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The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and UNI Global Union - Media, Entertainment and Arts (UNI MEI) are working together on a joint action programme to ensure sustainable development in the broadcasting sector. The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Singapore on Tuesday April 2, 2012.

Following dialogue between the former NHK Vice President, former President of ABU and the UNI MEI Executive Committee in November 2010, ABU and UNI MEI have agreed to establish a framework of mutual recognition and cooperation for the development of the region’s media and broadcasting industry.

The agreement also establishes a framework for a joint action programme that will include objectives to bring about progress and development in the region’s media and broadcasting industry. The programme will focus on health and media safety, gender quality and mainstreaming, good governance and media and professional ethics.



"The framework is very important for strengthening regional cooperation on media, entertainment and arts between ABU and UNI MEI. ABU is a key partner for UNI MEI and the agreement will do much to develop social dialogue between the two partners and establish a fair and professional working environment for broadcasters and broadcasting workers in the region," said UNI Apro Regional Secretary Christopher Ng, welcoming the agreement.

"Our common destiny is to service the audience and the society at large through diverse and quality programming," said Javad Mottaghi, General Secretary of ABU. "This agreement is a achievement and we are please to enter into a cooperation with UNI. We need now to translate it into actions and we are pleased that we have already taken concrete steps for implementation, he added."

"This is a significant commitment between the ABU and UNI aiming at concrete cooperation among broadcasters and broadcasting trade unions in the Asia Pacific region. It builds the foundation for a joint work programme in key areas of common," said Philip Jennings, UNI General Secretary.

"After two agreements signed with major national media companies in Indonesia, Antara and Malaysia, Media Prima in 2010, this sector wide agreement is a major step forward to develop a regional sectoral social dialogue in the Asia Pacific region. It provides an opportunity to promote regional standards and long term transnational cooperation among employers and trade unions," said Johannes Studinger, Head of MEI.

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a professional association of broadcasting organizations formed in 1964 to facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to organize co-operative activities amongst its members. It has over 200 members in 60 countries and territories, reaching a potential audience of about 4 billion people.

UNI MEI, a sector of UNI Global Union, is a global union in the media, entertainment and arts representing staff, freelance, independent and contract workers in these industries. It represents over 140 trade unions and guilds and more than 375 000 workers world-wide. Formed in 2000, UNI Global Union aims to improve the working conditions and lives of workers in the services and allied sectors.

For more photos on the ABU-UNI Signing Ceremony, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uniglobalunion/sets/72157629744330673/