Welcome to the first edition of our regular newsletter for ITF affiliates in the Asia Pacific region.
The purpose of these updates is to keep you informed of what’s happening in ITF Asia Pacific, and to share important information about workers’ rights, regional campaigns, upcoming events and affiliate successes.
We are all stronger when we work together, and we are all better informed when we share information.
In Unity
Scott McDine
ITF Asia Pacific Regional Secretary
GLOBAL NEWS
Solidarity Fund for Nepal transport workers and their families
The situation in Nepal and the border region of China remains very serious following catastrophic floods.
With essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges and electricity transmission lines destroyed, there is an urgent need for humanitarian support such as food, water, shelter, medical supplies and hygiene kits in the disaster zone.
The ITF is coordinating a relief fund to support affected transport workers in Nepal and their families. All donations to the relief fund are greatly appreciated.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RELIEF FUND TODAY
Seafarers under attack
Seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, Black Sea and Red Sea continue to be attacked, and continue to lose their lives. Around 80 per cent of the seafarers affected by these conflicts are from the Asia Pacific region.
The ITF has been a high-profile advocate for the safety of seafarers and for an end to the hostilities in the Middle East and Ukraine. In particular, ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton has been fronting up in the media day-after-day to ensure that the plight of seafarers is not forgotten.
The message to global political leaders is clear: stop killing seafarers.
ITF Releases AI Principles
ITF has released its global AI principles document, setting out eight preconditions for the use of artificial intelligence in transport workplaces.
Seizing Control: Transport Workers’ Principles for Artificial Intelligence sets out the conditions that employers, technology providers and governments must meet when AI affects transport workers. The principles establish that no AI system in transport can be responsibly conceived, assessed, deployed or governed without the workers it affects and the unions that represent them.
The Principles were adopted by delegates at the close of the ITF Transport Workers' Conference on Artificial Intelligence, held from 15–18 September 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka .
The conference was the first of its type , bringing together union leaders, negotiators and workers from across transport including aviation, ports, shipping, rail, road transport, warehousing, urban transport and the platform economy to discuss AI and the future of work. Held over three days, the conference examined how AI is evolving, how it is being deployed, and how workers can seize control of the way AI is used in the workplace.
ITF Asia Pacific also hosted a casual dinner for participants after day three of the conference.
REGIONAL NEWS
Organising Workers on the Trans-Caspian Railway
An alliance of transport unions from across Central Asia and beyond came together in Astana, Kazakhstan, during August to discuss the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) – a developing transport corridor that starts in Southeast Asia and China and runs through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further to European countries.
The meeting was hosted by the Kazakhstan Trade Union of Railway Transport Workers (KAZPROFZHEL) and organised by the ITF.
Trade union leaders discussed how the continued growth of the TITR and the broader ‘middle corridor’ across Central Asia present both significant opportunities and challenges for railway workers and all transport workers in supply chains harnessing the TITR.
Strengthening trade union capacity on Mongolian railways
Representatives from the ITF Land Transport and the ITF Asia Pacific region participated in a series of high-level meetings with affiliates in Mongolia during August.
The meetings discussed topics such as the importance of strengthening the capacity of railway unions in Mongolia, promoting the implementation of international labour standards, and the need to regularly share information on ITF policies and best practice in the rail sector.
AFFILIATE NEWS
Fiji unions campaign for a living wage
Workers in Fiji are campaigning to secure a Living Wage that enables them to live a decent and dignified life.
The campaign is gaining momentum after Fijian trade unions held signature-collecting events for petitions in Suva, Nadi and Lautoka during August.
Milestone moment for safety on Colombo ports
An ITF report outlining the results of a safety inspection of Colombo ports has been presented to the Chairman of the Sri Lankan Ports Authority, Dr Parakrama Dissanayake.
The delivery of the report was an important milestone, and a significant step towards a safer working environment for Sri Lankan dock workers following a series of fatal incidents earlier this year.
ITF will be conducting a Health and Safety ToT (Training of Trainers) in Colombo program later this month.
Australian transport workers fighting for their future
For the first time ever, Australian transport workers have aligned 200-plus Enterprise Agreements across aviation and road transport to expire together in 2026.
That means 60,000 transport workers with the Transport Workers' Union of Australia (TWU) across the roads and skies are simultaneously fighting for better pay and conditions to future-proof the whole industry.
IDEA: Representing informal workers in Cambodia
IDEA – the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association – has been representing Cambodia’s informal workforce since it was formed in 2005. IDEA is focused on representing tuk-tuk drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, street and market vendors, small traders, domestic workers, small restaurant workers, waste collectors and other informal workers.
Click here to read the affiliate profile.
SECRETARIAT NEWS
Union Capacity Building Workshops
A series of ITF Asia Pacific capacity-building training workshops for union delegates, organisers and leaders has kicked off, with the first workshop being held in Phnom Penh.
Participants included representatives from IDEA, the Trade Union of Sihanoukville Port and other transport worker organisations.
Some of the issues discussed included organising workers in the informal economy, the challenges facing women in the workforce, job insecurity, wages and conditions, the impact of rising fuel costs, and building stronger and more effective unions.
The workshops are being delivered in partnership with Union Aid Abroad APHEDA.
ITF Asia Pacific Secretariat Staff
The ITF Asia Pacific Secretariat has undergone significant changes. A number of new staff will also be added to the team over the next few months.
Scott McDine - Regional Secretary
Abdulgani Serang - Deputy Regional Secretary
Annie Newman - Regional Lead Organiser
Rajendra Giri - Regional Organiser
Durga Prasad - Regional Organiser
Shigeru Fukuma - Country Liaison (Japan)
Sangi-Gi - Country Liaison (Korea)
Michelle Summers - Executive Assistant to the Regional Secretary
Lee San Woo - Office Operations Administrator
Alexia Blye - Office Operations Administrator
Deepak Sharma - Regional Finance Assistant
Stewart Prins - Regional Communications, Campaigns & Strategy Lead
Upcoming events
· Asia Pacific Cabin Crew Workshop – Japan, 27-28 October, 2026