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21 May, 2025Young union leaders from South East Asia are strengthing youth power and building more youth structures through strategic planning and collective action. From 16-19 May, 22 young activists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam gathered in Manila for the second year of the FES IndustriALL South East Asia youth leadership academy.
Participants were exposed to new topics such as the pattern of global supply chain against the background of neoliberal economic theory, how unions respond to supply chain changes and collaborate with unions in global north, how to use human rights due diligence and other remediation tools to protect workers’ rights. The youth from manufacturing sectors appreciated the mine workers’ hard work after they did an exercise on dissecting the supply chain of a smart phone and a car.
Through role plays on the shift of production between the global north and south and vice versa, youth participants explored the trade offs in job opportunities and the importance of solidarity and collective action.
To strength youth organizing, participants agreed on several key actions: forming more youth committees at federation and plant levels, establishing study circles, increasing social media activity on young workers’ issues, creating WhatsApp groups for company level communication, continuing training on gender-based violence and organizing, holding federation level youth leadership camps and collaborating with the other youth organizations for meeting and activities.
FES Philippines resident representative Marie Schröter said:
“Knowing global supply chain is crucial because it makes you understand where power centres are, how to improve workers’ rights and how to organize workers more effectively. The youth should practice different tools and leverages, also moving beyond unions' comfort zone and build a team around you with honest feedback.”
IndustriALL youth officer, Sarah Flores, said:
“You are now a strong network of young union activists across the region. Last year you have also activated the network to campaign against a union busting case against our brother in this network. Please continue to be active, communicate and exchange with each other. Don't forget where you want to go, your vision and utopia, together we will build a strong collective movement.”