19 February, 2025IndustriALL youth working group in South East Asia, East Asia and Pacific (SEA2PAC) is urging unions to take steps to include more youth in decision-making bodies to address young workers' concerns.
During the virtual SEA2PAC meeting on 13 February, a survey on inclusion of youth in unions was presented. The outcome shows the percentage of young workers (age below 35) in IndustriALL affiliates’ executive committees ranged from zero to 50 per cent. Four out of six respondents have less than ten percent youth executive committee members.
Most IndustriALL affiliates in the region have established youth committees. However, only four out of six respondents said that unions allocated a budget for youth meetings or activities.
In general, the youth database in the region is limited as trade unions lack age segregated databases, some unions are requesting information from company-based affiliates. Another challenge of constructing a regional youth database is the different age limits, for example Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (ACTU) labels young workers aged between 15 and 27.
SEA2PAC co-chair Jonathan Cook says:
"While we are collecting more data from youth delegates and facing the challenge of scarcity of data, the preliminary result of the survey shows inadequate youth representation in union executive committees. It is crucial to enact a strong global youth policy to include more youth in decision-making bodies and allocate an adequate budget for youth activities."
IndustriALL regional secretary for South East Asia Ramon Certeza says:
"Young workers' voices remain unheard and unions must be able to articulate young workers' interest. We must continue to empower young workers by providing them seats on tables for their active participation. Trade unions should commit to IndustriALL's transformative agenda to keep trade unions relevant and resilient."
The virtual meeting also included training on gender equality, sexual orientation and LGBTQIA+. IndustriALL director of gender Armelle Seby shared the concepts of sex and gender, formal equality and substantive equality. Anjali from India's Tata Workers' Union presented the idea of diversity and inclusion, and the achievements by LGBTQIA+ members in India. For instance, Indian transgenders have assumed positions such as lawyer, judge, police officer and college principal.
“IndustriALL supports increased visibility of LGBTQIA+ workers. We are preparing an inclusivity checklist and will invite affiliates to join a global day of action on 17 May, the international day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia,”
says IndustriALL youth officer Sarah Flores.
25 youth delegates and observers from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand joined the virtual meeting.