4 March, 2025On 3 March 2025, one day before the IndustriALL global auto conference, where unions from around the world will discuss the future of the industry, the Asia-Pacific regional automotive conference set the stage for critical debates on wages, working conditions, supply chains and organizing strategies.
With India’s booming automotive sector as the backdrop, unions from Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand came together to exchange experiences and build a stronger, more coordinated movement. The key message was clear:
“Multinational corporations are more organised than ever, and unions must match that coordination to defend workers’ rights in an industry undergoing rapid transformation.”
Opening the discussions, Gopal Kishnam from transport union in Malaysia, and a member of IndustriALL’s executive committee, stressed the urgent need for regional unity. He warned that while employers strategically coordinate their efforts, unions remain fragmented, making it harder to bargain effectively and improve conditions across the supply chain. On behalf of IndustriALL Global Union, he thanked affiliates for coming together in India, underlining that collaboration is key to strengthening bargaining power.
A similar message came from Hideyuki Hirakawa of Japan Council of Metalworkers’ Unions/JCM, which highlighted the unique diversity of the Asia-Pacific region as both a strength and a challenge.
“Vast differences in labour laws, economic structures and industries make it difficult to implement shared strategies, yet unions must find ways to coordinate their efforts on collective bargaining and workers' rights.”
Hyewon Chong from the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) brought attention to the growing presence of Korean automakers in India, including Hyundai, Kia and Renault Korea. While this expansion creates jobs, it also brings challenges, as many workers face precarious employment, low wages and poor conditions, the same issues that Korean unions have been battling at home.
Drawing from KMWU’s success, she highlighted industry-wide bargaining as a key strategy for reducing wage inequality and improving conditions. In Korea, unions have won major victories, such as eliminating night shifts through a two-shift daytime system, improving workers’ health and work-life balance. She also pointed to Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with Hyundai, Kia and GM Korea, which secured higher wages, profit-sharing and reduced working hours.
Beyond wages, Chong warned of the growing profit gap between large automakers and their suppliers, making it harder to enforce fair labour standards. She called for cross-border solidarity, urging Korean and Indian unions to work together to hold multinational companies accountable and push for a Just Transition in the era of automation and electrification.
The issue of wages and fair trade was further emphasised by Tokuda Kazuhiro from the Japan Auto Workers’ Union (JAW), who outlined Japan’s efforts to close the wage gap between large automakers and small suppliers. Representing 784,000 members, JAW has been at the forefront of securing stronger wage agreements.
In 2024, JAW negotiated the highest wage improvements since 1992, addressing rising prices and labour shortages. The 2025 Spring Offensive is focused on ensuring that SMEs can pass on rising costs and pay fair wages. Kazuhiro also highlighted how unfair supply chain practices prevent smaller companies from raising wages, making it difficult to invest in workers. To counter this, JAW is pushing for a “fair price pass-through” system, ensuring that higher wages and corporate investment directly benefit workers.
JAW also introduced its 2030 vision which aims to strengthen labour-management relations and protect workers’ rights in ASEAN nations, Mexico and beyond, particularly in Japanese multinational supply chains. He stressed that stronger cooperation between unions in Japan, India and other regions is essential to improving conditions across the global automotive supply chain.
In Southeast Asia, unions face a different set of challenges. Gopal Kishnam from NUTEAIW in Malaysia spoke about precarious work, low wages and poor conditions in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
“While the industry is expanding, many workers remain in unstable jobs with little protection.”
Kishnam called for a stronger regional network and a dedicated platform for unions to share information on collective bargaining and workers’ rights. He also introduced efforts to implement a Global Framework Agreement (GFA) in Asia, which would establish minimum labour standards for multinational companies operating in the region.
Another pressing issue remains gender inequality. The male-dominated nature of the industry means that women face barriers to entry, lower pay and limited leadership opportunities. Kishnam stressed that unions must take action to improve women’s representation and ensure they are included in key decision-making processes.
The issue was explored further in a special session on women in the automotive sector, led by IndustriALL women's director Armelle Seby. Women are severely underrepresented in the sector, making up just 9 percent of the global workforce.
In Indonesia, between 40-60 per cent of women work in production, quality control or staff roles, while men dominate higher-paying, physically demanding jobs. In the Philippines, women are assigned to precision assembly tasks, while men handle lifting and activation work.
Unions are pushing for stronger gender-inclusive policies, such as menstrual leave, maternity benefits and protections against gender-based violence. They are also working to increase female leadership in trade unions, ensuring that women’s voices are heard in bargaining and workplace policies.
As the Asia-Pacific conference concluded, IndustriALL auto director Georg Leutert highlighted the importance of regional coordination ahead of the global auto conference. He reminded participants that India was chosen as the host country due to its growing significance in the global auto industry, and that the strategies discussed in Pune will shape the global debate on organising, Just Transition and supply chain accountability.
The fight for better wages, safer conditions and stronger union networks is a global one, he said, urging participants to build on the momentum gained in Pune.
“This is our opportunity to listen, learn and take action. The stronger we are together, the better we can fight for workers everywhere.”