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ABUC TO INITIATE FIRST SECTOR DIALOGUE IN ASEAN

Published: 17 August 2010
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 Banks are adopting a collective approach to employ casual and temporary workers side by side with the handful of regular staff in banks while expanding business in ASEAN countries. Similarly, some regional banks are increasingly outsourcing even core banking activities for cost advantageous, which has a serious impact on terms and conditions of employment of regular employees and declining of trade union membership said J Solomon President of ASEAN Bank Union Council [ABUC] at the opening of the 7th council meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia.



All banking unions in ASEAN faces similar challenges a common approach is the way forward to protect rights at work place. Solomon proposed that the bank unions also should work together to safe guard trade union rights and gain recognition for ABUC as a collective force in the rapidly integrating economies in ASEAN. He further said his own union NUBE Malaysia has amended its constitution to recruit all employees carrying out any form of banking functions in to their union with a view to arrest the declining trend.



Creation of ABUC was UNI Apro initiated trade union response; to protect both the interest of bank employees and banking industry during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 said Christopher Ng Regional Secretary in his opening remarks. Since then UNI Apro has engaged with ASEAN activities with a view to make ASEAN member countries to recognize the role of trade unions to ensure everyone benefits out of the economic integration process. UNI Apro has positively responded to the ASEAN economic integration. Accordingly, UNI Apro pioneered the setting up of ASEAN Services Employees Trade Union Council [ASETUC] in 2007. Christopher said ASEAN now consults UNI Apro and ASETUC in human resources development and industrial relations related matters in the region. Christopher welcomed the ABUC’s proposal to appoint a working committee to study on Occupational Health and Safety [OHS] issues relating to the industry. Christopher was of the view that ABUC can engage with a meaningful social dialogue with the employers on OHS and Bank security and help banks to introduce common standards across their regional operations. As such ABUC should come up with proposals to formulate policies and guidelines for banks on OHS and bank security to initiate a dialogue with all stake holders in the industry. He was hopeful that the first service sector regional social dialogue in ASEAN to be on finance industry.



Oliver Roethig, Head of Dept. of UNI Finance global union highlighted on the key issues that the global union is tackling with the global financial crisis. Oliver shared his experience on the convergence of economic and political system in the Europe and insisted that ABUC should focus on calling banks and insurance companies to commit to the charter on responsible sale of financial products in ASEAN



Catherine Jikunan General Secretary of Saba Banking Employees Union was nominated as the Chairperson of the ABUC working committee on OHS and Bank security at the meeting.



Council members discussed about outsourcing of banking function by various banks and its impact on terms and conditions of regular employees at the meeting. Mr. Hendra Wibowo, of SEBI, Islamic Banking Institution of Indonesia made a presentation about the concept of Islamic Banking and its growth potential in ASEAN to the ABUC members at the meeting. Magdalene Kong UNI Apro Director for Youth Activities and Research shared about priorities of ASEAN and an overview of ASETUC activities in the region.







Twenty four participants representing eleven finance sector unions attended the meeting which was held on 1st August 2010 in Jakarta, Indonesia