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"Partnership Industrial Relation is a strategic development essential in globalised economy and the government of Myanmar always focuses on the maintaining partnership with business and their associations together with workers and their trade unions" said His Excellency U Thien Swe, Union Minister of Labour, Immigration and Population, Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Speaking as a chief guest of honour at the closing of “Tripartite Social Dialogue on Partnership Industrial relations’ that took place on 3-4 August 2017 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. His Excellency congratulated all for the successful meeting and appreciated the role played by UNI Apro and the resource persons and their organisations. 

Earlier in the opening ceremon,y Permanent Secretary Mr. Myo Aung, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population highlighted the impact of the fourth industrial revolution and regional economic integration on the world of work and challenges for the employers, workers and their trade unions. He explained the importance of social dialogue and pointed out the critical need for trade unions and employers to work in partnership to confront the challenges and turn them into opportunities to fuel the growth of Myanmar economy for the benefit of the people and community.

Bro Minao Noda, President of UNI Apro in his welcome address appreciated the tripartite partners mainly the Government of Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber, Commerce and Industries (UMFCCI). He also expressed his support towards the achievement of the goal in the meeting and also in the future initiatives. 

Daw Khine Khine New, Joint Secretary General of UMFCCI expressed her fraternal greetings and emphasised on the importance of partnership in developing sound industrial relation and sustainable growth.

Bro. Stuart Appelbaum- President of UNI Global Commerce and Executive Vice President of UFCW- USA expressed his solidarity and shared his experiences in social dialogue and union’s strategy to develop partnership industrial relations.

Bro Christopher Ng, Regional Secretary UNI Apro thanked everyone and more specifically to all tripartite partners for their contribution and support provided to the program and the initiatives. He also briefed UNI Apro’s activities and the willingness to support the Myanmar’s prosperity by bringing everyone together and building partnership in all development initiative.

His Excellency, Joel Maglunsod, Undersecretary of Labour and Employment Relations of the Philippines in his key note address provided the back drop for the intensive interactions focused on how should employers and Trade Unions respond in the context of (i) Fourth Industrial Revolution and Regional Economic Integration. Representatives of Government, Employers and trade unions both national and international took part in the interactive discussion sessions.

Dr Rene Ofreneo of University of Philippines, Takeshi Inagaki, General Manager, HR Administration, AEON Asia, F F Siambaton, General Manager of PT Hero Supermarket, Indonesia and Teo Kee Bin, BOD of PELSPI Philippines spoke in the sessions and presented the role their organisations are playing in developing partnership with trade unions and government. 

Similarly, Mathias Bolton of UNI Commerce, Ms Tomoko Nagashima, Vice President, Federation of AEON Group Workers’ Trade Union, Dr. Kun Wardana Abyoto of UNI Apro, Jose P. Umali from UNI PLC Philippines, Saurab Kharel from NETU Nepal contributed from Trade Union side in the interactions where National union leaders of Myanmar related their local experiences.

The Conference concluded with an intensive discussion on A Social Contract for Surging Myanmar in a challenging world of work. The session was moderated by Mr Aung Htay Win, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Populations. The tripartite partners noted the Vision Statement proposed by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population. 
 
This event proved to be the milestone for the partnership industrial relations in Myanmar and the meeting itself as a launch of the initiatives jointly organised by Ministry of Labour Immigration and Population and UNI Apro.