3rd Regional Conference - CONSTRUCTIVE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Constructive industrial relations are fundamental components towards decent work and are instrumental in business sustainability, and this type of social partnership and dialogue are beneficial to both worker and national economies. Despite this, industrial relations in the region are confrontational in general as the balance of power between labor and business is always in favor of the latter. This can be attributed to the erosion of trade union power and the denial of fundamental workers’ rights.

Constructive industrial relations can only be built on the basis of full recognition and operation of trade unions in compliance with ILO Core Conventions and common welfare, and in a stable political climate for social partners to operate without fear or reprisal. With this, the Conference commits the ITUC-AP, affiliates, and GUFs to: promote ratification of ILO Convention 144 and its implementation; support affiliates in setting up effective dispute settlement mechanisms; promote the concept of constructive industrial relations in regional and international forums; and further explore possibilities of establishing and Asia and Pacific Industrial Relations Institute.