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Unions, employers and governments discussed changing Asian retail scene:
Strong support for social dialogue at ILO commerce meeting in Bangkok

Social dialogue can be a powerful tool to prevent industrial conflicts resulting from structural changes in commerce. Strengthening partnerships, dialogue is mutually beneficial for all parties.

These were some of the conclusions from an International Labour Organisation seminar earlier this week, which brought together governments, employers and commerce trade unions from the entire Asian and Pacific region. On the agenda was the fast globalisation of commerce and its impact on the region, as well as the continuous development and application of new technologies in modern retailing.

Participants to the tripartite ILO Seminar on structural and technological change in commerce, lined up for the obligatory group picture. The active seminar that was held in Bangkok produced a set of joint conclusions about how best to accompany and tackle these developments. These will serve a largest tripartite commerce conference in Geneva next September, which will bring together government representatives, commerce employers and trade unions from all over the world. In Bangkok, UNI Commerce Global Union was represented by Alan Spaulding and Jan Furstenborg, and UNI Apro by Ian Blandthorn, Christopher Ng and Jay Choi. A number of trade union leaders from UNI Commerce affiliates in the region participated in the deliberations.

The three-day event which was held in Bangkok, Thailand, confirmed the commitment of the social partners that represent the retail and distribution chain to seek a proper balance between the economic and social dimensions of the globalisation and modernisation of their industry. Continuing what is almost becoming a tradition in their work within the ILO, the social partners and government representatives were able to agree on very concrete measures that should be taken to ensure that both enterprises and workers, and at the end also consumers and communities, can draw a full and balanced benefit from these developments.

- Social dialogue play a vital role in the equitable distribution of the benefits and costs of economic and industrial change, the tripartite commerce meeting in Bangkok resolved: - Social dialogue gives a voice to those who are affected by these decisions, helps to establish ownership and accountability for any outcomes that ensure and incorporate workers' often considerable expertise into the change process.

The presence of Carrefour in the employer delegation was appreciated by all participants. The only leading multinational to engage in an open discussion about structural and technological developments at the Bangkok seminar, the number two global retailer was represented by Human Resource Director Tinda Chareukprasopchoke, the Director for Personnel Development Chadsawan Thanomsingha, both from the company's Thai subsidiary. Next to them is Surapon Klinkeisorn, who represents the Tesco Lotus workers' trade union in Thailand. The company was invited to participate, but did not do so.

Social dialogue is not only a way of addressing change, however: - As such, social dialogue should be pursued as a matter of course at the enterprise level - not just in the context of technological and structural change, but also in its own right, the seminar concluded.

Trade union participants to the ILO seminar came from five countries - China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Reflecting the good traditions of social dialogue in commerce, and the strong focus on an open search for the best ways of dealing with the issues confronting the governments and social partners, also observers from a number of other countries in the region were invited to participate in discussions. This brought in reflections from Australia, Korea and Malaysia - but also from the United States, through UFCW international director Alan Spaulding, who is also president of UNI Commerce Global Union.

China is the hottest investment and growth region for the world's largest retailers. The presence of the country's social partners and their active participation in the seminar did therefore not only bring added value, but was indeed essential for the efforts to secure a sound social dimension to the globalisation of retail trade. From left to right, Alan Blandthorn of SDA, Australia, President of UNI Apro Commerce, Liu Yucai, Standing Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of the Association of China Commercial Enterprise Management, Jay Choi, UNI representative for Korea, Li Jianming, Division Chief and Editor-in-Chief, All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), John Sendanyoye, Head of Commerce Sector Activities of the ILO, and Alan Spaulding of UFCW, President of UNI Commerce Global Union.

The presence of the Chinese social partners - the All China Federation of Trade Unions ACFTU and the Chinese commerce employers' federation was warmly welcomed both by UNI Commerce and the entire workers' group. China is the most important target country for multinational retailers' investments today, which makes it essential to develop a closer cooperation and common approaches between the unions. The discussions about this expansion by multinationals such as Carrefour, Metro and Tesco - but also Wal-Mart and others - will be continued.

The two large Japanese UNI Commerce affiliates, UI Zensen and JSD brought a wealth of experience and knowledge about social dialogue to the ILO Seminar. Together with Alan Spaulding and Ian Blandthorn, global and regional UNI Commerce presidents, this picture shows Hanae Nakano, International Director of UI Zensen, Hisanobu Shimada, General Secretary of UI Zensen, Mohamed Shaphee, UNI Malaysia Liaison Council, Hachino Shoichi, General Secretary of JSD.

The participants at the ILO Seminar shared a common concern for the future of the commercial workers and their families particularly in developing countries and economies. The application of the principles and rights granted by the ILO Declaration on Fundamental principles and rights at work and its Follow-up "assist in promoting and sustaining decent and productive work in commerce in the context of technological and structural change and related developments, they say.

Commerce employs a particularly large number of women. Drawing attention to the importance of this sector as one of the world's largest employers, the Bangkok meeting underlined that commerce should also in the future be able to generate employment for women and to act as an entry point for girls into the labour market. This should be part of overall development strategies, the participants resolved.

The government, employer and workers representatives from Asia and the Pacific did not ignore the problems that many local traders and retail companies can face when multinational retailers enter into their markets. They therefore recognized the need to support the competitiveness of small and medium sized commerce enterprises as an important source of employment in the region.