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The Fifth Regional Conference of the Asia Pacific Regional Organisation (Apro) of UNI Global Union will kick of on 20 November in Kathmandu—with a speech from Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

“We are honored to have Prime Minister Oli welcome us to Nepal and share his vision for people-centered growth in the country,” said UNI Apro Regional Secretary Chris Ng. “The 600 union activists from 20-odd countries at the conference are sure to be inspired by his words and his life’s story as someone who fought for democracy in Nepal and then rose to lead the country with the aim of decent work for all.”

UNI Apro represents the powerhouse Asia Pacific region for UNI Global Union. The conference will set the agenda for change in the region’s trade union activities over the next four years, including the need to increase union representation, the struggle for gender equality, and winning a just transition in a new world of work. 

The conference will feature appearances by some of Nepal’s leading politicians. In addition to Prime Minister Oli, Gokarna Raj Bista, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security will also speak. The country’s Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Tham Maya Thapa, inaugurated the Fifth UNI Apro Women’s Conference, which is running from 17 to 19 November. UNI General Secretary Christy Hoffman will also be speaking at the event.

“The slogan of our conference is ‘A Just Transition for Workers,’ and during this gathering, we seek to adopt the plans necessary to turn those words into a reality for workers across the region,” said Rajendra Kumar Acharya, Apro’s Deputy Regional Secretary.

The event will also witness the retirement of Christopher Ng, after 42 years in the labour movement and 36 years of service as the Regional Secretary of UNI APRO and its predecessor federation. The election of Ng’s successor will be held on the last day. Brother Acharya, originally from Nepal, is standing for office unopposed.

You can follow the conference on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uniaproconference/ and on Twitter using the hashtag #AproForWorkers.