Microsoft Corporation's products were locked out of the recent World Social Forum (WSF) held in Nairobi, Kenya.With over 300 computers provided for participants and the press, organisers of the WSF preferred to provide open source software products and blocked all Microsoft related products at the forum. Participants attending the WSF, which for the first time took place in Africa, said this was done as a way of promoting the free social movement and at the same time also as a way of fighting Microsoft's "imperialistic tendencies". In its sixth year, the WSF runs parallel to the World Economic forum and represents alternative social and political views to those dominating the Davos conference. Anoop Sukumaran of Focus o­n the Global South said that since o­ne has to pay licences for Microsoft's software, the multinational computer technology corporation was, in a way, controlling the flow of global information.

Mizzima

By Ko Dee

November 27, 2006 - For the first time Burmese labour rights activists highlighted the deteriorating rights situation of Burmese workers, especially that of Burmese women workers, at a conference o­n Asian Women held in Kuala Lumpur today. The Committee for Burmese Workers in Malaysia (CBWM) today intervened at a conference organized by the Committee for Asian Women and highlighted the worsening situation of Burmese workers both inside and abroad.Ko Latt, President of the CBWM said, "We were able to highlight how the rights of Burmese migrants are being abused."

Labour Resource Centre (LRC)

Alvin Yap24 Nov 2006

The impact of trade liberalisation and globalisation in Asia is seeing more women being discriminated against and mistreated in their workplace, says a conference of women workers group in Kuala Lumpur today.They are also labelled as human capital in the production of goods and services in a labour market which is increasing becoming informal and women workers are abused and discriminated against.

"Women in Malaysia are meeting the labour shortage and this term used in the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the World Bank is incorrect. We are not 'human capital'. Women workers must be seen as people and not human capital in globalisation," said Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez at the Committee for Asian Women (CAW) regional conference.

Friday November 24, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR: Globalization is increasingly eroding the rights of Asia's working women, who are falling victim to weaker legal protection, gender prejudices and poor working conditions, a women's group said Friday. Women are seen as "dispensable labour,'' and because they are not regarded as the breadwinner, are often the first to be laid off, said the Committee for Asian Women, a regional rights body of 39 groups representing female workers in Asia. Although women make up more than half the work force in Asia, "this has not led to more empowerment for women at work or at home,'' CAW chairman, Jurgette Honculada, said at the opening of a four-day conference in Kuala Lumpur o­n Asia's working women. She said foreign direct investment into Asian countries in the past 20 years has promoted labor-intensive industrialization, with a "feminization'' of labor as women have predominantly filled the low-income jobs. In South Asian and Mekong countries, an increasing trend to hire women in "informal'' positions as contract workers or temporary staff has seen a decline in social security protection for working women, Honculada said. "In many Asian countries, growing unemployment and the trend towards the shrinking of the formal labor force in favor of an informal labor force has resulted in a significant loss of labor movement membership. All these threaten worker rights and weaken the bargaining power of workers,'' she said. CAW aims "to create a voice for women workers in Asia,'' coordinating officer Lucia Jayaseelan told reporters. "We want to use all our resources to build trade union movements.'' Some 90 delegates from 13 countries are attending the conference to discuss the rights of women workers, security and livelihood, working conditions for migrant women workers, and the situation of women in the work force in fundamentalist and autocratic regimes in Asia.
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November 1, Vienna- Much awaited new trade union international has been launched today comprising 306 affiliated national trade union centres of 154 country & territories representing some 168 million members.International Trade union Confederation (ITUC) as the umbrella of pluralistic, dynamic, democratic and independent trade union centres is declared amidst the presence of over 1,800 delegates and hundreds of dignitaries such as H.E Heinz Fischer, Federal President of Austria & Juan Somavia, Director General of ILO.

At 11:00 am AST Mr. LeRoy Trutman, Chairperson of Workers Group of ILO declared- " sisters & brothers now I here by declared foundation of International rade Union Confederation (ITUC)", who was chairing the historic event. The motion was forwarded by Emilo Gabaglio, former general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), who had facilitated unification process between ICFTU, WCL and group of non-affiliated national centres known as Contact Group.

(Bangkok, 1 May 2006) Thai Solidarity Group for Democratic Movement in Nepal highlighted the Nepal situation at a rally while celebrating the May Day in Bangkok today morning. Addressing the rally, Parat Nanakhorn, of Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL), member of the Thai Solidarity Group for Democratic Movement in Nepal, admired the people's struggle for democracy that forced the Nepalese king to move back from the unrestrained position.

Highlighting the people's struggle in Nepal, she stressed that the full-fledged democracy and peace are the core issues that can guarantee the trade union rights in Nepal. 'Perpetrators of state atrocities during the king's regime should not be allowed amnesty, and the voice of the people should be reflected in the democratic process ahead', she stressed.

We came to Hong Kong to stop the WTO negotiations, the consequence of which would have direct impact o­n the livelihood of us---workers and peasants. We believed we needed to have access to the negotiations to have our voices heard. However, until December 16, we did not have any opportunity to deliver our concerns to the convention centre where o­nly representatives from government and business were allowed. o­n December 17, we decided to make o­ne last effort to relay our message. In an attempt to make our way to the convention centre, we were blocked by the Hong Kong police and it ended with an unfortunate clash with the Hong Kong police and a record-breaking arrest of more than o­ne thousand protestors. o­n December 19, the Hong Kong authority finally charged 14 protestors from Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China.

In 2003, Sujata Gothoskar, then program officer of Committee for Asian Women, conducted a preliminary survey of the conditions of local domestic workers and organizations in Asia . The same year, CAW commissioned a research o­n local domestic helpers in Hong Kong . The results of the research were shared at a subsequent workshop o­n informal workers organized by CAW in March 2004. During this workshop some organizations voiced the need for more work done in this crucial and often ignored sector of women workers. Held in Hong Kong from October 9-13, 2004, the exchange workshop brought together local domestic worker organizations from 5 countries as well as some migrant domestic worker organizations. The groups that participated represented various types of domestic workers organizations - coalitions, associations, unions, and cooperatives.

To find the situation of workers and women after the 1 Feb royal proclamation in Nepal

CAW and TIE Asia organised a Fact Finding Mission to Nepal from 10-17th Sept 2005.

The Focus of the Investigation was to find

1) the implications of the political suppression to the women and workers (in relation to their livelihood and civil and political rights such as as well the rights to assembly, association and organizing, free expression)

2) the current situation of those being arrested or being released or those being monitored- the women and workers leaders.

3) the current efforts that are happening inside Nepal - the women and trade union movement in response to the current crisis. How can international solidarity be developed in line with the local struggle's efforts.

1) Organizations that are being attacked , especially

the women and workers organizations

2) Ex detainees (the women and trade union

activists/leaders) and those are being targeted

3) Civil society

4) Student and youth organisations

During this period, CAW staff also participated in the Wider National Workers Conference: Building Workers' Solidarity and Democracy, being organised by GEFONT (CWWD-Gefont is oญne of CAW�s network members) with other federations (NTUC/DECONT/NTU: General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Unions (DECONT) and Teachers Union of Nepal (TUN)) from 10-12th September 2005.

(refer: http://www.gefont.org/events/wider_conference/index.htm).

The conference ended at the 12 Sept with the declaration of workers' road-map at the end. It declared common struggle agenda of workers and democracy among all workers to fight and safeguard workers rights and democracy. The labour movement agreed in unison to safeguard workers rights, and restoration of democracry in Nepal.

There were 1500 representatives representing different trade and industries. They will converge in Kathmandu from east to west and hills to plain Terai.

For more informations of the final declaration, please see

http://www.gefont.org/events/wider_conference/Declaration%20Eng.doc

For the special resolution, see

http://www.gefont.org/events/wider_conference/Special%20Resolution.doc

CAW staff also participated, along with the Tie Asia staff, in the mass rally and meeting oญn 10^th September addressed by various dignitaries of trade union movement including Mr. Jim Baker- the Director of ILO-ACTRAV, General Secretary of ICFTU-APRO, International officer , of ICEM Mr. Phee Jung -Sun, Sub regional representative of International Metalworker Federation, and Ms. Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, the Director of ILO office in Nepal.

CAW secretariat had a team building exercise from 5-7 September 2005 in a lovely, tranquil resort an hour from Bangkok. The team strengthening effort was facilitated by Ouyporn Khuankaew who used yoga, meditation and games and sharing as ways to bring out the best of the team.

Committee for Asian Women along with SUMAPI (Association and Linkage of Domestic Workers in the Philippines) will organise Asian Domestic Workers Network (ADWN) Study Tour from 3-7 October, 2005. The program will incorporate a discussion and planning oญn joint regional strategy for future joint action to lobby and push for the law reform for the domestic workers.

Domestic Workers� organisations from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the

Philippines will participate in the discussions.

CAW has a new intern, Liu, Wan-Ling, for a period of three months from August-October 2005. Liu has been sent by Ching-Jen Labor Health and Safety Service Center, Taiwan. She is working oญn the issue of the working conditions and labor situation in Taiwanese investments in Thailand. Due to bad workign conditions in many Taiwanese factories inside Taiwan and outside, Ching Jen staff decided to learn more about the working conditions and labor situation of the laborers who working in Taiwanese investments abroad, so that they could take the information back to Taiwan for propaganda. Then through showing the realistic picture of labor abuses in Taiwanese investments abroad, they can have an opportunity to strive for the support from labor and general public in Taiwan. Ching Jen is mainly focussing oญn the workers in electronics, garment and textile industries, most of whom are women workers. They approached CAW for support to an intern.

The World Social Forum in 2006 will be organized as a Polycentric Forum

-- an event that will take place in various parts of the world rather than in oญne location. An Asian Assembly oญn WSF 2006 was held last June to plan for the Asia

process. The Assembly adopted a resolution to hold two (2) WSF 2006

Polycentric Forums in Asia: oญne to be held in January 2006 in Karachi,

Pakistan and another to be held in Southeast/East Asia sometime May to

July 2006. The latter was a proposal from the caucus of Southeast and East Asian

groups who attended the Asian Assembly. The caucus also agreed to hold

a meeting again oญn August 16, 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand to start the planning and preparatory process for the Polycentric Forum that will be held in Southeast/East Asia. All social movements, organizations and NGOs from the region who wish to be part of this process were invited to attend. Among the first decisions to be made is venue (country) and date.

CAW staff attended this m eeting and are partcipating in discussions oญn the possibility of organising the WSF in Thailand. The other options are Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines (as per discussions among representative groups in this meeting).

Trade Unions Shall Consolidate their Strenght, Unite the Working Class, Intensify Efforts to Increase the Minimum Wage Sufficient for Family Cost of Living and to Abolish Contracted Employment.

The Thai Rak Thai government has implemented policies to build up a monopolistic capitalist economy which exists solely to service the needs of transnational corporations under the free trade slogan of globalisation. A range of measures have been planned and implemented, most importantly including the privatisation of public enterprises which will eventually make them fall into the hands of monopolistic capitalists resulting in the rise of service� s prices and wage suppression. This will definitely lead to the suffering of people of all classes.

Please see the letter below and the information o­n this website. Do send letters of concern to Karmojibi Nari at [email protected] 

To

The President, Vice Presidents, Directors, Secretary and Members of the Board of the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)

BTMC Bhaban, 7-9 Karwan Bazar, Dhaka

March 8^th International Women�s Day is the day of the women workers against social oppression and for peace, equality, social justice and democratic rights. This is a day to remember all the pioneers of the women's movement for emancipation and many have dedicated and even sacrificed their lives in the struggle. It is a time to reflect o­n progress, make to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women workers who have played significant role in the history of women�s rights.

In Pakistan women have been severely disadvantaged and discriminated. They have been denied the enjoyment of a whole range of rights - economic, social, civil and political rights and often deprivation in o­ne of these areas has entailed discrimination in another. Pakistani women who have already been victims of feudal, tribal traditions, religious customs, poverty and gender discrimination, are also discriminated by legislation. Laws make women second-class citizens in every field of life. The state structure is also a big obstacle to move forward. But in spite of all these hurdles, it is encouraging that women are becoming aware of their rights, gaining confidence and moving forward.

Escort Meter�s (Pvt) Ltd. is a large industry, manufacturing electric meters. It employs about 1000 workers. There were two unions, o­ne is Escort Meter Workers Union Affiliated with All Pakistan Trade Union Federation and the other is Employees Union which is pro management. According to the Industrial Relation Ordinance it is obligatory to hold referendum (election) among the unions for the determination of Collective Bargaining Agent Union. So o­n 23 March 2005, among the two unions a referendum was held by secret ballot under the supervision of Registrar of Trade Unions, Lahore. The Workers Union got majority of the votes and won the referendum and pro management union was defeated badly although the bosses had launched a campaign and had spent a lot of money to win the election.

In the morning of 15th March, KGEU General Secretary AHN Byeong Soon, who had been hunted by the police, was arrested. General Secretary AHN was issued an arrest warrant just before the general strike of last year, and was hunted down by the police for around 130 days. o­n 17th March, his warrant underwent deliberation o­n its validity, however, the court rejected the petition of his lawyers and decided to proceed with the arrest. AHN is at the moment imprisoned in Seoul Prison.

The repression against KGEU continues and the government�s maneuver to disintegrate or incapacitate unions affiliated to the KGEU is becoming increasingly intense. The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA) started its so-called �New Wind Campaign� at the end of last year, aimed at weakening the union�s organizational power and will to struggle. This �New Wind Campaign� is being implemented under the rhetoric of �blowing fresh wind into the organization�, and the MOGAHA is explicitly calling for �reformation of organizational culture, focusing o­n rearing workplace councils and healthy employee groups�, and at �forming a foundation for healthy union activities� by �establishing partnership with civil servant organizations�.

On 23rd March, the Korean Government Employees� Union (KGEU) celebrated its 3rd anniversary. The ceremony took place in the Grand Auditorium of Korea University � the very place in which KGEU�s Inaugurating National Congress was raided and suppressed by riot police 3 years ago. At that time, thousands of riot police raided the auditorium and arrested hundreds of KGEU delegates and union members.

At the ceremony, around 400 union members and guests from other organizations participated. The president of KGEU, Kim Young Gil, participated in the event despite that he was being hunted by the police. During his opening speech, he said this day was a day to proudly proclaim that public servants are workers and that, as workers, must clear their name as �puppets� of the regime and agents of corruption. He also said government workers must bear in mind that they must pay for the debt owed to history. President KIM also pointed out that citizens continue to have a negative perspective of public servants and that �the o­nly way to overcome this negativity was by showing to the public specific changes that reform civil service and practicing true form of service to the people. He also emphasized that government workers must also proactively participate in struggles to abolish the National Security Act and the bill to expand irregular labour, as well as anti-war struggles. He went o­n further to maintain that the KGEU must focus o­n strengthening its organizational power by implementing strong struggles against unjust penalties and for reinstatement of laid-off workers.

Working Women Organization organizes regularly every year, sixteen days campaign against Gender violence. It addresses the gender discrimination practices of governments of all political stripes and of all ethnic and religious persuasions. In a woman�s life the Gender discrimination, which Start at an early age, continue to affect the rest of her life. Certain customs and cultural norms tolerate and even approve of such violations. If the world is to progress, �women power� needs to be append. WWO defends freedom of thought and expression, due process and equal protection of the law and Gender equality and believe that Women�s groups, human rights groups, Trade Unions, non governmental organizations and �neutral� men can bring about the change by increasing awareness about women�s rights, lobbying for increased participation of women in politics, governance and social sectors. In this view WWO organized sixteen days activism against gender violence campaign in 2004. WWO organized several activities in seven districts of Punjab like Lahore, Kasur, Rawalpindi /Islamabad, Sheikhupura, Faislabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot.

A news article by Olivia H. Tripon, reporting from the 49th session of the UN Commission o­n the Status of Women in New York, with support from UNFPA.----------------------------------------------------Implementing Beijing and CEDAWBy Olivia H. TriponWomen's Feature ServiceNew York, March 9 (WFS) -

At a panel discussion o­n the 49th session of the Commission o­n the Status of Women, the synergies between two international instruments, the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action and the Convention for the Elimination of All Kinds of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) were highlighted.CEDAW, accepted by 179 countries is the principal treaty protecting women's human rights. "However, CEDAW and other human rights treaties have not been adequately used to ensure action by states in line with the commitments adopted at Beijing and at its five year review in 2000," said Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at a session last March 3.

After the workers of Trim International Co, Ltd., in Nakornrachsima have submitted their demands calling for the employer to comply with the labour laws and provide workers with transportation to their work place as well as 300 baht monthly allowance for pregnant workers two months before the maternity leave, the British owner ,Mr. Joseph Sprint Torrance, has persistently insisted not to accept the demands. Moreover, the employer has, during the legal process of negotiation and conciliation, on various charges terminated the employment of 13 workers� core leaders and the others who were engaged in the submission of demands. The employer also effected a lock-out which was limited to only 75 workers on February 6, 2005. The situation has prompted 150 workers who were led by the Democratic Unions� Alliance to march to the Government House in order to submit a letter of protest to the Prime Minister. They chained themselves to the fence of the Government House declaring their firm intention not to leave until the government steps in to settle the dispute. A sarcastic play was performed to reflect the situation how the officials of the Labour Ministry cooperated with the Britist capiatlist to exploit Trim workers. The play was so touching that the audience including policemen and journalists were all in tears.

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