As a Sri Lankan, I was privileged to take part in 18th UNI APRO Women’s Committee Meeting and witness this joint sector conference with three more UNI SLAC colleagues from our finance Sector.
18th UNI APRO Women’s Committee Meeting took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on 20 November 2017. The committee meeting was chaired by Sister MirahSumirat of ASPEK Indonesia with the participation of about forty five (45) strong women leaders in the UNI APRO Region. During the meeting the committee members shared their country reports about the women’s activities in their own countries, own unions, review of the programs concluded in 2016-2017, updates about Indonesian labor Movement etc.
Bro Christopher Ng, the UNI APRO Regional Secretary extended his greetings to the Women’s Committee and mentioned that “UNI APRO is unique and innovative” The meeting was a good stage for fruitful discussions and debates overabout Gender based violence, workplace violence, mentoring program and women empowerment.
I was honored to report on the activities of UNI APRO Youth and Young Women Involvement in our youth activities in the region and UNI SLAC Women Activities to the 18th UNI APRO Women’s Committee Meeting.
5th UNI APRO Commerce & Finance Joint Conference held in Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia from 21-23 November 2017 under the theme of “UNI APRO Determined & Prepared”.
The eventbrought together more thanhundreds of Union members across the Asia Pacific region and key officials from UNI Global Union Headquarters from Switzerland to review economic and social issues, the role of leadership in promoting uniondevelopment, expand capacity to address current and future development challenges, strategies in a global context to address the performance of trade unionism in Finance and Commerce sectors in the region.
The joint conference began with opening remarks by the Guest of Honor, HE M. HanifDhakiri, and the Minister of Manpower – Republic of Indonesia and continued with interactive panel discussions, presentations and briefings on topics of interest to the future trade unionism in Digitalized era. It concluded with a set of presentations of real world examples from affiliate unions describing their current practices, issues and new and noteworthy initiatives relevant to the conference theme, specifically on Emerging Economic and Social Issues under the fourth industrial revolution, How should employers and trade union respond, Trade unions Confronting the challenges of globalization and regional economic integration and organizing the future world of work and global economy.
His Excellency Minister HanifDhakiri addressing the conference
During the Commerce sector panel discussions, many featured speakers from UA ZENSEN, Takashimaya Workers Union of Japan, USDAW UK, SDA Australia, MM Mega Market Vietnam shared their views on Employees and Trade unions working in partnership to Manage adjustments at the industry level, Organizing & Representing employees and future workforce strategy that ensure employability, decent terms and conditions of work and employment.
At the Commerce sector session, I shared our own experiences and efforts put in organizing the young retail sector employees in Sri Lanka and the challenges we face.
Finance sector conference was themed UNI APRO Determined & Prepared -Shaping Digital and Social Finance for Sustainable Development. Dr. Rani Jayamaha, Lead Consultant of World Bank Group shared her views during a panel discussion addressng the topic “Finance in the waves of Digitalisation, Global and Asian liberalisation Of Finance: Employers and Trade Unions working in partnership to Manage adjustments at the enterprise and industry levels.
Dr. Rahman, Dr. Jayamaha with Director Priyalal Sri Lankan Team in Jakarta
There she emphasizes the the level of disruption; impact of FinTech on financial services; regulatory response; strategies to preserve financial stability and enhance financial inclusion. According to Dr.Jayamaha, “countriesneed growth strategies focusing on regional financial integration, flexible regulatory approvals for Fintech/start up service providers, establish transparent governance structures to attract FDIs while paying attention to human capital formation, labour market governance and financial inclusion to ensure National Readiness”
Moreover DrAtiur Rahman- Professor University of Dhaka ( Former Governor of the Bangladesh Bank), MrNoritakaAkamatsu -Senior Advisor, ADB, Mr. Angelo D Christo- Head UNI Finance shared their expertise as key note speakers during the panel discussion on topics such as Finance Sector in the new economy: Empowering Finance Workers, Finance sector in the waves of globalization under the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Finance Sector in the Digital Era: Organizing and Representing Finance Employees while Trade union leaders from different countries shared their own experience during each panel discussions.
Bro. T G W Gunawardana, President, CBEU of Sri Lanka shared his views on Future workforce strategy that ensures Employability and decent terms and conditions of work and employment and explained how Banking Industry in Sri Lanka, specially CBEU’s contribution towards ensuring decent terms and conditions of work.
Last but not least , I must mention that this conference was a good learning experience for me to hear the success stories of Commerce sector trade union organizing and the challenges they confront in the waves of globalization under the fourth Industrial revolution, to get more familiarize and tighten friendship with the members of our very own UNI Family.
Thank you UNI SLAC & Thank you UNI APRO!
Norika Warnasuriya.
UNI APRO Youth President.
UNI SLAC Youth Secretary.