UNI Apro pays tribute to outgoing leader Christopher Ng

KATHMANDU, Nepal—One of the largest trade Asian trade union federations has a new leader.

Today, more than 600 union leaders from some 20 countries voted for Rajendra Kumar Acharya as the new Regional Secretary of the UNI Asia Pacific Regional Organisation (Apro) at the closing of its Fifth Regional Conference. He replaced Christopher Ng, who is retiring after 36 years in leadership at UNI Apro and its predecessor organisations.

Acharya was elected on a platform, called “A Way Forward,” which outlines 10 commitments, including  to union growth and just transition in a new world of work, and to achieving a social dimension within regional trade and investment policies.

“It is fitting that this new programme was adopted while we are in Nepal, where we are seeing a commitment to sustainable economy and positive reforms to labour law,” Acharya said.

He continued: “We need a new model in our region—one that includes sustainable economic and environmental policies, strategic union organising at multinational companies, and a genuinely people-centred approach to trade and integration. To reach these goals, we will grow UNI Apro as a the most representative voice of workers, including young workers, women, migrants, the informal, casual and digital economy.”

Originally Published on : https://uniglobalunion.org/news/uni-apro-opens-new-chapter-election-regional-secretary?

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PROGRAMME

15^th November 2019, Friday

08.30                                                 Registration

09.00                                                 Opening Ceremony

Welcome Address                          Ms. Bernadette Reyes, UNI Apro Youth President

Solidarity Greetings                       Mr. Barun Khadka, UNI NLC Youth President

                                                         Ms. Martha Ochoa, UNI Youth Head

Introduction to the Forum         Ms. Michelle Belino Director, UNI Apro Youth and MEI Activities

Key-note Address                       Christopher Ng   UNI Apro Regional Secretary

“Retooling Trade Unions to meet the

                           Challenges Confronting Workers in a Changing World of Work”

                                Group Photo

10.30                    Coffee/Tea Break

11.00                    Interactive Session 1: Trade Unions 4.0 for the New World of Work

Transformative changes, such as digital technologies are dramatically changing the business world, the global economy and the world of work.  The Fourth Industrial Revolution offers both challenges and opportunities for the trade union movement. Therefore, instead of persisting with outdated methods, the trade union movement must discard old paradigms and initiate new strategic response to old and new challenges confronting workers, particularly the persistent quest for decent jobs, to improve workers’ welfare and protect their rights.

This session will explore practical policy response to guide the trade unions in developing their capacity and capability to better represent the workers in an evolving labour market and changing nature of employment relationship.

Moderator:                                                        Alice Chang, UNI Apro Director for Commerce and Women’s Committee

Discussants:

                                Farizan Fajari, Executive Secretary, ASETUC

Bernadette Reyes, NUBE & UNI Apro Youth President, Philippines

Palpasa Tuladhar Kansakar, UNI Apro P & M Committee Member, Nepal

Margaret S.P Chin, SBEU-Sabah, Malaysia President

13.00                     Lunch

14.00                    Interactive Session 2: Social Movement Unionism

Social movement unionism seeks to protect and advance the welfare of the workers through collective bargaining as well as through socially- and economically-empowering initiatives, inside and outside the company.  Further, social movement unionism seek to unite and organize all workers – regular, casual and displaced – through traditional (union formation) and non-traditional (associative) organizing. In short, social movement unionism   is a unionism which goes beyond the two traditional tasks of unions — organizing the regular work force and concluding a bargaining agreement over terms and conditions of work.   

In this session, we seek to examine how trade unions can reimagine and adapt organizational strategies, policies and process to transform the trade union movement to a social movement unionism.

                                Moderator:                                                        Anjali Bedekar, UNI ILC-India Coordinator

                                Discussants:

                                Ms. Jyoti Shrestha, UNI NLC Youth Committee Member, Nepal

Mr. Niraj Bag, General Secretary, AYON (Association of Youth Organizations Nepal)

Ms. Mihiri Happuaracchi, Executive Committee Member, National Post and                   Telecommunication Workers Union (NPTWU), Sri Lanka

 Mr. Rainier Cruz, Executive Vice President, National Union of Bank Employees

   (NUBE-IFO), Philippines

15.30                    Tea Break

16.00                    Interactive Session 3:

                                Social media to empower workers and their trade union.

Digitalisation and innovation must contribute to better living conditions and more equal societies. How can social media empower workers and their trade unions to achieve the desired objectives of a better world of all. Speakers will examine connectivity across multiple dimensions of membership, mobile workforce and share example of effective processes and methods to use social media to empower workers and their trade unions.

                                Moderator:                                                        Pratima Bhatta, UNI NLC Coordinator

Discussants:

                                Arun Phuyal, IMPRESSION ICT, Media and Press Workers Union, GEFONT, Nepal

                                Josue Grajo, Secretary, Standard Chartered Bank Employees Union & UNI PLC Youth Vice

         President, Philippines

                                Abu Hassan, Treasurer, Bank Officers Association of Bangladesh (BOAB), Bangladesh

Amanda Chow, UNI Apro Intern, Malaysia

                17.30                    End of Day 1

16^th November 2019, Saturday

09.00                    Interactive Session 4:

                                Organizing and Representing Young Employees

UNI Apro and the affiliated unions must continue to grow new and existing trade unions as part of the strategy to develop the strength and expand the influence of the trade union movement in society and in the regional and global community.  Therefore, the recruitment of new members, especially young employees into trade unions must be the basic and core activities for all trade unions. The main focus of this session is – How can trade unions be more effective in organizing and representing the young employees in the digital economy?

Key-Note Speaker:                                                         Martha Ochoa, UNI Youth Head

Moderator:                                                                        Michelle Belino

Discussants

                                Ms. Pratima Bhatta, UNI NLC Coordinator, Nepal

Mr. Kai Hock Tan, Branch Chairman, Singapore Insurance Employees Union, Singapore

                                Ms. Amy Phuong, UNI Apro Intern, Vietnam

                                Ms. Susi Novianti, ASPEK Youth, Indonesia

(Tea Break at 10.30 am – 11.00 am)

12.00                    Lunch

13.00                    Interactive Session 5:

                                UNI Apro – The platform for just transition for a future of work

Rapid technological change requires new regulations and investment in jobs, and a just transition framework to ensure full employment. Precarious working conditions, a growing informal sector and wage pressures: Is there enough work for trade unions and representatives of employees worldwide? The unions are under pressure. They have to face the loss of members to meet the challenge of digitalization and automation and to network internationally. UNI Apro like all trade unions need to be ready. How can UNI Apro be the platform for a just transition in today’s New World of Work.

Key-Note Speaker:         Rajendra Kumar Acharya,

                                                                                UNI Apro Assistant Regional Secretary

Moderator:                        Michelle Belino

                                Discussants:

                                Mr. Barun Khadka, Financial Institute Employees’ Unin of Nepal (FIEUN), Nepal

Mr Pratap Sapkota, Telecommunications Employees Association of Nepal (NTEAN)

                                Ms. Bernadette Reyes, UNI Apro Youth President Philippines

                                Ms. Kimaya Ukidave, Joint Secretary of Maharashtra unit of AIBOBEF, India

(Tea Break – 14.30 – 15.00)

16.30                    Closing

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9848027914 (Alok Malla);

9851084810 (Shankar Lamichhane),

9851059022 (Mahendra Shrestha) ,

9851069316 (Pratima Bhatta)

or via e-mail:
Alok Mall: alok_malla@yahoo.com;
Shankar Lamichhane: slamichhane@gmail.com;
Mahendra Shrestha: meromouse@gmail.com;
Pratima Bhatta: pratiri.pb@gmail.com

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Please note, prepaid taxi will cost NPR 700-800 around USD 7 one way. This is a special negotiated rate for our conference participants. There are all together 4 hotels where most of the people will stay, unless you have made your separate arrangement.
• Hotel Yak and Yeti- It is where the 5th UNI Apro Regional Conference will be held on 20-22
November 2019 at Regal Ball Room.
• Hotel Annapurna- It is in 4-5 minutes’ walk to Conference Hotel if you cross the road in
front of the Annapurna and look for gate of “Hotel Yak and Yeti” and walk ahead.

Location Map of Hotel Royal Singi

• Hotel Royal Singi is the hotel where the 5th UNI Apro Women’s Conference will be held.
In 2-3 minutes’ walk. Come out of Royal Singi to the road down and take left 100 metre, take
another left for 200 mtr and then right 100 metre.towards Yak and Yeti.

Location Map of Hotel Fairfield Mariott

• Hotel Fairfield Mariott: It is in 13-15 minutes’ walk. Come out of the Hotel Fairfield, take
left for 200 mtr towards Tridevi Road (Sadak), then take left for 150 metre and cross the
“Kantipath junction” go straight towards Palace Museum gate for 150 metre, cross on your
right from the Palace Museum junction and walk straight on your right towards “Durbar
Marg” for 300 metre, you will see the Yak and Yeti gate on your left and walk straight for
100 metr.e then turn left towards Hotel Yak and Yeti for 100 metre

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In Kathmandu Valley the high temples are all around you, in Pokhara it is the mountains. Pokhara is a vacationer’s paradise with its crystal clear lakes and fantastic views of the Annapurna range including the Fish Tail Mountain. Pokhara is the most visited city of Nepal after Kathmandu.

Lumbini

Lumbini is the birth place of Lord Buddha, which is destined to be the sacred pilgrimage site for the Buddhists. Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature.

Chitwan :

Chitwan lies in the western Terai of Nepal where the first national park of Nepal, Chitwan National Park is located. It provides a great opportunity for wildlife experience with its rich flora and fauna.

Nagarkot :

Tucked in the upper reaches of the Kathmandu Valley, Nagarkot is the most popular tourist destination close to the Valley. It is noted for the magnificent sunrise view over the eastern Himalayan range.

Dhulikhel:

The ancient Newari town of Dhulikhel is situated 30 km east of Kathmandu and has spectacular views of the Himalayas. Once an important link in the ancient trade route to Tibet, Dhulikhel is now a popular place for rest and relaxation in tranquility.

 Please note that a Tourist desk at the conference venue will be set up to help the participants
 planning post conference engagement in Nepal.

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Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, also known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar, is the complex of palaces,
courtyards and temples that are built between the 12th and the 18th centuries by the ancient Malla Kings of Nepal. It is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. Entrance fee: SAARC=
NPR 250, Foreigners= NPR 1000.

Thamel:

Thamel is the main tourist hub and nightlife zone in Kathmandu. The area is full of tourist class hotels, lodges, guest houses, Nepali and International cuisine restaurants, bars, pubs, discotheques, shops with handicraft goods.

Boudhanath Stupa:

Boudhanath Stupa is considered the largest Buddhist Stupa in the world. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. This sacred and holy Buddhist Stupa is surrounded by a number of beautiful Gompas and monasteries. Entrance Fees: SAARC =NPR 100,
Foreigners= NPR 400

Swayambhunath Stupa:

Swaymbhunath Stupa is an ancient Buddhist colossal Stupa situated atop a hill from where you
could get a bird’s eye view of Kathmandu valley. Listed in the UNESCO world heritage site, it is also known as the “Monkey temple”. Entrance fees: SAARC = NPR 50, Foreigners= 200 Patan: Patan literally known as the “City of Fine Arts” is an enchanting combination of palace, artistic courtyards and
graceful pagoda temples. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the former royal palace complex is the center of Patan’s religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects. Entrance fees: SAARC = NPR 250; Foreigners = NPR 1000.

Golden Temple:

Hiranyavarna Mahabihar or Golden temple is located in Patan. It is a historic Buddhist monastery with
magnificent Nepali architecture/sculptor. Entrance Fees: SAARC= NPR 20, Foreigners = NPR 50.
Pashupatinath temple: Pashupatinath Temple is the temple of Lord Shiva and one of the holiest shrines among the Hindus located on the bank of the holy River Bagmati. It is believed in
Hinduism that to die and to be cremated here will release one from the cycle of repeated birth and death.

Bhaktapur:

Bhaktapur, also known as the “City of Devotees” is a museum of medieval art and architecture with many fine examples of sculpture, woodcarving, and colossal pagodas consecrated to different god and goddesses. Pottery and weaving are its major traditional industries. Entrance fee: SAARC = NPR
500, Foreigners = USD 15 or NPR 1500

Chandragiri Hills:

Chandragiri hills is located in the southwest of Kathmandu valley. It is approx 15 km from the conference venue. A view tower is at 2547 m or 8356 ft above the sea level which gives 180 degree view of the Himalayas from Annapurna to Everest on a clear day. A temple lies atop the hill. There is
cable car service to reach the top. Roundtrip costs NPR 700 for locals, NPR 1120 for SAARC nationals, USD 15 for Chinese and USD 22 for other foreigners.

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