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‘A brilliant success and a serious basis from which to relaunch the region’s work for Professionals and Managers’ is how UNI World President, Ulf Bengtsson, described the cluster of UNI Apro P&M events which took place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 6-12 August.





The UNI Apro P&M Executive Committee (6 August) was followed by a Symposium on Work Life Management (7 August). Both events assembled more than 100 P&M workers and trade union leaders from more than 30 UNI affiliated unions in 10 countries.



During the committee meeting participants heard reports of P&M activities from across the region, and about successes within UNI, as well as where key sectoral challenges were continuing to be faced. Committee members and the large number of observers in attendance used the meeting to engage in group work to develop a strong and strategic regional P&M workplan around UNI's Breaking Through strategy with a focus on relaunching the region’s P&M activities by pursuing affiliate-led activities that would translate policy into action.



Over the two days the participants also debated the dynamic working realities of professionals and managers in their countries. Through a series of experience sharing sessions, participants reviewed case studies from different sets of workers in finance and ICTS as well as in the media and ICTS sectors. They exchanged best practices and identified a number of major challenges that lurk on the horizon.



Very stimulating presentations were given by professionals with industrial backgrounds, including Dr Ajantha Dharmasiri, Senior Faculty Member and Management Consultant at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and Arjuna Herath, partner with Ernst & Young Far East Region. Participants not only agreed that constant ‘optimising’ and productivity-enhancing exercises can trigger high stress levels and affect the work-life balance of P&M workers, but it was also noted that the absence of ethical principals at the corporate level of leading financial institutions contributed to the current global financial crisis and economic downturn.



It was roundly agreed by the Symposium participants that through supporting best standards and ethical practices in business, the voice of P&M workers can be strengthened while protecting their professional integrity and strengthen their role in ‘whistle blowing’ on bad or unethical practices.



This stimulated a series of detailed presentations from among UNI’s affiliated unions with topics ranging from Japan's retirement and women P&M workers' crisis; Sri Lankans' political woes about pension safeguards; and Pakistan’s report on ILO labour standard abuses; to Singapore's drive to protect financial sector workers from the fallout of the Euro crisis; the Malaysians' campaigns against badly devised KPI structures, and India's drive for work life management and responsible recruitment policies.



Despite participants coming from very diverse backgrounds and occupations, they were urged to pursue a collective interest to strengthen the voice of P&M workers in their own unions, but also across the region.



The Executive Committee meeting and knowledge sharing symposium were followed by an empowerment training programme (8-12 August) for less experienced trade union P&M members.



‘This entire programme of activities for P&M workers in the Asia and Pacific Region has been a brilliant success, with rich debate and honest reflections about the scale of challenges we face. This is a serious basis from which to relaunch the region’s work for Professionals and Managers and ensure that push the needs of these groups of workers higher up the industrial agenda,” said Ulf Bengtsson, UNI World President,.



“It will take a lot of effort to translate the regional P&M plan into practice but the interactive group work that was used to identify the key priorities, and which unions want to work on these, provide a solid basis to engage affiliates and develop these issues in the weeks and months ahead,” said Pav Akhtar, Director for P&M at UNI Global Union.



“UNI is reaching out to P&M workers to give them a voice that will collectively pursue their interests in securing rights at work. The common sense of identity, security, and social responsibility is important towards establishing a just and fair society for social progress,” concluded Jayasri Priyalal, UNI Apro’s Director of Finance sector and the P&M group.