The OECD organised the Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum (SEARP) Tokyo Ministerial Conference, which consisted of the OECD Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum on Thursday, 8 March 2018 and the Steering Group Meeting of the OECD SEARP on Friday, 9 March 2018.
The ITUC-AP General Secretary, Shoya Yoshida, spoke in the session “Inclusive ASEAN: Inclusiveness through participation” of the Forum. “We do have an effective mechanism of participation: social dialogue and industrial relations. Trade unions are a crucial institution of fair income distribution through collective bargaining” said Shoya Yoshida. He continued, “However, many governments still make excessive interference in trade union registration, and restrict legitimate activities or even existence of trade unions under national laws”.
“Governments and all other relevant stakeholders work together in institutionalising social dialogue by creating a stable political climate in compliance with the ILO core labour standards, where social partners organise their own programmes without fear of reprisal. This is how we can achieve sustainable, inclusive economy and society”, he concluded.