ASETUC PHILIPPINES NATIONAL ADVOCACY WORKSHOP
“ASETUC for ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action”
13 March 2010, Columbus Room, Discovery Suites, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
1. Objectives: At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to
· Describe what are the key reasons for the regional economic development of the ASEAN;
· Describe the effects ASEAN economic integration on workers and trade unions;
· Explain why it is important for unions to engage with ASEAN both regionally and nationally;
· Outline an action lobby plan/national campaigns.
2. Program
08:30 Registration
09:00 Welcome Remarks by: Mirko Herberg, Philippine Resident Rep, FES
09:30 Introduction of Keynote Speaker by: Jose P. Umali Jr., UNI-PLC
Keynote Address:
“Philippines and Its Role in the Development of the ASEAN Community”
By: Assistant Secretary Victoria Bataclan
Office of ASEAN Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
10:15 Break
10:30 Panel Discussion on ASEAN Integration
“ASEAN Migrant Workers’ Policy and Implications of ASEAN Integration on Philippine Migrant Workers”
By: Director Helen Barayuga
Employment Regulation Branch
Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA)
“ASEAN Integration and its Implications on the Philippine Service Industry and Workers”
By: Dr. Rene Ofreneo
Professor, University of the Philippines-School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP-SOLAIR)
11:30 Open Forum
12:30 Lunch
02:00 “ASETUC: Response of ASEAN Trade Unions to ASEAN Integration”
By: Magdalene Kong
ASETUC / UNI-APRO
02:45 Perspective and Responses from Unions in the Service Sector
UNI affiliates: Jose P. Umali, Jr.
General Secretary, UNI-PLC
BWI affiliates: Atty. Ernesto Arellano
Titular Member, BWI-APRO
PSI affiliates: Norman Grecia
Vice President, Alliance of Filipino Workers, PSI-APRO
Moderator: Bobbit Librojo, UNI-PLC
04:00 Action Plan for ASETUC Philippines
Moderator: Tes M. Borgonos, BWI-APRO
05:00 Closing Remarks by: Atty. Ernesto Arellano
3. Participants
· More or less 50 pax
· 30 + came from UNI Apro, BWI AP and PSI SEA; other unions from other GUFs (tourism/hotel, transport, etc.)
· Key leaders of unions/affiliates
· Resource persons: DFA, Academe, POEA-DOLE, ASETUC (regional level) and 1 each from the 3 GUFs
4. How do we decide on the target groups/participants?
· Consultations/meetings of the key ASETUC leaders of the three GUFs with the involvement of their secretariat
· 10 each from UNI Apro, BWI AP and PSI SEA
o responsibilities lied on the leader/secretariat
o mandate from the regional level
· Other unions: inter union/GUF connections
5. Outcomes
· Reach a certain level of interests from among the participants
o Raised several questions on the ASEAN integration, on the panels, ASETUC and sector perspectives/responses
o ASEAN integration and ASETUC are new topics for most of the participants
o Demand for a follow-up activity
· Sense of unity among the different unions
· Created a coordinating structure
· The Healthcare Sector Recommendations developed and conveyed during the ASEAN Economic Integration Workshop held last October 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand was presented to the participants, to wit:
o Full implementation of the Freedom of Association in the ASEAN Region allowing workers to join organizations and enjoining ASEAN governments to ratify ILO Conventions 87 and 98
o Call for an “equal treatment” for migrant workers in the receiving countries
o Setting up of a minimum standard within the region
o Increase ASEAN governments’ health allocation and expenditure
o Strengthen Social Dialogue thru the Principle of Tripartism
It was re-iterated to the participants that these recommendations may be applicable to the Philippines and that recommendation numbers 1, 2 and 5 are already being addressed to by the ASEAN. However, the ASEAN shall further study recommendation numbers 3 and 4.
6. Challenges
· Materials used – translated into popular forms /local dialects
· Maintaining an active coordination among the 3 GUFs, including other unions
· Sustainability of activities (despite of other union campaigns) – targeting ASEAN and ASETUC to be part of union regular campaign activities
· Awareness campaign at the membership level
7. Follow-up Activities
· Trainers’ Training (2-day)
o Multiply present trainers at the national level
o Second line leaders/education/training officers of the union
o Will commit to implement ASETUC awareness campaigns; further their knowledge and skills (on-line training)
· Meetings of the coordinating body (the decision-making body at the national level) with the secretariat
8. Success of ASETUC National Campaign lies on:
· Commitment of the key leaders
· Commitment and capacity of the trainers
· Persons to act as “ASETUC secretariat” at the national level
· Level of awareness and motivation/interest of the general membership (strategic number)
· Availability of resources to sustain activities
