CHUTA MANUSPHAIBOOL
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY
The twenty first century will present Thailand's trade unions with bigger and more challenging tasks. Achievements in the past 25 years have been so limited that Thailand's trade unions, weak and fragmented as they always have been can look to their future with very little confidence.
Freedom of Association.
Freedom of association came with the Constitution of 1932. Workers began their organising activities more actively after the end of World War II, calling for the promulgation of labour laws. There were a number of trade unions before the passage of Thailand's first labour law in 1957. That law was abrogated a year later, thus putting an end to trade unionism in Thailand in 1958.
Trade Unionism was revived in 1972 in the form of employees' associations, only to be called trade unions in 1975, with the passage of the Labour Relations Act 1975. Employees in the private sector may form company union, as well as industrial union, industrial federation, and the national labour congress. In the public sector employees in state enterprises, but not in the civil service, may form their trade unions and may join the same labour congress with unions in the private sector.
Total number of trade unions went up to over 1,000, with a total membership of some 400,000 during the peak period during the years 1980-1991. The union movement was weakened by the military government that took power in 1991. State enterprise unions were separated from the main stream.
Rivalry persisted among the various labour congresses. Hundreds of unions ceased to function. Now there are less than 1,000 trade unions, half of which should be deregistered for not functining at all. Total number of due paying unionists now is below 100,000, or around 1.4 % of waged employees in the private sector.
The Freedom to bargain collectively existed since 1972 uninterrupted till present date. Workers have the freedom to go on strike since 1972, though interrupted for a few years after the coup in 1976, and again in 1991.
The freedom to organise, to bargain collectively and to go on strike still exists in Thailand even though Thailand does not ratify the relevant ILO Conventions.
Abolition of Forced Labour
Forced labour is not allowed in Thailand. It is against the constitutional law, and human rights. However, there are certain situations which may appear like a forced labour situation. These are :
1. The use of selected inmates for certain kind of work.
2. The use of military conscripts in public work.
Inmates are given occupational training. Their products are sold outside their cells, with the money divided between the inmates and the prisons. A stone cutting company supplies uncut stones to thousands of selected inmates for fine cutting, and even for setting on rings, and other ornaments. This is done to help them earn money, as well as to prepare them for jobs when they are released. Trade unions have never objected to the practice.
Inmates on parole are allowed out with close supervision to help with public work like clearing the drainage, build or repair fence, gardening. The practice is regarded as psychological therapy, rather than punishment.
Young men who spend their 2 years doing military service are also given occupational training, so that they may tender to their family work, as well as work in factories.
Elimination of Discrimination over Employment
There is still some form of employment discrimination against women in certain jobs such as in active military service, commercial pilots . Women accept that the nature of work makes the jobs more suitable for men. On the contrary, women are given additional protection by the law, i.e. not to carry too heavy a load, not to work during late hours, etc. Labour protection law in Thailand makes it clear that employers may not discriminate by sex, or religion, or race.
The real need is to prohibit employers to discriminate on age, beauty, and on union involvement. There is no law against employers who turn down job applicants over 35 years old in favor of the younger people. Employers may still announce their needs for females who possess the right figures. Unionists are rejected in favor of non-unionists. This is a reason why employees are reluctant to become union members. Despite telling them the value of the Civil Rights Act, or Equal Opportunities Act, Thailand's trade unions show little interest in employment discrimination practices.
Jod application forms of many companies ask applicants to fill in whether they have been members of any trade unions. If so, few would have a chance for a job interview.
Roles of Thailand's Trade Unions in Social Justice
Many trade unions in Thailand see the importance of social justice. It is their members and workers in general who always suffer from social injustice. They have their salary deducted to pay for their personal income tax, but they receive so little in return in the form of necessary public service. The unions have not been active enough to fight for the availability of social service, welfare to workers in general, and the poors. The unionists themselves work in companies which provide many forms of fringe benefits, such as medical allowance, insurance, and also benefit from the workmen compensation, and the social security system.
Public Health.
The government has been providing public health care at cost to almost all parts of the country. Though the service should be improved. The union, must demand a better quality of health care, availability of the service to their families.
Education.
Thailand provides compulsory education up to 6 years of primary education. Free public education must be extended to another 3 years, and later 6 years of secondary education so as to alleviate children of workers' opportunity for better employment and income. The unions should pay attention to the fact that budget allocation favor children of the better off urban people to go for higher education, while children of the poor have to bear lower quality of education from distant and poorly equipped schools.
Workers also need further occupational training, and skills upgrading. They need to be given support, in term of time off and educational fee to enable them to advance themselves through education. However Thailand's trade unions have not been active in this regard.
Welfare.
The Workmen Compensation Fund was introduced in 1972 to help pay for the workers sick, or injured from or at work. Later on in 1990, social security system was introduced in a modest scale, with employers and employees contributing 1.5 % of monthly wage to the fund, to help pay for the cost of medical care, death, maternity, etc. The coverage for the aged, the disabled, and the unemployed was postponed from 1996. The trade unions have been pushing for the government to contribute to the fund, and to extend the coverage to aged, the unemployed, and the disabled by 1998.
Improvement in Labour Society
With the solidarity of Thai trade unions' movement, it is believed that labour society in Thailand would be better-off during the 21th century.
On May Day 1997, the unions handed the Prime Minister a list of 20 issues, they demend the government to do as follows:-
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Extend social security benefits to old age, children, and unemployment by 1998.
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social securrity cards to be accepted by all hospitals.
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government to set up pre school age nurseries in industrial areas and large communities
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government to set up a National Institute for Industrial Safety and Health.
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Government to establish a wage structure guideline for employees who have worked more than 1 year.
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effective price control for necessary commodities.
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construct low cost housing for workers.
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Stop privatising state enterprises.
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allow workers to cast their vote at the work place.
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ratify the ILO Convention No.87, No.98, and No.141.
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enact a law to protect union founders.
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investigate the disappearance of former LCT President, Thanone Bo-Arn. (since June 19, 1991).
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increase severance payment for those who work more than 6 years and become redundant.
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appoint union representative to the Board of Investment (BOI), and the Joint Committee of Public and Private Sectors.
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extend compulsory education to year 12, and to include the study of Labour law in the curriculum
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announce that May 10 is the National Safety day.
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confine alien workers to employment in agriculture, construction and fishery only.
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adjust minimum wage rate in line with the changing cost of living.
protection for the self employed and casual labour.
Cooperation and Joint Efforts Among Trade Unions in Asia
Most important is the work of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. This is supplemented by assistance from national labour congresses of developed economies, such as the AFL-CIO, (through the Asian American Free Labor Institute and the Japanese by Rengo, etc). International agencies such as the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, various trade secretariats such as the International Metal Workers' Federation (IMF), the International Textile, Garments, Leather Workers' Federation(ITGLWF), and so on, have been active in helping Thailand's trade unions to educate their members. There are also semi government organisations like the Japan Institute of Labour, universities, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and various foundations, who have been active off and on. These assistance should be coordinated and properly planned, otherwise their good intention may hurt rather than help Thailand's trade unions to improve their knowledge and skills so that the better labour society will be created.
Conclusion
Thailand's trade unions are weak and fragmented because union leaders have limited education and resource. They are in fact weaker today than 10 years ago. Worse is that Thailand's worsening economy will further weaken the unions during the next 3 years. By that time trade unions may become even less significant to take on the challenge of their tasks in the future.
There is a need to establish and support a foundation which is geared for the development of trade unions in Thailand. There will have to be a financial assistance program large enough to employ experts and unionists to work toward linking various trade unions in Thailand together, then link their central organisation to international trade unions.
Without a total restructuring of Thailand's trade union movement, foreign assistance only delays their inevitable death. Trade union, or hero of the underprivilege certainly cannot be of much hope.
TASKS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE WORLD OF LABOUR
IN ASIA : ROLE OF ICFTU-APRO
TAKASHI IZUMI
GENERAL SECRETARY, ICFTU-APRO
1. In addressing the topic for discussion at this session, one must be clear about the distinction between the tasks and challenges for the world of labour, and the identity and characteristics of trade unions as represented at the international and regional levels as the ICFTU and its Asian and Pacific Regional Organisation. Workers and their representative trade unions would refuse to be dragged into any tendentious argument being sought these days by vested interests about the raison d'e-tre and marginalisation of trade union organisations, and the relevance of trade unions in society. At the same time, it may be emphasised that the role and the tasks of trade unions at the plant, national, regional and international, have undergone evolutionary changes to meet the challenges of time.
2. In this context, since the end of cold war and globalisation of economy characterised by sweeping economic reform and structural adjustment programmes*, trade unions at all levels have been deliberating on the threats, challenges and opportunities for trade unions into the 21st century. The growing competitiveness in trade, investment, services, and technology us all leaving its impact on the industrial relations scene. The ominous trend set for instance by the amendments to the Employment Contract Act 1991 in New Zealand is now spreading to many other countries where the governments are introducing revision and amendments to labour legislation calculated to further weaken and restrict the democratic rights of workers and to undermine the role and effective functioning of trade unions. The need for social dialogue has been felt more than ever before in the current pace of changes in the political, economic and social order. In this presentation it will be my endeavour to showcase the new and dynamic role of ICFTU-APRO, which represents over 33 million workers in 29 countries of the Asia Pacific region, in building trade unions into the 21st century.
*chieflly initiated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB),
History and Growth
3. When the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) was founded in December 1949, the provision was made in the Constitution for the establishment of Regional Organisations to deal with problems affecting the workers and the trade unions in their respective continents and to further the aims and objects of the Confederation. The relationship between the ICFTU and its Regional Orga-nisations has been constantly evolving, the guidelines being the centralisation of policy-making, joint planning, and a considerable measure of decentralisation of action. The 16th ICFTU World Congress held last year (Brussels, June 1996) in adopting a Reso-lution on "Strengthening the ICFTU Through the Regional Organisations" emphasised that the current pace of globalisation and its harsh impact on the trade union position in the regions make it essential to further increase the ICFTU's capacity to pursue its policies, strategies and programmes through the regionalisation of its activities.
*chieflly initiated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB),
4. The ICFTU Asian Regional Organisation (ICFTU-ARO) was thus formed at a conference of trade union organisations in the Asia region affiliated to the ICFTU, held in Karachi, May 28 to 31, 1951. The name of the Organisation was changed to ICFTU Asian and Pacific Regional Organisation (ICFTU-APRO) at the 13th Asian Regional Conference in Seoul, May 1984, to fully reflect the area of its operation covering the countries in the Pacific region. The ARO at the time of its foundation represented some 4 million members from nine affiliated organisations in eight countries of Asia. Now in 1997, the ICFTU-APRO represents over 33 million workers through 42 national trade union organisations in 29 countries of the Asia Pacific region, and maintains friendly relations with non-affiliated organisations in the region like in China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Purpose and Tasks
5. The Rules of the ICFTU-APRO lays down succinctly the purpose and tasks of the Organisation. The first and foremost purpose of the APRO is "to maintain and develop a powerful and effective international organisation at world-wide and regional levels, composed of free and democratic trade unions, independent of any external domination and pledged to the task of promoting the interests of working people throughout the world and of enhancing the dignity of labour". In furtherance of its purpose the APRO has been entrusted with multifarious tasks, which could be grouped under representation, education and training, economic and social policy development, protection and promotion of basic and democratic rights of workers, empowerment and integration of women into trade unions, addressing the problems of young workers and elimination of child labour, and carrying on constant publicity and maintaining media relations for the achievement of the aims of the Organisation. As per the decision of the APRO Regional Conference, the highest authority in the Organisation, the APRO is also now exploring the initiation of dialogue with relevant trade union and other institutions in countries where no ICFTU affiliate yet exists or operates with a view to bringing about extension of the ICFTU's position on the issues currently facing trade unions. Recently, APRO's activities have been further sub-regionalized to meet their real and specific needs.
Economic and Social Policy
6. In the threshold of the 21st century, marked by increasing interdependence between countries, and fast globalising economy, the tasks for the labour world in the Asia Pacific region are new, gigantic, complex, and challenging. In order to focus attention on the impact of globalising economy and inter-dependence, and their implications for trade unions, the ICFTU-APRO in recent years has chosen for deliberations at its Conferences and Seminars subjects of topical importance.
7. The 15th ICFTU-APRO Regional Conference (Tokyo, December 1992) had as its main theme the "Trade Unions Response to Increasing Globalisation" preceded by a symposium on "Trade Unions in an Increasingly Interdependent World". The Conference adopted a "Tokyo Statement" which adamantly proclaimed that that strong independent trade unions are needed as checks and balances to negate the adverse effects of market mechanisms. The Conference identified the need for a Social Charter, and called for the development of action plans to meet the challenges inherent in today's increasingly globalising economy.
8. As a follow up to the Regional Conference, a Trade Union Economic Conference was held in Phuket, Thailand in June 1993 which pointed out that the dynamics of a market economy was private profit and not responsible national development. The Conference declared that the concept of a social charter should challenge the ideas of international competitiveness being driven by low wage competition. It emphasised that the Social Charter for Democratic Development will be the vehicle for trade unions advocacy, mobilisation, agitation, and delivery.
9. In the same year, an APRO Seminar on Economics and Social Development (Singapore, November 1993), organised in collaboration with the Japan Institute of Labour (JIL), concluded that trade unions, while recognising the socio-economic issues and problems posed to the workers and trade unions by structural adjustment programmes, should be able to provide concrete alternative policies to governments and/or international institutions. The Seminar expressed the view that it was time to reshape the structure and financial resources of trade unions at all levels to deal effectively with the changes.
10. The APRO Executive Board, meeting in Seoul, August 1994, adopted the ICFTU-APRO Social Charter for Democratic Development, which is concerned with how unions should work together to promote the recognition and respect of the fundamental rights of workers. The Board emphasised the imperative need for the governments and employers of Asian and Pacific countries to associate trade unions and social institutions as dialogue partners who by their responsive and responsible cooperation and support could contribute to the formulation and implementation of economic and social developmental plans. It appealed to the governments of the Asian and Pacific region to endorse the considered views of free and democratic trade unions as expressed in the ICFTU-APRO Social Charter for Democratic Development, and to give effect to the principles contained therein through appropriate legislation and administrative actions.
11. A Seminar on "An Increasingly Globalising Economy with Human Face", which the APRO held in November-December 1994 deliberated on the social and economic tensions resulting from the policies of neo-liberalism, the impact of trade and financial liberalisation policies on employment and trade union rights. The Seminar in which a number of trade union leaders participated felt that trade unions must undergo a process of self-restructuring and of innovative functioning in the face of new challenges and opportunities. The Seminar advocated a process of social dialogue to achieve social justice which has not accompanied the rapid economic growth in the developing countries of the region.
12. International Competitiveness in Trade and Investment - Challenges and Opportunities for Trade Unions was the topic for the Symposium which was held by the APRO in August 1995. The conclusion of the symposium was that the most challenging task facing the trade unions was to re-examine and redefine their roles with the emphasis on adapting themselves to the emerging competitive scenario to ensure that workers' rights and interests were safeguarded, and on carrying on a dialogue as social partners with governments and employers on the issues incorporated in the APRO's Social Charter for Democratic Development.
13. The main theme of the last Regional Conference of the ICFTU-APRO in Cebu, Philippines in December 1996 was on "Building Trade Unions Into the 21st Century". The theme paper adopted by the Conference analysed the current economic, social and trade union situation obtaining in the Asia Pacific region on the basis of Where Do We Stand Now ? What We should Do ? and How Far Can We Go? The paper identified various action programmes for implementation on a multispeed and multiprong ways. An ICFTU-APRO Charter of Minimum Demands covering five essential areas was adopted, and the affiliated organisations were urged to diligently carry out the multiprong activities within a target time frame of between the years 2005 and 2015.
14. In recent years the ICFTU-APRO closely collaborating with the ICFTU and International Trade Secretariats (ITS) has effectively represented the concerns and interests of trade unions in the activities of international and inter-governmental organisations as the ILO, WTO, APEC and ASEM. Position papers and situational analysis have been prepared and submitted to these inter-governmental bodies articulating the concerns and views of the free and democratic trade unions in the region. The APRO took the lead in the context of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the establishment of the Asia Pacific Labour Network (APLN) in 1995 to support and promote the work of trade unions of the APEC region in their dialogue with governments, business and other groups involved in the APEC process. APLN holds annual meetings for preparing labour proposals for submission to the APEC leaders. The third year in the series, labour proposals entitled "Building the Social Dimension of APEC" have been submitted to the 1997 APEC Heads of State Meeting in Vancouver last November. These labour proposals were submitted to the respective Chair of the APEC Leaders Meeting - Prime Minister Murayama of Japan in 1995, President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines in 1996, and Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada this year. Modest progress has been made in the APEC process in September 1997 with the adoption of a Joint Ministerial Statement at the 2nd APEC Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministerial Meeting (Seoul, September 26, 1997) recognising that human resources development should be a concern not only for governments, but will be most effectively achieved when labour and management participate in this process, and directing the HRD Working Group to do the needful in the matter.
15. The APRO has similarly pursued in all possible ways the ICFTU's campaign for inclusion of a social clause in the multilateral trade agreements. On the eve of the First WTO Ministerial Conference in December last year, an international trade union conference on WTO was organised in Singapore in which the APRO took an active part, and during the WTO Conference, together with leading trade union representatives vigorously lobbied for the establishment of a special working group on trade and international labour standards to examine how the rules of the WTO can be adapted to ensure that the mutually reinforcing relationship between core international labour standards and the multilateral trading system is enhanced.
16. As an integral part of a gloablising economy, international migration of workers, especially in the Asian region, has been steadily increasing both in numbers and in its dimensions. The pattern of migration from South to South has been changing, and the migrants are employed mostly in what is known as 3-D jobs, meaning thereby dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs. The migrant workers face innumerable difficulties in the form exploitation by agents, non-payment of agreed wages, poor housing conditions, lack of medical attention, heavy workload and long working hours. Trade unions have a vital role to play in protecting and promoting the rights of migrant workers. The APRO has through conferences and seminars drawn the attention of trade unions on their role in safeguarding the interests of migrant workers, and in ensuring that the principles enshrined in international instruments as are available in regard to migrant workers are followed in letter and spirit.
Trade Union Rights and Organising
17. In recent years, growing number of violation of trade union rights, and repression of trade union movement has been reported from many countries of the Asia Pacific region. Through revision and amendments, provisions in the labour legislation are made stringent with the aim of continuing to deny, or further restrict the universally accepted labour standards to the workers and their representative trade unions. The APRO makes persistent representation to the heads of governments drawing attention to the specific instances of violations and seeking their intervention in ensuring the legitimate trade union and other human rights. In this respect, the APRO has held training programmes for Trade Union Rights Correspondents to monitor and report on violations of trade union rights in their respective countries.
18. As per the decision of the APRO Executive Board, a Trade Union Rights Week is observed every year from December 7 to 13. During this week, the APRO affiliated and friendly organisations undertake multifarious activities for promotion of trade union rights. The APRO itself organises many programmes and also assists the affiliates in undertaking various activities, such as rallies, demonstrations, education programmes, printing of posters, etc.
19. As part of its activities for the defense of workers and trade union rights, the APRO is now focusing increasing attention to organising work and has extended all possible assistance to the affiliates and friendly organisations in their recruitment campaigns, especially of workers in the informal sector, women and youth.
Women
20. The APRO has always paid special attention to the empowerment, participation and integration of women in trade union work. It is recognised that globalisation has opened new employment opportunities for women both in the formal and informal sectors, especially in export processing zones. APRO governing bodies have urged the affiliates to take initiatives to increase the number of women in trade union decision making bodies, and to ensure gender parity in all trade union work.
21. In recent years the APRO has undertaken of its own and has also encouraged and assisted affiliates and friendly organisations in undertaking activities for observing with a campaign approach the International Women Day on March 8 every year. The APRO has brought out a series of posters, brochures, and leaflets on women issues. The organising campaign adopted by the APRO with the slogan 1 + 1 = Women Power has been greatly acclaimed in the field as a unique and novel method for organising women workers and enhancing their status.
22. With the objective of bringing about full integration of gender perspectives in all aspects of work in the trade unions, and for training the trainers on how to incorporate gender perspectives in trade union training programmes and in the process raise their own awareness of gender and equality issues and bring about a change of attitudes among union leaders and members, the APRO has undertaken pilot projects with select affiliated organisations.
Education
23. Education and Training has been among the core activities of the APRO from its very inception. APRO has been carrying out for more than four decades now a programme of trade union and workers' education as a necessary adjunct to organisational activities of affiliates and friendly organisations. Apart from regular structured programmes for training the rank and file trade unionists, the APRO has been holding programmes on specialised topics as demanded by the developments in the region. Since 1991, the APRO is organising annually Advanced Leadership Courses of four-week duration for young and promising trade unionists, in collaboration with the Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF) and the Singapore Institute of Labour Studies (SILS).
24. The APRO periodically holds Trade Union Education Conferences in which the tasks for trade union education, the organisational machinery, the scope and content, and the methods and techniques are all reviewed and updated. Education consultancy services are provided to the affiliated organisations who are encouraged to undertake systematic trade union education and training programmes to equip trade union leaders and cadres alike to effectively address to the challenges of change.
25. With the objective of enhancing the economic and social status of trade unions, the ICFTU-APRO has for over twenty years now been assisting the affiliates with various types of projects. As per the decision of the ICFTU World Congress, the project-related activities have been decentralised and the APRO has tuned itself to assisting the affiliates with projects in many fields as organising the unorganised, women, youth, child labour, health and safety and other organisational questions within the union.
Youth
26. The APRO has played its due role in promoting programmes for young workers so as to encourage them to take active part in the trade union movement. APRO's activities in this respect have been directed towards organising and recruiting of young workers, promotion and setting of youth structures, youth leadership programmes, youth and employment, and youth for union strength.
27. The APRO has so far held three Youth Rallies - the First Youth Rally in Japan in 1984, the Second in Singapore in 1989, and the Third in Korea in 1994. The Fourth APRO Youth Rally is being planned to be held in 1999. The last APRO Youth Rally in Seoul adopted the "Seoul Plan" - Youth Agenda for Trade Unions in the Asia Pacific Region, which set the direction and guidelines for development of a youth policy for the trade union movement. The APRO periodically organises specialised programmes for young workers, the latest one being the Youth Coordinators Workshop held in conjunction with the APRO Executive Board meeting in Singapore in October. Among other things, the Youth Workshop deliberated on the ICFTU Youth Charter in the light of pressing problems facing young workers in this region.
28. Child labour has been a vexing issue in many countries covered by the APRO, especially in the South Asia region where it is estimated there are 150 million or about 60 per cent of the world's child workers, many of them below 5 years and working in hazardous industries and in appalling conditions. Apart from seminars and workshops on the subject of problems and perspective of child labour in the region, the APRO has also undertaken rehabilitation and school programmes for children in Pakistan, India and Nepal, and has done surveys on child labour in Bangladesh and the Philippines . APRO is taking various steps to sensitise trade unions about the blight of child labour and is encouraging them to undertake special programmes and projects with a view to eventually eliminating child labour. The APRO in this respect supports the Global March Against Child Labour and has urged all trade union national centres to actively participate in the March and its related activities.
Information
29. In recent years, the APRO has intensified its activities in the field of information, press and publicity with a view to informing, educating and enlightening workers, union members, and the general public about the vital role played by trade unions as social partners in shaping up and directing the course of political, economic and social order.
30. The APRO periodicals, especially the twice-weekly APRO Labour Flash gives information about the trends of developments in the areas of concern and interest to labour. Endeavours are made constantly to improve the contents of APRO publications for dissemination of the views and experiences in the world of labour.
31. Aimed at helping trade unions to improve their profile in the national media, the APRO offers education and training programmes to trade union press officers in media skills and media relations.
Conclusion
32. The tasks and challenges for the world of labour are mounting with increasing globalisation and inter-dependence. The greatest challenge facing the world of labour today stems from the growing operations and power of multinational companies who wield tremendous influence and control in the areas of international trade, investment, finances, technology, and work organisation. Trade unions need to tackle the MNCs by devising strategies, including the establishment of a meaningful dialogue with them at the international, regional and sectoral structures. A Regional Symposium on Multinational Companies, organised by the APRO in July this year, examined the role and strategies of trade unions in relation to the impact of the activities of MNCs and recommended action programmes. The strategies recommended included (a) vigorous interface at regional and global level with UN agencies, World Bank, IMF, ADB and various regional economic groupings, (b) developing of code of practice for MNCs, (c) campaigns identifying the best and worst MNCS, organising worldwide boycotts and blacklisting, (d) setting up data base and information sharing on MNC practices on union organising, collective bargaining etc. (e) labour law reform, (f) legal actions, (g) building stronger trade unions, and (h) international solidarity of trade unions. As a follow up to the symposium on MNCs, experts meeting on Labour Laws, Collective Bargaining, and Code of Practices for MNCs were held by the APRO, in which the issues for guidelines on the subjects were discussed and recommendations made. The ICFTU proposals for Company and Industry Codes of Conduct on Labour Practices and their Implementation and Monitoring was discussed in the light of experiences in dealing with MNCs at Free Trade Zones, and Industrial Parks in the APRO region.
33. In order to stay relevant in the emerging new era of economic and social order, trade unions must develop pro-active policies and strategies to protect and promote the well-being of workers, and ensure that the social dimension of economic growth in the region is appropriately taken care of. In this onerous task, the free and democratic trade union in the region can confidently look to the APRO not only in mobilising international solidarity support essential today, but in providing practical cooperation and support to union activities in fulfilling the tasks and meeting the challenges.