Women workers all over the world are facing unprecedented challenges in the current period. Neo-liberal globalisation, patriarchy and several varieties of intolerant, hegemonic forces are threatening the very survival as well as dignity and life of women workers all over.

Women workers are attempting to face these challenges through several organisational and survival strategies. The last 2-3 decades have seen many strategic interventions and innovative organisational attempts by women workers and their organisations. We are o­ne of them.

In late seventies, Asian countries opened their doors to the multinational corporations for export-oriented industries. These foreign investors came mainly from United States of America, Germany and Japan in search of cheap and readily available source of labour. Thousands of young female workers were brought into the waged work of the "global assembly lines", unaware of the exploitative nature of these industries.

As more women became involved with the work o­n women workers, the idea of setting up a programme to support the struggles of women workers in Asia came about. Thus in 1981, the Committee for Asian Women (CAW) was set up as a joint ecumenical programme of CCA-URM and FABC-OHD which lay the groundwork for networking and publicizing the issues of women workers.

CAW began organizing activities for women workers through workshops, information exchange, supporting local initiatives of network groups, campaigning for women workers in action, building solidarity linkages and solidarity support, and publishing books reflecting the issues and struggles undertaken by women workers in Asia. CAW also saw the need to highlight the gender aspect of women workers as it often is subsumed under the workers' banner. Issues o­n childcare centers, sexual discrimination, equal wages for equal work were constantly published in our newsletter and books to raise the importance of discussing and struggling o­n such issues. CAW's perspective developed into that the struggle of women workers were based o­n the fact that she is a woman oppressed in society as well as a worker subjected to exploitation at workplace.

As CAW network and contact groups begin to grow, it became clear that CAW would move beyond being an ecumenical programme into an Asian organization for women workers. Thus in 1992, the Church affirmed CAW's move to become an independent Asian organization for women workers. At present, there are 30 network members, which are the active contact groups of CAW in 13 Asian countries.

The vision of CAW is of an alternative and desirable world where women participate to make it free from exploitation, from oppression, from marginalization, from want and hunger and from violence. This is a world that is sustainable and based o­n principles of equality, equity, justice, freedom, peace, democracy, accountability, transparency and solidarity. CAW believes in a world where relations across individuals, families, communities, classes and nations are characterized by equity and justice. While pursuing socio-politico-economic equity, CAW believes in fostering gender justice as a cornerstone of such relationships.

We recognize that such a world would be possible o­nly if the marginalized section of people, especially women workers, resist the forces of neo-liberal globalization, capitalism, patriarchy and hegemonic forces that promote, recreate and thrive o­n inequalities, discrimination, marginalization, authoritarianism and violence.

The mission of CAW is the empowerment of Asian women workers to take charge of their own destiny and lives; to encourage the formation of an Asian women workers movement that would promote the vision of CAW.

Our Statement Of Principles

1. Self-determination: CAW is committed to working towards the empowerment and self-reliance of women workers that will enable them to take charge of their own destiny and be the decision makers of their own lives. This possible through promoting women�s democratic leadership based o­n women�s autonomy, dignity, self-respect and respect for others.
2. Diversity: CAW recognizes the diversity of the Asian society in terms of different cultures, religions and races. CAW realizes that these efforts have played both positive and negative roles in determining the lives of women workers. CAW aims to promote unity among women workers across these divisions and promote solidarity in their struggle as women and as workers.
3. Grassroots Transformation: CAW believes that the transformation of society towards a total human equality and development arises essentially from the grassroots. CAW affirms its belief that the women workers� struggle is rooted in the actions of women workers and that they themselves are the determiners of their own liberation. It is the women workers themselves in their own respective countries that strive and struggle for security, justice, peace and equality towards a total human liberation.
4. Equal partnership of women and men: CAW pledges to work towards the equal partnership of women and men. CAW is dedicated to women workers and their organizations in the struggle against the forces of patriarchy and economic exploitation. CAW is committed to the promotion of a new humanity.
5. Democratization: CAW is committed to the overall democratization of society and to the promotion of non-hierarchical and collective decision-making in the organizing of women workers. CAW believes in the full participation of all those involved in the processes which, affect their lives. CAW sees its role as a facilitator, coordinator and catalyst for activities, which are based o­n the realities, experiences and needs of women workers themselves.

Our Objectives

1. To raise the consciousness of women workers in formal and informal sectors in Asia towards the realization of the commonalties of their situations, problems, and analysis and to work towards the need for organized responses to these.
2. To support organizing efforts of the women workers to affect favourable changes in their lives.
3. To be a regional platform for women workers in Asia - to facilitate and represent the voice of women workers in Asia.
4. To promote improvement in the lives of women workers in Asia.
5. To support women workers in their efforts to create alternative systems � both at home and in the workplace.
6. To create organizing spaces for women workers.

1. To consolidate organizing efforts of women workers through training programmes, worker exchange programmes, seminars and workshops so as to effect favourable changes for women workers struggles.
2. To facilitate regional and sub-regional exchanges amongst women workers in Asia towards the realization of the commonalties of their situation, problems and analysis.
3. To publish research, studies, views and opinions o­n the issues of women workers for the purpose of a better understanding of the situation and lives of women workers.
4. To collect and disseminate information and audio-visual resources and experiences of women workers to enable deeper sharing and exchange of their struggles for the strengthening of the women workers� cause.
5. To encourage networking of women workers� groups with other concerned groups at the regional and international levels for more effective mobilization and support for the struggles of women workers.
6. To lobby and advocate for changes that would promote improvement in the lives of women workers in Asia.

CAW works both with formal and informal economy in the three sub-regions of Asia, namely East Asia, South-east Asia and South Asia. CAW also has links with some groups in Indo-China region.

Some of the programmes of CAW over the years have included:

• Several research studies o­n different countries and industries where women are employed o­n issues of working conditions, rights etc.
• Local, national, sub-regional and regional programs and trainings o­n the current and long-terms issues facing women as workers and women as women.
• Taking women workers for exposure trip to have direct exchange with other women workers.
• Speaking tour o­n the situation of women workers in South-east Asia.
• Translation of some issues of our newsletter to different languages
• Research, regional workshop and lobbying o­n the issue of women workers in the informal economy.
• International advocacy campaign o­n the issues of the informal economy
• Research, regional workshop and a well-utilised multi language film (Dolls and Dust) o­n the issue of women workers and the impact of globalisation.
• Urgent appeal o­n violation of labour and women�s rights

CAW has recently started work o­n the theme of women workers and political suppression and armed conflict.

Our Documentation centre

The documentation centre of CAW acts as a resource centre for many activists and students working in the area of women and women workers. CAW has an extensive collection of books, newsletters and journals spanning three decades.

Our Structure

CAW is a network of women workers organisations in Asia, at present 30 members. We are however a growing and learning organisation. The network groups decide the programme direction and work focus of CAW in a consultation meeting every three years.

The policy-making body of CAW is the Executive Committee (called Exco for short). The exco comprises, at present, of six Asian women, two each from the three sub-regions of Asia where CAW works.

The Secretariat of CAW comprises of five Asian women, o­ne Coordinating Officer, two Programme Officers, o­ne Finance and Administration Officer and o­ne Publications and Documentation Officer. The Secretariat carries out the work plan of the organisation. At present there is also a special officer who is in-charge of the Informal Sector work.

• Hong Kong Clothing Industry, Clerical and Retail Trade Employees� General Trade Union (HRCCRTU), Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Women Workers� Association (HKWWA), Hong Kong
• Asian Women Workers� Center, Japan
• Women�s Union Kansai, Japan
• Tokyo Women�s Union, Japan
• Korean Women Workers� Associations United (KWWAU), Korea
• Womenlink, Korea
• Awakening Foundation, Taiwan
• Solidarity Front of Women Workers (SFWW), Taiwan
• Chinese Working Women Network

• Humanika Working Group, Indonesia
• Yayasan Annisa Swasti (YASANTI), Indonesia
• Urban Community Mission (UCM), Indonesia
• Persatuan Sahabat Wanita (Friends of Women), Malaysia
• Tenaganita (Women�s Force), Malaysia
• Kilusang Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK), The Philippines
• KMU-NCR Women Committee, The Philippines
• National Federation of Labour (NFL) Women Committee, The Philippines
• Friends of Women Foundation (FOW), Thailand
• HomeNet Thailand, Thailand
• Metropolitan Textile Labour Union, Thailand
• Women Worker Unity Group, Thailand

• Karmojibi Nari, Bangladesh
• Self-Employed Women�s Association (SEWA), India
• Central Women Workers� Department of GEFONT, Nepal
• All Nepal Women Association (ANWA), Nepal
• Women Worker�s Center (WWC) of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Pakistan
• Working Women Organization (WWO), Pakistan
• Dabindu, Sri Lanka
• Womens� Center, Sri Lanka