Asia-Pacific covers over one half of the
world’s population. The region comprises of the 10 largest
countries (by population) in the world, including China, India and
Indonesia. The region has for some time been experiencing rapid
growth, the main two engines behind this growth being India and
China. For example the region has increased the total global labour
productivity by 60% since 1995.
Across the region workers are seeing a strengthening of
national laws with a commitment towards fundamental human rights
such as discrimination at work, freedom from child labour and
forced labour. On child labour, this has declined by 5 million from
2000 to 2004. Unfortunately despite this great effort, brought
about by the work of Non-Government Organisation’s (NGO’s), the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Trade Unions, the
Asia-Pacific region still attributes for 64% of the world’s child
labour.
Other labour rights such as the right to organise and form
Unions have not seen a marked improvement. Most governments in the
region are supporting employer’s strategies that seek to create
more job insecurity for workers and drive down workers wages and
conditions. Employers are supported with more flexible legislation
that allows for easy hiring and firing of workers and atypical
employment contracts. The most recent example has been Australia’s
workplace legislative changes that limit the rights of workers to
collectively bargain and organise. For more information log onto
http://www.yourrightsatwork.com.au/
At the moment underemployment is among the most serious
problems facing workers; low wages, short term & informal
contracts coupled with poor social protection and safety conditions
continue to hurt working families. In 2005 of the 1.71 billion
workers in Asia Pacific, 1 billion of those did not earn above US$2
a day and 336 million live in extreme poverty on less than US$1 a
day.
Due to poor union organisation across most countries workers
continue to be exploited, not getting their fair share of the
wealth created. Since 1995, total output per worker has accounted
for over 40% of productivity gains; wage growth does not reflect
this. In countries such as Pakistan and India, wage growth between
1990-2002 rose by 8.5%, while manufacturing labour productivity
grew by 84% in that same period.
Current Developments
Vietnam/Republic of
Korea- bringing in standards in line with ILO conventions.
- China/Japan- new
regulations for individual contracts and strengthening the
protection for workers in non-standard forms of employment.
- Indonesia focusing on
dismissal regulations, severance allowances and use of contract
workers.
- Countries that are yet
to endorse Freedom of Association/Right to Organise No. 87 and the
Right to Organize & Collectively bargain No. 98, China, India,
Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Korea, Thailand and
Vietnam.
- Union density
generally at 3-8% in Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia and Republic of
Korea.
- New Zealand, Australia
and Singapore have the highest union density average of 19% across
the region.
Regional Trading Blocs
There are two prominent trade organisations in operation in
the region namely the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
ASEAN
ASEAN was founded in 1967, it has 10 member states all located
in the Southeast Asia region. There is currently no formal role for
Trade Unions or other civil society groups in this economic forum.
Trade Unions through their Global Union Federation’s and NGO’s are
lobbying for an ASEAN civil society consultative forum. This
proposal would ensure that consideration be given to social and
labour dimensions to the economic policies and decisions
implemented. Two key trade union groups involved in the region
include the Asia-Pacific region of the International Confederation
of Trade Unions called APRO and the Solidarity for Asian Peoples
Advocacy which is a network of NGOs.
APEC
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is another regional
economic forum founded in 1991 which allows for the participation
of the other pacific states in the Asia Pacific region. APEC is the
premier forum for trade and investment discussions in the region.
It has consultative frameworks that allow the business sector,
industry, academia, policy and research institutions and interest
groups within the region to participate. Again there are no strong
social-labour dimensions to this trading group.
