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28 May, 2025More than 50 trade unionists from Asia-Pacific met for the regional executive committee on 9 May to review progress being made on the way to IndustriALL’s 4th Congress in Sydney, Australia, in November.
It will be the first time IndustriALL’s Congress takes place in Asia Pacific, and the regional executive committee reviewed the statutory modification proposals, the draft action plan for the next four years, as well as logistical preparations. The Australian affiliates expressed their enthusiasm and motivation for hosting the Congress, especially in the post-election environment, favourable to the union movement after labour leader Albanese was re-elected as Prime Minister for a second term.
The agenda spanned from anti-worker labour law reforms and the absence of union and worker voices in energy transition processes, to growing precarious employment in manufacturing industries and the alarming state of occupational health and safety. Participants underlined the importance of peace and unity of workers with regards to the conflict at the India-Pakistan border, as well as support for the ongoing campaign for workers repressed by Myanmar’s military regime. Discussions made it clear that to advance workers’ rights, there is a need for greater unity and solidarity in the working-class movement in the region.
Based on the reports, the meeting discussed the implementation of actions and campaigns, focussing on advancing workers' rights, labour law reforms, strengthening union building including the organizing and recruitment of white-collar and precarious workers, ensuring a just transition and promoting inclusive unions.
IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan, said:
“The worsening geo-politics around the world, military conflicts, imposed unilateral tariffs pose huge challenges for workers and trade unions to safeguard workers’ fundamental rights. Unions will have to put up a strong united fight. We have examples of labour victories in Australia, South Korea and Malaysia where strong union led campaigns have provided some relief to workers. For a just future, we must keep the struggle going.”
The Asia Pacific Women’s Committee shared about the various capacity building programmes around gender-based violence and harassment, Convention 190 and IndustriALL’s No Excuse policy, that were organized across the region.
Youth working groups in South Asia and South East Asia actively contributed to the debate of IndustriALL statue amendments relating to youth structure and policy. Youth leaders requested support from the Asia Pacific Executive Committee by urging it to take concrete steps toward greater inclusion and better representation.
IndustriALL’s vice president and Asia Pacific co-chair Akihiro Kaneko, said:
“We will support the initiative of developing the youth activities and policy. Our action plan stresses the importance of a transformative agenda for trade unions. We need more energetic young union activists to organize more young workers into unions. Without the new blood and generational succession, trade unions are not sustainable.”