its annual general meeting over allegations of anti-union behaviour, health and safety failures, suspect political activities and lack of respect for indigenous people's rights.

Unions and campaigners say that while the company publicly claims to respect trade union rights, it also openly defends what it calls “direct engagement” where the union is treated as an external, unwanted force.