23 April, 2010IMF affiliates in East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific met on April 16-17 in Singapore to discuss the implementation of IMF's Action Programme at the regional and national level.
SINGAPORE: IMF's sub-regional meeting gathered 62 union leaders from 12 unions in 11 countries to discuss the priority action areas in the Asia Pacific region and in the world, based on IMF's Action Programme.
Experiences were exchanged on the handling of the financial and economic crisis, which hit hard the metal industry in many countries of the region. Unions reported on the pressure they had put on their governments on employment and economic policies. Active support measures, including training and retraining of workers, had proved to be essential. Fight against precarious employment should be raised as one the main points at the forthcoming G20 summit.
The meeting supported the draft recommendations by an IMF mission on action against violations of human and trade union rights in the Philippines, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The mission called upon a common platform for the MWAP, PMA and ALU-Metal unions in the Philippines to develop organising and union building activities.
Participants discussed the concept of trade union networks in transnational companies, which had been defined by the Executive Committee as a priority area. Unions in the parent company's country should undertake an active coordinating role. A key to success is regular exchange of information.
Reports from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam told about successes in organizing and union building. A strategic workshop in July will evaluate the past projects and look at new approaches on growth and building stronger unions.
Participants called for a fair international agreement on climate change and active IMF involvement at the COP 16 meeting in Mexico later this year. Green jobs, just transition and reforestation have to be part of the package.
The conference noted positively the increased participation of women, and stressed the need for continued improvement in women's representation in union bodies at all levels, as well as work on equal pay and equal opportunities. Non-manual workers are a growing group and will require special attention in organizing.
Affiliates agreed on continued action on a global ban on asbestos, based on IMF's Congress resolutions. Fifty-two countries have introduced such a ban, but the use of asbestos is increasing in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Following a discussion at the sub-regional meeting, IMF and its sister organisations Building Workers' International and International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Union agreed in a special workshop on joint action on asbestos, especially in India, Vietnam and the Philippines.