Regional conference for trade unions held in Singapore

1    Trade union delegates from 27 countries will take part in the 2^nd Regional Conference of the International Trade Union Confederation-Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP) from 11-13 May 2011 at Downtown East, Singapore.  Themed "Unity - The Way Forward", the conference endeavours to promote unity nationally and in the region, and to work toward a more co-operative and fair labour relations to address issues facing workers across the region and beyond.

2    While globalisation has seen increased economic growth, ITUC-AP notes that there are still pressing issues affecting workers and lower income households specifically in the Asia Pacific region.  One major concern is the declining labour share in the Gross Domestic Product.  This is mainly due to a lack of adequate distributive and re-distributive mechanisms in the region, like strong collective bargaining, adequate social safety nets and fair taxation/fiscal policies.

3    During the conference, delegates will look at ways to address a wide spectrum of issues facing labour movements regionally.  One such issue is high unemployment coupled with poor employment protection, where millions of working men and women have lost their jobs without adequate procedures for retrenchment or employment adjustment and compensation, and where tensions between unions, employers and governments at times are strained in the process.  Another key issue is on how relations between governments, employers and unions can be developed towards finding workable solutions for such issues.

4    An action plan to address these issues has been proposed by ITUC-AP and it will be the main basis at which discussions will centre around at the conference (Please refer to Annex A).

5    Mr Noriyuki Suzuki, General Secretary, ITUC-AP noted that trade unions across the world and not just in the region needed to be democratic and independent in tackling various issues across the board, while working closely with governments and employers where possible.  He said, "Our priorities for action are always focused on organising and building a strong and united trade union movement across the region."

6    Alongside key discussions taking place at the conference, delegates will also see elections within the organisation on 13 May 2011, Friday, as ITUC-AP seeks a new President and new General Council Members for the challenging times ahead.

7    Speakers at the opening ceremony of the conference held on 11 May include Mr Juan Somavia, Director General of the International Labour Organisation (speaking via a pre-recorded video); Mr G Rajasekaran, President of ITUC-AP; Mr John De Payva, President of the Singapore National Trades Union Congress (NTUC); and Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower, Singapore.

8    NTUC President John De Payva said, "The hosting of this regional conference in Singapore coincides with an important milestone in the history of the Singapore Labour Movement, as 2011 marks our 50^th year of serving the workers of Singapore.  NTUC's approach to helping workers resonates well with ITUC-AP, as NTUC's work plan for 2011 aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth and inclusive employment for workers so that they can have better jobs and earn better pay.  NTUC has worked closely with its tripartite partners, namely the government and employers, in developing a unique and stable tripartite relationship that is effective in helping Singapore face various challenges and emerge stronger each time.  NTUC will continue to strive to be progressive, responsive and relevant as a strong and effective tripartite partner."

9    This unique tripartite relationship has allowed Singaporean workers to weather through recent economic storms together, as Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong remarked, "Unions, along with employers, together with government were and will continue to be crucial in helping Singaporean workers address whatever challenges that arise, be it economic downturn or workplace concerns, through various initiatives and constant dialogue with all stakeholders."

Annex 

Priorities for Action in the Period 2011 - 2015

On the basis of various plans of action as set down in this ITUC-AP Action Programme, the ITUC-AP identifies priorities for action in the period 2011 - 2015 subject to periodic review by the Regional General Council as follows:

1. Workers' Rights and Organising - Freedom of Association and Right to Bargain Collectively

Defending and protecting workers rights everywhere is the top priority.  ITUC-AP will:

• Intensify organising campaigns in coordination with GUFs; across all sectors, including free trade zones / Export Processing Zones / Special Economic Zones / Qualified Industrial Zones, in the informal economy and amongst temporary / contract workers in the formal sector where recognition and protection under formal legal or regulatory frameworks is grossly deficient; of migrant workers in both origin and destination countries; of domestic workers; of women; and of young workers;
• Monitor, expose and denounce violation of workers rights and human rights wherever they occur in the region, and will campaign for labour law reforms to allow unrestricted workers rights to organise and bargain collectively; encourage and support establishment of independent democratic trade unions in countries where they do not exist;
• Make effective use of all available means including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises to address unfair labour practices adopted by multinational corporations, and to implement Framework Agreements with multinationals to ensure adherence to Core Labour Standards;
• Expose and fight for the elimination of child labour and the underlying poverty that is its cause and effect;
• Expose and fight for the elimination of forced labour and human trafficking;
• Relentlessly pursue gender equality and empowerment of women and full implementation of the Platform of Action for Gender Equality [PAGE]; and
• Recognising the vulnerable position and lack of decent work opportunities for young workers in the labour market, implement the Youth Charter and integrate young workers in the mainstream of the trade union movement.

2. Labour and related policy - achieving legislative reform and building social programs for a sustainable future

Sound laws, open and accountable institutions, and effective social safety nets are the foundation for fair and inclusive societies. ITUC-AP will:

• Expose and fight job insecurity and social instability caused by employers' abusive use of temporary and casual work, the extensive use of temporary work agencies and contracting out;
• Assist and coordinate affiliates' campaigns for national legislative reforms to enhance and protect Decent Work through improved job security, work-life balance, minimum wages and conditions of employment, and labour inspection; and for ratification of ILO Conventions and Recommendations;
• Participate in and promote social dialogue through international fora, and with affiliates at national level as appropriate, insisting always on full recognition and free functioning of trade unions as an essential structural pillar of free societies;
• Engage with International Financial Institutions active in the region for effective national and global regulation of financial entities;, as well as in regional trade and economic integration processes such as APEC, ASEM, ASEAN, SAARC and PIF;
• Emphasise the essential role of constructive industrial relations and support creation and maintenance of effective industrial disputes resolution mechanisms nationally and internationally and insist on corporate and institutional respect for and adherence to Core Labour Standards and the ILO Decent Work agenda, and the precepts of Corporate Social Responsibility in word and deed; in this connection, further promote engagement with the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Employers (CAPE);
• Enhance research capacity as a base for organising and collective bargaining, and for national and regional campaigns for higher working conditions;
• Be a regional champion for ITUC and Global Union policies for: "A Just Transition" to environmentally sustainable development, for mitigation of and adaptation to global warming, with special focus on the distributional impact on workers in the region; the introduction of a Financial Transactions Tax; with among others awareness programmes and campaign strategies;
• Campaign for fair and adequate taxation and fiscal policies supporting effective Social Safety Nets as defined by the ITUC-AP required to underpin sustainable growth of living standards and the equitable distribution of national wealth; could be connected to the next point;
• Insist on open, transparent and accountable governance arrangements with active participation by trade unions in the management and investment of 'Workers' Capital' wherever workers' contributions wholly or partly fund social safety nets; and
• Campaign to ban the use of asbestos and other hazardous substances, and disseminate amongst affiliates 'best practice information on OHS and HIV/AIDS.

3. Peace and Disarmament for National Development

Peace - grounded on respect for national sovereignty, human freedoms, collective security and disarmament - is the essential platform for sustainable economic progress and social justice.

Without peace there can be no development and without development, peace is not sustainable. Regrettably, global military spending is growing rapidly at the expense of vital investment in social and economic development and military build up continues in the region.

ITUC-AP will:

• Advance global union policy, together with the Socialist International, on peace and disarmament for national development in the region, to achieve a peaceful, democratic, secure and stable world where people are free from threat of armed conflict, terrorism or other forms of violence and occupation
• Promote effective international regulation of the production and trading of arms; the non-proliferation of all armaments including nuclear weapons; the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction; and peaceful usage of nuclear energy;
• Support a stronger United Nations and a more democratic Security Council, to more effectively advance nuclear and conventional disarmament and intervene in potential or arisen conflicts and disputes; and
• Further urge governments not to use 'Action against Terrorism' as an instrument to curtail or block the exercise of the fundamental trade union rights.