2nd Regional Conference of the
International Trade Union Confederation Asia Pacific
Opening speech by G.Rajasekaran, President, ITUC Asia Pacific, Singapore
On behalf of the ITUC Asia Pacific General Council, I extend fraternal greetings and warm welcome to guests and delegates to our Second Regional Conference.
Since our founding Congress in Bangalore in 2007 a series of major events have taken place which had a direct impact on workers and trade unions in the region.
Though the 2008 financial crisis originated from Europe and the US, mostly resulting from corporate greed, mismanagement and even fraudulent practices, Asia Pacific nations were not spared from its impact.
Many countries in our region, especially developing countries, greatly dependent on their exports to Europe and the US, had to significantly reduce production. This resulted in massive retrenchment, unemployment and income reduction. Collective bargaining gains were minimal and in some instances workers were made to sacrifice long established benefits.
Fortunately many corporations in our region came out of this crisis quickly. But new jobs created were mostly contract or irregular work.
Report from our affiliates reveals the phenomenal increase in the informal sector. This is a serious setback for ILO’s efforts to promote Decent Work. The status of Decent Work today is worse off than when the Director General of ILO launched the campaign more than a decade ago.
Competition for foreign investment amongst developing and developed countries has tremendously increased the power and influence of MNC’s. Feedback from our affiliates in the region shows that Governments are under pressure to weaken labour legislations, obstruct growth of trade unions, remove long established minimum standards and safeguards in order to compete for foreign investment.
Many of our affiliates are grappling with this serious problem. Trade Unions suspect that the World Bank is in collusion to undermine trade union efforts to raise minimum standards in line with the definition of Decent Work.
A recent Gallup survey of how people across the world see themselves indicates that most people in the developing world are generally unhappy with their lives.
The Gallup survey of 124 countries sought to categorise people into three groups – those who were thriving, struggling or suffering.
The survey found that majorities in only 19 of 24 countries considered themselves thriving. More people in the developed world felt that they were doing well compared to those from the developing world. As most of our affiliates are form the developing world, findings of this World Bank survey is most relevant.
As we did at our founding conference in 2007, delegates will again debate and adopt an action program and decide on priorities for the next four years. General Secretary’s reports will elaborate on the steps taken to comply with the 2007 action program.
Some of our affiliates are of the view that we should limit ourselves to an achievable number of commitments.
Please feel free to be frank when debating this important item on the agenda.
Look forward to your active participation and contribution to strengthen the ITUC-AP and all our affiliates so that together our search for a better quality of life for millions of workers in the region can be achieved.
Thank you.
