Asia Pacific workers hit by financial crisis

25 June 2009

Transport workers in the Asia Pacific region are feeling the effects of the global economic crisis, according to delegates at the ITF regional conference in Kuala Lumpur last week.

Union delegates expressed concern that workers were bearing the brunt of failing financial mechanisms, capitalist greed and overdependence on the free market economy.

Transport workers and their unions face unprecedented challenges in the region. Workers have been hit by job losses and substantial cuts in wages. There has been a massive increase in casual, contract and non-socially protected employment.  Many workers have to opt for reduced working hours. In almost all cases management are asking to defer collective bargaining negotiations, or offering nothing.

Women and youth workers face particular problems. Women are often paid less than men, and are the first to be let go by employers, the regional women’s conference was told. Young workers, who also held a conference preceding the event, are more likely to be in precarious work. Recommendations and resolutions from both these meetings were presented to the section committees and the conference for support and adoption.
 
“Unions need to organise all the workers in the transport industry - whether permanent, casual, contract or outsourced - to maintain union bargaining clout,” said new regional secretary Mahendra Sharma.

The ITF is monitoring developments in the industry through research and
intelligence gathering. It is passing the information to unions to promote better coordination and solidarity amongst affiliates. It is also helping affiliates to lobby and influence employers and governments on policies to help workers, said Sharma.

273 participants representing 124 unions from 26 countries attended the 7th Asia Pacific regional conference, which concluded on June 18.  Unions in this region represent more than one million workers.

The conference is just one of the ITF’s regional events in the run up to next year’s congress, which will be held in Mexico City. The congress theme of `Strong Unions Sustainable Transport’ is being debated by ITF affiliates at events around the globe.

Affiliates at the conference also thanked the departing regional secretary, Shigeru Wada, and departing chair Zainal Rampak. Hanafi Rustandi was elected as the new chair of the regional committee.

                         

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