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23 October, 2026Sixty trade union leaders from across Asia-Pacific met in Kuala Lumpur from 11 to 13 October 2026. They gathered for meetings of the AP women’s committee and AP Executive Committee, followed by the AP thematic meeting on trade.
Discussions focused on gender equality, political and economic challenges, fair trade and building union power.
Women workers advance C190 and union leadership
The women’s committee reported progress against workplace violence and harassment and in strengthening women’s leadership.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ratified ILO Convention 190. IndustriALL’s Indonesia Council secured a government commitment to ratify it by end of 2026. Meanwhile, Japan’s JIU elected its first woman president. In addition, mentoring programmes in Indonesia and the Philippines helped young women secure union positions and lead campaigns.
Asia-Pacific co-chair Prihanani Boenadi stressed that women and young workers must lead change. Moreover, they must benefit from decent work and equal opportunities.
Executive Committee confronts workers’ challenges
The Executive Committee highlighted precarious employment, falling wages, anti-worker reforms and unsafe workplaces. They also discussed supply-chain restructuring driven by geopolitics, digitalization, climate change and energy transition.
Unions estimate precarious employment at 70 per cent in India’s automotive sector. In fact, this includes 87 per cent at Maruti Suzuki. Meanwhile, 60 per cent of Indonesian workers are on contracts. Real wages are falling regionally except in Vietnam. Participants linked these trends to rising right-wing politics. They also called for political education.
“Building union power is the answer to all these challenges,” said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Hoie, highlighting the organizing fund and pilot projects in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Participants demanded inclusive social dialogue, a just transition and stronger protections against heat stress, psychosocial risks and gender-specific hazards.
Amid geopolitical tensions, trade shifts and climate pressures, unions stressed solidarity, decent work and sustainable industrial development.
IndustriALL vice president Akihiro Kaneko said:
“I stand in solidarity with Nepali people and workers affected by the flash flood. Disasters impact jobs and workers, making them a labour issue in both the global north and south. We must address the impacts of climate change and focus on the labour aspects of a just transition.”