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The importance of employee engagement in regulatory and supervisory functions across banking operations was highlighted at the recently concluded ASEAN Finance Sector Forum organized by UNI Apro ASEAN Bank Unions Council in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Salient features of the UNI Finance Social Compact for Sustainable finance were introduced to the forum by Jayasri Priyalal – Regional Director for UNI Apro Finance. Mr Satoru Yamadera the Principal Financial Sector Specialist of ADB made a presentation on the current trends in the ASEAN economic and financial integration process to the forum. In his presentation, Mr Yamadera argued for a need for a regional voice to standard setting bodies emphasising for greater coordination under different levels of market developments. He supported the idea of setting up supervisory colleges and enhancing capacity development to narrow the financial development gaps in ASEAN.

Mr. Jose Recon S Tano, from the BSP, (Central Bank of Philippines) Office of the Supervisory and Policy Development shared his insights at the forum and explained the ASEAN Banking Integration framework, pointing out the risks such as speculative cross-border transaction, spillover effects and the impact on the domestic banks.   Mr. Tano proposed that regular dialogues amongst stakeholders and regulators; as a way forward to expand understanding the challenges in the regional economic integration and the financial markets in ASEAN.

At the outset, Dr. Rene Ofreneo, Professor University of Philippines, gave an overview of the challenges and trends in financial integration in ASEAN to the forum. Refer related files linked with all the presentations. 

Senior trade union leaders representing ASEAN Bank unions participated in the forum, which was organised in conjunction with the 50th-anniversary celebration of the SARAWAK Bank Employee’s Union, in Kuching. 

Christopher Ng, UNI Apro Regional Secretary officiated the forum, Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal General Secretary of ASETUC, Catherine Jikunan, Acting President of ABUC and Hadiah Leen President of SBEU Sarawak extended greetings and welcomed the participants. Andrew Lo, CEO of  SBEU Sarawak and June Umali National President of the NUBE Philippines shared their experiences at the forum

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UNI Apro and UNI-MLC presented a plaque to Andrew Lo CEO of SBEU Sarawak, appreciating his long-standing committed services to the SBEU and to the trade union movement in Malaysia at the forum.