Each May 1^st brings challenges and victories for workers around the world. Challenges, which are caused and made complex by neo-liberalism, patriarchy, greed of transnational corporations, conflicts, war o­n �terror�, lack of civil, political and socio-economic rights. Women workers face even greater challenges due to the inherent patriarchal structure of society which permeates the work place as well. Women workers in the informal economy and those living in areas of conflict are particularly the most vulnerable to exploitation. Yet, despite whatever challenges and hurdles there are, workers and peoples movements around the world struggle and fight against these oppressive and exploitative forces every single day. We celebrate the 1^st of May as a day to rejoice the solidarity among workers and the battles we have won.

              Long Live Workers Solidarity!

Present Secretariat

Coordinating Officer- Lucia V Jayaseelan [email protected]

Programme Officer- Jin Young Park (Jini) [email protected]

Programme Officer- Lee Siew Hwa [email protected]

Documentation Officer- Deepa Bharathi [email protected]

Administration Officer- Angela Zondermann [email protected]

Administration Assistant- Vacant

Finance Consultant- Leong Mee Nan (Mei Yun) [email protected]

Finance Officer- Ratchanee Kularppana [email protected]

CAW has 39 network groups in 14 countries in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place>. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

In <st1:place w:st="on">East Asia</st1:place><o:p></o:p>

Hong Kong Clothing Industry, Clerical and Retail Trade Employees� General Trade Union (HRCCRTU), Hong Kong ;<o:p></o:p>

<A href="http://www.hkwwa.org.hk/">Hong Kong Women Workers� Association (HKWWA), <st1:place w:st="on">Hong Kong</st1:place> </A></P>

Asian Women Workers� Center, Japan <o:p></o:p>

Women�s Union <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Kansai</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>

Tokyo Women�s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Union</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p>

Korean Women Workers� Associations United (KWWAU), Korea <o:p></o:p>

Womenlink, Korea<o:p></o:p>

Seoul Women Trade Union (SWTU), Korea <o:p></o:p>

Korean Women�s Trade Union (KWTU), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>

Awakening Foundation, Taiwan <o:p></o:p>

Solidarity Front of Women Workers (SFWW), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Chinese Working Women Network<o:p></o:p>

In South-east Asia<o:p></o:p>

Humanika Working Group, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Yayasan Annisa Swasti (YASANTI), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Urban Community <st1:City w:st="on">Mission</st1:City> (UCM), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

<A href="http://www.pkps.org/">Perserikatan Kelompok Pelita Sejahtera (KPS), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

</A> </P>

RUMPUN Tjoet Njak Dien, Indonesia <o:p></o:p>

Serikat Pekerja Rumah Tangga "Tunas Mulia" or "Tunas Mulia", <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita (Friends of Women), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Tenaganita (Women�s Force), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

<A href="http://www.kilusangmayouno.org/">KMU-NCR Women Committee, The Philippines <o:p></o:p>

</A></P><o:p></o:p>

KMU-NCR Women Committee, The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>

National Federation of Labour (NFL) Women Committee, The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

<A href="http://www.friendsofwomen.net/"> Friends of Women Foundation (FOW),<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

</A> </P><o:p></o:p>

HomeNet <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>

Metropolitan Textile <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Labour Union</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>

Women Worker Unity Group, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>

In <st1:place w:st="on">South Asia</st1:place><o:p></o:p>

<A href="http://www.karmojibinari.org/"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Karmojibi Nari</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p>

</A></P><o:p></o:p>

<A href="http://www.bnps.org/">Bangladesh Nari Progoti Sangha (BNPS), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>

</A> </P>

Self-Employed Women�s Association (SEWA), India <o:p></o:p>

Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>

Penn <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Thozhilalargal Sangam</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p>

Central Women Workers� Department of GEFONT, Nepal <o:p></o:p>

All <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region> Women Association (ANWA), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Women Worker�s Center (WWC) of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research PILER), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>

Working Women Organization (WWO), <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Dabindu Collective</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>

Womens� <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Center</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p>

Community Trust Fund (CTF), Sri Lanka 

Our Programmes

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.

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.

CAW Constitution

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