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Hon. Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Bin Abd. Kadir, the Chief Minister of Perak Darul Ridzuan in Malaysia used his opening speech to point out the importance of unions to a sustainable world.

Dr Zambry said, “I am encouraged by your effort to promote smart partnership between trade unions and management to build up and sustain “competitive enterprises and grow decent jobs. The regular social dialogue with the ASEAN and other social partners to help shape a Social ASEAN will facilitate the development of a People-ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

“UNI APRO is clearly a different trade union – an enlightened and responsible social partner in community building at the national, regional and global levels.

"And like UNI APRO, I also believe that many of our problems – be they at the local, national or global levels – can only be solved through frank, serious and sustained dialogue among all stakeholders.” 

Dr Zambry also underlined the need to rebalance growth and development.

“It is worrisome if the fruits of growth are going only to a few and nothing filters down to those in the bottom of the social hierarchy. It is even more worrisome if growth is jobless, meaning that many are excluded or do not benefit jobs-wise from the expansion of the economy. 

“I fully understand what you at UNI APRO have been articulating all the time – the need to have a balanced, equitable and sustainable economy that is supported by enlightened industrial relations and human resource management practices.” 

The Chief Minister said that a free economy was not an open invitation for abuse.

“The point is that a free economy does not mean an economy without rules or one operating completely in a laissez faire arrangement. A free economy cannot be free if there are no rules to ensure a fair playing field for all; if there are no rules that prevent human and labour abuses; if there are no rules that protect the weak; if there are no rules to stop mad financial speculators in wreaking havoc in the market; and if there are no rules to maintain and nurture the environment.”

Dr Zambry said the biggest challenge facing Asia was to build a better and caring Asia amidst globalization. He said that although there had been much progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in Asia, much was still needed to be done because of a failure to build partnerships on the ground.

Dr Zambry concluded “It is difficult to imagine development to happen without the involvement of the very people we are trying to help.  In my own experience in Perak, Malaysia as a public administrator, development projects will not move and prosper without the participation of the people.  We need to go to the people.  Consult and talk with the people.  Let the people identify problems and help suggest solutions. And then let everyone join the government in addressing development issues.  In the process, we are able to build social partnership for development for all.

"This is the reason why you at UNI APRO are also suggesting social partnership at the enterprise and industry levels.  Productivity will not grow in a work organization where the employees are not fully engaged to the work because they lack motivation.We need to make social partnership work at all levels of economic governance.”