Read this article in:
2 July, 2007
Hosted by Indonesian ICEM affiliate Chemical, Energy and Mine Workers' Federation (FSP KEP), the ICEM Regional Conference for the Asia-Pacific Region was held on 18 June 2007, in Jakarta, Indonesia. A total of 106 participants from 12 different countries attended.
In addition to opening addresses by the regional chairperson, Kiyoshi Ochiai of UI Zensen, Japan, and by ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, the meeting was greeted by Indonesia’s Minister of Manpower, Erman Suparno.
The labour minister welcomed the fact that this meeting was held in Jakarta, since it brought an “international experience on globalisation to Indonesia.” He also said that the country is willing to learn from other countries’ wisdom on how to enhance socio-economic development.
ICEM Vice-President Kiyoshi Ochiai
At the meeting, participants stressed the need for the region to balance growth, on the one hand, with creating social dialogue and social welfare for working people on the other. More needs to be done to share the current benefits of economic growth.
Chairman Ochiai and Chuang Chueh an of the Taiwan's Petroleum Workers' Union (TPWU) were re-elected as regional vice presidents of the ICEM.
One day after the regional conference, a regional seminar on contract and agency labour was held. The seminar was well attended, including by representatives of ICEM affiliates, other Indonesian unions, regional representatives of other Global Union Federations, including the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), the Building and Woodworkers' International (BWI) and Public Services International (PSI). It also included experts on contract and agency labour from Western European trade unions, Indonesian universities, and NGOs.
Participants at the ICEM Asia Pacific Women's meeting
Participants heard from local trade unionists on the contract and temporary workers in Indonesia, and discussion from ICEM's Thai affiliates on their efforts to organise contract and agency workers occurred.