The fight against child labour is intrinsically linked to the fight for democracy, as both aim to protect human rights and promote social justice.

For trade unions, an inclusive and transformative multilateralism starts with ensuring that workers’ voices are represented and heard in processes that must ultimately aim to put people at the centre of development and foster global cooperation for a lasting change.

On International Women's Day 2024, ITUC-Asia Pacific General Secretary Shoya Yoshida honours women workers in their struggle to fight for women's rights and gender justice and conveys the importance of building a genuine democracy that enables women's meaningful participation and representation.

Trade unions are always striving to achieve social justice and fight injustice.

The Regional Constitution and Standing Orders establish the fundamental principles that guide and govern the operations of the ITUC-Asia Pacific.

While two major wars have left many dead and casted a dark shadow over our future, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has set 2024 as the year to regain peace and democracy.

The 5th ITUC-Asia Pacific Regional Conference adopted 16 resolutions during its general assembly in Bangkok, Thailand on 20-22 November 2023.

The ITUC-Asia Pacific strongly condemns all acts of violence against Palestinians and Israeli peoples that resulted in casualties and injuries to many civilians.

The 5th ITUC-Asia Pacific Regional Conference, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on 20-22 November 2023, unanimously adopted the Conference Thematic Paper as Action Programme 2023-2027 in response to multiple threats from recent global trends, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and digital technology as well as the decline of democracy.

On 29 October 2023, unions across Asia and the Pacific join in solidarity to celebrate a momentous milestone—the official recognition of this day as the International Day for Care by the United Nations General Assembly.

The Resolution supports the Korean trade unions'action to revise the TULRAA and urges the government, especially the presidential office, not to veto the bill when it would pass the plenary of theNational Assembly.

Representatives of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Confederation of Indonesian Labour Unions (KSBSI), and Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI) issued a press statement presenting their key demands related to the labour law reforms in Indonesia.

This statement by PICTU outlines the key issues, expectations of treatment and recommendations to improve the issues raised during their regional coordinating meeting on Labour Mobility in the Pacific on the 3-5th July 2023, Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji.

In his message, ITUC-Asia Pacific General Secretary Shoya Yoshida draws attention to the voices of the Hibakusha to remind the global community of the catastrophic effects of nuclear weapons. ITUC-Asia Pacific reaffirms its position that the only way to deter nuclear war is to prohibit the production, possession and use of nuclear weapons.

In the Maldives, the 2030 Agenda has been integrated in the national development plans, which is carried out and monitored by a national coordinating committee gathering all responsible ministries. However, trade unions report that these processes are not transparent and involve barely any consultation with unions and civil society.

Trade unions in Bangladesh deplore the fact that, when consulting the social partners on the implementation of the SDGs as part of the tripartite dialogue, the government prioritises the input of employers, while trade unions are not visibly and effectively involved in the overall implementation process.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)-Asia Pacific has adopted a resolution in response to Pakistan's economic and social crisis during its 19th Regional Executive Bureau meeting held on May 11-12, 2023. The resolution calls for urgent and immediate relief measures to help Pakistan, which is on the brink of sovereign default.

Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of ITUC-Asia Pacific, conveys his message on the International Labour Day.

On the occasion of the International Workers Memorial Day, the ITUC – Asia Pacific remembers workers who have lost their lives, been injured or sick as a result of their work-related accidents and illnesses.

This study analyses the policy responses of governments in Asia-Pacific to the Covid-19 crisis and their level of alignment with the 2030 Agenda and SDG 8.

The resolution condemns the aggressive attacks, threats and intimidation against trade unions, human rights defenders and pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong.

In this resolution, the ITUC-Asia Pacific reiterates its condemnation of the military coup that took place in Myanmar on 1 February 2021 and the crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar military since the coup. The resolution outlines the atrocities and human rights violations perpetrated by the military junta, particularly those that targeted trade union leaders.

In this resolution, the ITUC-Asia Pacific demands the Kremlin to immediately cease its military offensive and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.

In this resolution, the ITUC-Asia Pacific raises its concern over the rampant violation of human and labour rights of the Afghan people, including the brutal crackdown on protests and the suppression of fundamental freedoms. It urges the international community to take decisive action to prevent human rights abuses in Afghanistan and the world’s leaders to welcome to their countries Afghan refugees who fled Afghanistan for their security.

The resolution supports the struggle of the Indian workers against the anti-labour policies of the government.

The ITUC-Asia Pacific's Regional General Council welcomes the decision of the 110th International Labour Conference on June 2022 to adopt the resolution to include a safe and healthy working environment in the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) framework of fundamental principles and right at work.

In this resolution, the ITUC-Asia Pacific demands the Sri Lankan government to have a series of genuine and constructive dialogues with its social partners, if possible, together with international and regional financial institutions, to take an adequate and immediate relief action, as well as to ensure the structural reform for the decent work-centred recovery towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient Sri Lanka.

This report summarises the key outcomes of the PICTU-ILO Strategic Planning Meeting on 18-20 October 2022, which was aimed to revitalize PICTU and to develop ways forward to strengthen PICTU to achieve its vision as a regional trade union organisation that is active and effective in supporting the growth of free democratic trade unions in the Pacific region in order to meet the needs and achieve the aspirations of all workers for quality life, social justice and decent work.

With the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the backsliding democracies in the region at the backdrop of the May Day celebrations this year, Shoya Yoshida highlights in his message the need to renegotiate a new social contract that puts the people at the centre.

On International Workers' Memorial Day 2022, the ITUC-Asia Pacific calls for the recognition of occupational health and safety as a fundamental right at work.

This study explores how the online motorcycle taxi-drivers (known locally as ojek online or ojol) in Indonesia understand gig work and how they respond to the debates and concerns around gig work.

On International Women's Day, Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of the ITUC-Asia Pacific, sends a message of solidarity to all women and all people, a message of hope and commitment to achieve our shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and gender-equal world.

This paper is meant to clarify and popularise the centrality of Just Transition as a response to the climate emergency. This monograph covers the following topics: union climate advocacy in the Asia-Pacific, changes in the jobs market due to climate action, Just Transition development challenges, the role of social dialogue in climate policy and economic restructuring, examples of country-level climate programmes and trade union initiatives/responses, and lessons and recommendations on the way forward.

In his New Year message, Shoya Yoshida welcomes 2022 with a reaffirmation of ITUC-Asia Pacific's commitment to organising and building workers' power, promoting international solidarity, and building a peaceful, equal, inclusive, and sustainable post-COVID world.

This paper highlights good practices and lessons learned in building the new generation of youth and women union leaders.

The L20 Statement to the G20 Rome Summit, 30-31 October 2021, outlines the workers' demands on delivering prosperity for people and protecting the planet.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, where the economic crisis triggered a wave of austerity measures among developing countries that brought public health and medical care provision on the verge of collapse, Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of the ITUC-Asia Pacific, brings to attention the human rights implications of investing in nuclear weapons and how the funds for these investments could, instead, be used to strengthen healthcare and social protection systems.

In a letter to His Excellency Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of the ASEAN, ITUC and ITUC-AP join the ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC) in strongly condemning the objection by the military junta in Myanmar to the participation of the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) and the nomination of Mr. Maung Maung, CTUM president and ATUC vice president, as the ATUC representative to the 14th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) meeting in September, 2021.

A joint position paper of the ITUC, ITUC-AP, ITF, UNI Global Union, PSI, IUF, BWI, EI, IndustriALL Global Union, and the International Trade Union Confederation/Global Unions Washington Office, outlining how and why Asia Development bank (ADB) should review and rework the existing Social Protection Strategy and Safeguards Policy, and take a firmer stance and leadership in creating a binding safeguard that directly translates the international labour standards of the International Labor Organization to the context of lending.

While the significant economic growth in Asia and the Pacific generally has positive impacts to national industries, this also brings huge economic and social deficits that pose a great threat to the welfare of laborers and overall sustainability of regional economic development. ADB's new Strategy 2030 helps address some of these issues in their long-term corporate strategy geared towards a more prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable APAC.

This position paper by the ITUC-AP offers a critique on the current economic policies that have, so far, not adequately benefited the workers who have contributed to the current trend of economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Remarkable economic growth in Asia and the Pacific over the last 2 decades has not led to sustainable development while the benefits of growth have not been fairly shared between labour capital as well as among people.

This policy proposal by the ITUC-AP recognizes that economic, social, and environmental deficits are deeply rooted in the labour market and more exacerbated by the weakening of labour market institutions with rampant violations of core labour standards. Shaping the future of work based on core labour standards is essential for sustainable and inclusive development.

In this policy proposal, the ITUC-AP reiterates the urgency for the ADB to take a more balanced approach to its investment policy in order to address the immense problems that challenge the sustainability of economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the realisation of the region’s long-term potential. It pays particular attention to how rising inequality is hindering poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth and recommends the strengthening of labour market institutions as specified in the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

This Trainer Resource Pack is designed to be used alongside The Way2Go Women and Youth Together for Leadership Training Manual.

This comprehensive training manual is designed for trainers and/or facilitators who are delivering face-to-face training. The trainers/facilitators may be Women and Youth Representatives (WYRs) or union member/non-member trainers and facilitators.

In this policy brief, the ITUC-AP clarifies misconceptions about business and human rights. First, it clarifies that freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining should NOT be excluded from the spectrum of human rights. Second, that the promotion and protection of human rights is unquestionably a matter of high priority for the international community. Third, that corporate responsibility cannot replace the duty of the state to respect human rights. Fourth, it clarifies some ambiguity in the misconception that corporate responsibility is voluntary. Fifth, it reiterates that trade unions at all levels are responsible for protecting the rights of workers and trade unions themselves.

The #EndChildLabour poster competition is open to all individuals aged 18-34 years old (as of 12 June 2021). The submissions must illustrate, interpret, and promote the topic “Eliminating Child Labour in Asia and the Pacific Region” and must be submitted by 7 June 2021.

In this statement, the ITUC-AP celebrates the historic values and and achievements of the international trade union movement and reaffirm its commitment to organise workers everywhere and support their fights for democratic rights. It marks May Day in difficult circumstances from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the threat to democracy and human rights in Myanmar, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, and Cambodia.

In this statement, the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) calls International Trade Unions and Workers to take action on the Myanmar regime. It expresses its pride in being members of the international trade union family and in participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

In this statement to the 8th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, the ITUC-AP shows that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific region was not on track in achieving the SDGs. It brings into light the fact that huge decent work deficits remain unaddressed, that, aside from the COVID-19 virus, misogyny and patriarchy are also becoming viral, infecting society and attacking the hard-won gains of women in promoting gender equality, and that the Asia-Pacific is currently the second worst region in the world for workers’ rights.

The 20th ITUC-AP Regional General Council Meeting from 10-11 March 2021 expresses serious concern over the increasing incidence of violations of the fundamental rights of workers in India. In this resolution, it condemns the Government of India for failing to fulfill its duty to protect its people and for attacking workers’ rights.

In this resolution, the ITUC-AP Regional General Council in its 20th meeting from 10-11 March, 2021 welcomes the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which entered into force on 22 January 2021 and calls for the international community to be fully and seriously committed to pushing for the signing and ratification of the TPNW.

In this resolution, the 20th ITUC-AP Regional General Council Meeting from 10-11 March, 2021, denounces the military coup in Myanmar and the arbitrary detention of the leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Mynt, along with cabinet ministers and other activists. It condemns the ruthless violence and brutality in suppressing the peaceful, country-wide Civil Disobedience Movement in Myanmar.

In this resolution, the 20th ITUC-AP Regional General Council Meeting condemns the unjust imposition of charges by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) police against 47 former opposition lawmakers and pro-democracy activists, including Carol Ng, the Chairperson of Hong Kong confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) and Winnie Yu, Chair of the Hospital Authority Employees under the People’s Republic China’s National Security Law in Hong Kong.

In this resolution, the 20th ITUC-AP Regional General Council Meeting expresses deep concern over trade union repression that started with the attack by the Afghanistan government of the head office of the National Union of Afghanistan Workers, Employees (NUAWE) and its 16 other properties on 21 April, 2018. It denounces the expropriation of NUAWE’s legitimately acquired properties to pressurise the union and undermine its operations and activities.

In this message of solidarity on IWD 2021, Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of the ITUC-AP, joins women and unions around the region and elsewhere in solidarity to honour the women of the past and other women who persevere to secure the rights and freedoms women enjoy today. They note that the long, challenging, and difficult sacrifices made by these women is what keep union women more determined and renewed with optimism on this day.

This report will briefly assess in what way and to what extent the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world of work in the Asia-Pacific (AP) region. It will then examine the government and trade union’s initial responses to the pandemic, and to evaluate their effectiveness in protecting workers and their families’ life and living. It will conclude with a discussion of what lessons can be learned to inform trade unions’ future action.

In this statement, the ITUC-AP joins the celebrations for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which enters into force on 22 January 2021. It hopes that today’s entry into force will further promote the Treaty to other states and be a major step towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. However, it expresses concern that the US, Russia, and other original nuclear powers have turned their backs on the Treaty.

In this statement, the ITUC-AP strongly denounces the RCEP that does not meet their standard of just and fair trade rules. It states that the RCEP would jeopardise the potential for a sound industrial base for most countries, aggravate inequality and social-economic vulnerability, and lower income for workers and farmers. Furthermore, after 8 years of a series of undemocratic and closed negotiations, it fails to meet even its principle and objective to create ‘an open, inclusive, and rules-based trading system to make trade work for all’.

In this special edition, the WaY2Go Newsletter delves more deeply into the issues and strategies of women and youth representatives, especially in the face of the COVID-19 challenges.

The Indonesian garment and footwear industry is one of the most severely hit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic, in terms of worker’s health, safety, and job security. As these are unprecedented times, there was the understanding that swift and coordinated measures from all stakeholders in both national and global supply chains were needed.

A letter to the Cambodian Prime Minister condemning the arrest of Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions. In this joint-letter, the ITUC and ITUC-AP express that Rong Chuun’s arrest concerningly seems like a retaliation for Chhun’s trade union activities and criticisms on government policies during the economic downturn brought about the global pandemic.

A letter by the ITUC-AP General Secretary, on the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, calling for peace as war always sacrifices workers. More than the destruction of homes, factories, cultures, and lives, the violence and despair brought about by war severely retards the progress, justice, and well-being of a people.

The fourth issue of the WaY2Go Newsletter continues to follow the leadership journey of women and young trade unionists.

The ITUC and ITUC-AP in solidarity with the Filipino unionists (Nagkaisa - the largest labor coalition in the Philippines) and workers urge Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the Anti-Terror BIlls -- Senate BIll 1083 and House BIll 6875, as they violate international labor standards. If signed, this bill with further securitize, shrink, and stifle civic space and rights at work, placing workers, trade union activists and other human rights sectors and defenders under more jeopardy and danger of arbitrary, indiscriminate, and baseless attacks, harassment, intimidation, and killings at the hands of police, military, and other security agencies.

A statement from the ITUC-AP expressing their sorrow and righteous indignation for the industrial accident in Incheon, Korea where 38 workers were killed and 10 were injured. The conveyance of dismay is due to the factory’s insistence on operation despite multiple official warnings against fire hazards and multiple suggestions of preventive and corrective measures. With this as a heartbreaking example, it is made clear that Korea has a long way in terms of protecting the occupational health and safety of its workers in terms of policy, inspections, and other implementations.

A report and analysis on the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the world of work in the Asia-Pacific region. The first finding was that high-income countries have better fiscal capacity to give support to their constituents rather than low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited resources to support their constituents, especially the informal workers sector and other vulnerable populations. In this sense, trade unions are indispensable in securing workers and their families lives and livelihood especially in a time of crisis. However, collective bargaining and tripartite mechanisms have not been fully utilized in formulating and administering the government's initial response.

Progress is being made by the women and young trade unionists. The third issue of the WaY2Go Newsletter documents the project achievements thus far.

The ITUC and its Regional Organizations have been collecting, analysing, and disseminating information about COVID-19, including a review of government responses, with a particular focus on the following five areas: 1) paid sick leave, 2) wage support, 3) income support, 4) mortgage, rent or loan relief, and 5) free health care. They have published three surveys relating to these government responses.

In this letter to Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of ITUC and Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of ITUC-AP, strongly condemns the arrest of Lee Cheuk Yan, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), an affiliate of ITUC-AP, and 13 democratic leaders. Lee Cheuk Yan is one among thousands of peaceful protesters who are being arrested for unlawful assemblies and rioting associated with the anti-extradition protests.

This document contains ITUC-AP’s Action Programme from 2019-2023. It enumerates clear and present challenges that labour unions are facing such as the lack of labour governance, shrinking democracy for workers with restrictions on freedom of association, and the deregulation of corporate behavior of all substance, especially when it comes to labour.

In this statement, the ITUC-AP expresses their solidarity with workers to wage war against the COVID-19 pandemic. They affirm their utmost priority to protect the lives and livelihoods of workers and their families and communities facing a global health and economic crisis.

In this resolution, the 4th ITUC-AP Regional Conference recognizes the intensive struggle of the people of Hong Kong for the past four months in protest against the Extradition Bill and Police brutalities, demonstrating their determination to defend freedom and fight for true democracy. It supports the demands of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and their allies in the democracy movement for the implementation of universal suffrage in both the Hong Kong Chief Executive and the Legislative Council election.

In this resolution, the 4th ITUC-AP Regional Conference extends its warm-hearted solidarity to the protesting tollgate fee collectors of the Republic of Korea who have been fighting in a desperate situation for their right to work. More than 1,000 toll collectors who are mostly women found themselves suddenly dismissed when they demanded their right to be employed directly.

In this resolution, the 4th ITUC-AP Regional Conference condemns the Morrison Government’s extreme, anti-democratic, so-called ‘Ensuring Integrity’ bill, currently before the Australian Parliament.

In this resolution, the 3rd ITUC-AP Regional Conference expresses deep concern about the proposed disinvestment in the public sector, the Indian railways, defence production and financial institutions and notes that all national trade union centres jointly held two one-day and one two-day all India strikes in the past and now again deciding to go on a one-day strike.

In this resolution, the 4th ITUC-AP Regional Conference expresses deep concern over the attack of the head office of the National Union of Afghanistan Workers and Employees (NUAWE) and its other 16 properties by the Afghanistan Government with heavily armed police and security forces pursuant to a presidential decree, confiscation of all properties, assets, equipment and others, cancellation of the legal license, and the freezing of the union bank accounts.

In this statement, the ITUC-AP expresses its full support to the Indonesia Working People, particularly, their Indonesian affiliates (KSPI and KSBSI) in their all-out struggles against the proposed “Omnibus Bill on Job Creation”. The ITUC-AP’s analysis shows that the proposed Bill would lead to a greater flexibility and lower workers’ welfare significantly by risking undermining minimum wages, by removing a critical provision with regard to severance pay, by removing limitations against the excessive use of temporary contracts for work of a permanent nature, by removing limitations to the outsourcing of workers and the coverage of health and pension schemes, by leading to significant health and safety risks, and by removing consultations with trade unions.

In this letter, the ITUC and the ITUC-AP condemns the arrests of Lee Cheuk Yan, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), an affiliate of ITUC-AP, and two other democrats, Yeung Sum and Jimmy Lai. Lee, Yeung, and Lai face charges of ‘unlawful assembly’ for their participation in the public rally to oppose the extradition bill amendment. The UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly urged the Hong Kong government to revoke the prior notification to public assemblies and excessive restrictions under the Hong Kong Public Ordinance for contravention with Art. 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The second issue of the WaY2Go Newsletter features the voices and the stories of trade union leaders on strengthening women and youth leadership.

This first issue of the the Way2Go newsletter celebrates the great start of the ITUC-Asia Pacific/DGB BW project.

A report based on a survey by the ITUC-AP covering 51 affiliated organizations in 27 countries from February to April 2019 to measure the impact and implementation process of the Bali Declaration, adopted at the 16th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting of the ILO. While the results of the survey were mixed, it was clear that trade unions in the region recognized the lack of initiatives taken by the government in implementation of policies based on the priorities of the Bali Declaration.

An ITUC-AP statement regarding the deplorable state of the RCEP which, despite having been under negotiations since 2013 among the AEAN Member States and its free trade agreement partners, still has not come into fruition based on the commitments made by engaged countries and the the Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the RCEP.

The official stance of the ITUC-AP regarding the Bali Declaration is that there was a lack of initiatives taken by the government in terms of implementation of the policies based on the priorities set by the Bali Declaration. The recommendation is for development of specific strategies for selected priorities including a campaign for the ratification of fundamental Conventions.

In this resolution, the ITUC-AP takes an official stance regarding the democratic future of Hong Kong. ITUC-AP endorses the Hong Kong people’s demand that the Hong Kong Government withdraw the Fugitives Offenders Ordinance Amendment Bill and restore the people’s confidence in the “one country, two systems” arrangement.

The ITUC-AP takes note that the government of the Republic of Korea has initiated the process for the ratification of 3 outstanding ILO fundamental conventions. ITUC-AP nonetheless expresses deep concerns at the Republic of Korea Government’s retrogressive revision of existing legislations, putting further restriction on the exercise of right to bargain collectively and right to strike, in exchange for the ratification itself.

The ITUC-AP expresses deep concern on the attack of the head office of the National Union of Afghanistan Workers, Employees (NUAWE) by the Afghanistan Government on 21 April 2018. The ITUC-AP demands that the Government of Afghanistan return all properties to NUAWE, unfreeze the union bank accounts, and renew the legal registration license of NUAWE.

The ITUC-AP notes the decision of the High Court of Balochistan, Pakistan on banning union existence in the civil service of Balochistan. It deplores that the Provincial Labour Department of Balochistan simultaneously cancelled 62 unions, not only of civil service but of semi-Government and non-Governmental institutions, leaving only mining and industrial sector unions.

The ITUC-AP notes that complaint No. 2902 with the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association on Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) has been pending for eight years, and that management refused to implement a Tripartite Agreement dated 26 July 2011 and instead opened fire on peacefully protesting workers. It further notes that the National Industrial Relations has failed to perform its statutory role, and that the Government of Pakistan has failed to implement the ILO Governing Body (march 2019) decisions.

The ITUC-AP expresses serious concern at the increasing incidence of violation of fundamental rights of workers in India. It condemns the Government of India for attacking workers rights and failing to protect their own people, and recalls previous resolutions condemning the Government of India from withholding participation of the largest trade union centre in the country (ITUC-AP-affiliated INTUC) in various tripartite bodies and international fora like ILO.

The ITUC-AP welcomes the creation of an ITUC-AP OHS committee and its important role in coordinating activities and exchange of best practices on occupational health and safety. It also supports the collecting, analysing, and addressing of different health risks and hazard exposures specific to or more serious and common in women.

The ITUC-AP notes with great concern the increasing number of reports by affiliates about the ILO’s programmes and activities of engaging with NGOs in the Asia and the Pacific Region, recalls the many cases of ILO engagement with NGOs despite unions’ requests not to do so and without consultations, reaffirms that the ILO’s engagement with NGOs was done without consultation with unions and thereby seriously undermined the ILO’s core values and respect of tripartism, and emphasises that social partners are open to dialogue with NGOs following appropriate consultations with the tripartite constituents.

The 2015 edition of the ITUC-Asia Pacific Gender Equality and Pay Equity Verification Manual is meant to serve as a supplementary resource that affiliates can use to complement existing tools in conducting gender audits at the workplace. The Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) is a self-assessment tool for identifying workers’ perceptions of the current status of gender equality. It is also used to identify opportunities, challenges, and key areas that need strengthening.

The paper on Inequality in Asia and the Pacific was prepared on the basis of discussions and findings at the ITUC-AP Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Inequality and Sustainable Growth on 10-11 March 2015 in Singapore. It identifies inequality as a threat to sustainable development, political stability, and democracy, and identifies the main features in inequality as identified in the Asia-Pacific Region and globally.

ITUC-AP extends its deepest sympathy to families of the members who were killed along with the employees of contractors working in the mine in New Zealand that day and who have lost their lives in this tragic mining disaster.

A resolution where the ITUC-AP supports the conclusions of the Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Violence Against the Women and Men in the World of Work which highlighted the need for a more robust standard on violence in the world of work with a particular focus on Gender-based violence. There was also a highlight on the important role of women, with support from affiliates in terms of current discussions and beyond.

The ITUC-AP recognizes the increasing involvement and participation of women in trade union programs at various levels and the significant improvement of participation rates at the national/affiliates level. This is while recognizing that despite this, there are still disparities between individual programs particularly at a regional level where women’s participation is much less.

The ITUC-AP condemns the conviction and 3 year imprisonment sentence against the KCTU President Han Sang-gyun as it is a clear violation of the right to freedom of assembly and association. Thus, President Han and all detained workers should unconditionally and immediately be released. ITUC-AP is appalled to know that the Korean Transnational Corporations have been deeply involved in the corruption scandal committed by the current regime and should be held accountable. Their actions in many countries violate the fundamental rights of workers and infringe domestic laws.

The ITUC-AP expresses concern over the increasing incidence of anti-union violence by and/or with the acquiesce of the police and the government attitude of criminalizing public demonstrations, strikes, and other trade union activities. They condemn the harassment, intimidation, and police action against Said Iqbal, KSPI President and ILO Governing Body Member.