As we commemorate the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August respectively in 1945, the ITUC-Asia Pacific honours the memory of all those who lost their lives and pays tribute to the survivors, whose courage and testimony have sustained humanity’s resolve that such a tragedy is never be repeated.

As we mark May Day 2026, we reaffirm, together with workers across the Asia Pacific and around the world, our unwavering commitment to decent work, social justice, and peace. May Day is not only a commemoration of past struggles, but a call to defend and advance the rights, dignity, and aspirations of working people in an increasingly uncertain world.

The International Trade Union Confederation-Asia Pacific (ITUC-Asia Pacific), representing millions of workers across the region, expresses its serious concern over the ongoing negotiations of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which continue to proceed with limited transparency and without the meaningful participation of trade unions and affected stakeholders.

The general election in Myamar is nothing more than an attempt by the military to legitimise its rule. An election conducted by an authority that has unlawfully overthrown an elected government cannot be recognised as an expression of the popular will.

Affiliates of the ITUC–Asia Pacific, together with BWI, Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA, and partner organisations, adopted a conference statement at the 3rd Regional Conference on Asbestos held on 9–10 December 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Resolution urges governments to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and calls on affiliates to sign the Ten Million Signature Campaign for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, reaffirming workers’ role in the global movement for peace

The Resolution on Afghanistan condemns the continuing violations of trade union and human rights under the Taliban regime, including its attempt to replace the National Union of Afghanistan Workers and Employees (NUAWE) with an illegitimate union.

The 27th Regional General Council reiterated its condemnation of the Indian government’s regressive labour codes and its interference in workers’ representation at international forums.

This Resolution condemns the military junta’s planned “sham elections,” urges governments not to recognise the regime or its electoral process, and demands international sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and an end to the supply of weapons and funds that sustain the junta’s violence.

The Resolution on Hong Kong expresses solidarity with Brother Lee Cheuk Yan and Sister Winnie Yu, who remain imprisoned under the National Security Law.

The resolution on Mongolia supports the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions (CMTU) and its affiliates — the Mongolian Education and Science Workers’ Union and Mongolian Health Workers’ Union — in their campaign to secure long-overdue salary increases and improved social protection for public service employees.

This Resolution condemns the detention of Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) delegates and the filing of police cases against trade union leaders following their visit to hydropower dam sites managed by Chinese companies in Pakistan.

This Resolution reaffirms the 27th Regional General Council support for the Pacific Island Council of Trade Unions (PICTU), recognising its key role in uniting trade unions across the Pacific.

As the world commemorates the International Day of #Democracy, ITUC-Asia Pacific and Global Union Federations Asia Pacific Regional Organisations strongly condemn the #Myanmar military junta’s dangerous manoeuvering to legitimise its dictatorship through sham elections scheduled on 28th December.

ITUC-Asia Pacific calls on the international trade union movement and democratic allies to deny legitimacy to the junta’s orchestrated election and stand with Myanmar’s workers and people.

Peace is not an abstract principle, but it is the foundation of workers’ rights. Nuclear weapons threaten everything trade unions stand for: decent work, dignity, democracy, and justice.

It has now been one month since the adoption of the Resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Myanmar at the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC), which was held from 2 to 13 June 2025 in Geneva.

The ITUC-Asia Pacific stands in strong solidarity with the working people of India as they prepare for a nationwide strike on 9 July 2025. This mass mobilisation, called by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations, reflects both the growing discontent of workers and their collective resistance against policies that erode labour rights, undermine social protection, and threaten public welfare.

Behind every clause of the Article 33 resolution is a worker who has lost their job, their freedom, or their life for standing up to the junta.

This document presents the policy recommendations of the ITUC-Asia Pacific to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aimed at deepening their collaboration to promote a just, inclusive, and sustainable transition in Asia and the Pacific. I

This statement seeks to clarify why the resolution on Article 33 is fundamentally different and why it must be supported.

At the upcoming 133rd International Labour Conference that will be held from 2–13 June 2025 in Geneva, a resolution is expected to be adopted to invoke Article 33 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Constitution against the Myanmar military authorities.

ITUC-Asia Pacific stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Myanmar, urging the international community to adopt an Article 33 resolution at the ILO to hold the military junta accountable for its ongoing violations of human and trade union rights.

Today, on May Day 2025, we come together to honour the collective strength of workers and the legacy of trade union solidarity. This year, our message is guided by an urgent question: Can trade unions unite a society divided by populism?

Thirty years ago, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set out an ambitious blueprint for gender equality. It was a call for transformative change—a world where women’s rights are recognised as human rights, where work is dignified, where equality is not just promised, but delivered. But three decades on, where do we stand? Have we moved closer to this vision, or are we seeing it unravel?

This shadow report shows that, despite commitments under the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), South Korea’s migration policies have been marked by systemic inadequacies, including limited pathways for undocumented workers and poor working conditions under seasonal worker programs. Trade unions continue to advocate for improved legal protections and inclusion in decision-making processes.

Nepal has recorded the highest percentage increase in the outflow of migrant workers among Asian countries, with numbers more than doubling in the past five years. This shadow report reveals that, despite being a Global Compact on Migration (GCM) Champion Country, Nepal faces challenges in ensuring fair and ethical recruitment, with high costs, fraudulent practices, and lack of worker representation in migration policies.

Our latest infographic outlines key events in Myanmar from 2024 up to early 2025, alongside the measures taken by the ILO to confront the worsening conditions faced by the people of Myanmar.

This infographic exposes the brutal repression of Myanmar’s workers—union leaders jailed and tortured, strikes crushed, labour rights dismantled, and widespread workplace abuses left unpunished.

This infographic provides a stark overview of the devastating impact of the coup on workers in Myanmar.

Four years since the military junta's takeover of political power, stripping the nation's democracy, the people of Myanmar continue to suffer severe human rights abuses and unimaginable atrocities. Thousands have lost their lives, been imprisoned, or subjected to torture, while many more are forced to live in hiding. Millions have been displaced, and those still in the country face extreme poverty and worsening conditions as violent attacks and repression persist, further entrenching the nation’s socioeconomic crisis.

As we welcome the New Year, we reflect on the past year’s challenges and remain committed to creating a better future for all workers. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has recently emphasised the principles of “common security”, which asserts that true security cannot be achieved in isolation, but rather depends on the stability and security of all nations. Unlike traditional models based solely on military strength, common security stresses cooperation, mutual respect, and addressing shared threats to build sustainable peace.

On this year’s International Human Rights Day (10 December 2024), the ITUC-Asia Pacific reaffirms that the right to strike is a cornerstone of human rights for workers.

Decent work is not just a goal—it is a human right, and it is a right worth defending and fighting for. On this World Day for Decent Work, let us renew our commitment to this fight. Let us work together to build a world where every worker, no matter where they are, can live and work with dignity, respect, and fairness. A world where decent work must not be the exception, but the rule.

A statement adopted during the ITUC-AP Regional Conference on Labour and Just Transition, 10-12 September 2024, Bangkok

Today, on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, we stand united as trade unions across the Asia-Pacific region in our unwavering commitment to a world free from the threat of nuclear annihilation. This day is not just a symbolic reminder of the dangers we face from nuclear weapons but a call to action - a demand for a future where human lives, dignity, and peace take precedence over weapons of mass destruction.

On this International Day for Democracy, we are reminded that democracy is not a static achievement but an ongoing process - one that demands constant vigilance, courage, and collective action. As we navigate the challenges of 2024, we witness a world in turmoil: rising authoritarianism, deepening inequality, and the relentless exploitation of workers. These realities threaten the very core of democracy and call upon us to act with purpose and solidarity.

We recognise that by organising young workers into trade unions, we can build a stronger, more inclusive labour movement that safeguards the future of democracy.

The only people who benefit from war are the war’s leaders and their cronies; the victims are always the ordinary people.

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 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 adopted 16 resolutions during its general assembly in Bangkok, Thailand on 20-22 November 2023.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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 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 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 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.

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 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.