News and Updates

On 4 April 2025, the Constitutional Court of Korea upheld unanimously the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, four months after his declaration of martial law on 3 December 2024, resulting in his removal from office.

ITUC-Asia Pacific supports its affiliates in Bangladesh in calling for the full and transparent implementation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) roadmap, which outlines critical labour rights reforms that Bangladesh must undertake to comply with international labour standards. Following the review at the 353rd Session of the ILO Governing Body in Geneva, ITUC-Asia Pacific and its affiliates acknowledge the interim government’s initial steps to address labour rights concerns, but they remain deeply concerned about the persistent gaps in labour law reforms, trade union registration, and the enforcement of workers’ rights.

Trade union representatives join civil society organisations in advocating for development justice at the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) 2025, held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, from 25-28 February 2025.

ITUC-Asia Pacific calls on governments to take immediate action toward nuclear disarmament following the conclusion of the Third Meeting of the States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 3-7 March 2025.

ITUC-Asia Pacific took a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of migrant workers at the Second Asia- Pacific Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) held in Bangkok from 3–6 February 2025. Organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), the event provided a platform to push for inclusive, rights-based migration governance through meaningful social dialogue among stakeholders, including governments, trade unions, and employers.

Four years after the military coup in Myanmar, the country remains in crisis as its people continue to endure severe repression, human rights violations, and economic hardship under the oppressive military regime. On this anniversary, the ITUC-Asia Pacific has renewed its call for global solidarity and concrete action to hold the junta accountable and restore democracy.

On 14 December, South Korea’s National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol with more than a two-thirds majority. Consequently, Yoon’s duties have been suspended, and the Constitutional Court now has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove him from office. Considering the gravity of his act of rebellion to subvert constitutional orders—by criticizing opposition parties for not aligning with his views and using the military and police to storm the legislature, as well as to suppress the rights and freedoms of the people—the National Assembly’s decision should be seen as entirely justified.

The ITUC-Asia Pacific strongly condemns the unjust sentencing of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, including trade union leaders, Carol Ng, former Chairperson of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), and Winnie Yu, former President of the Hospital Authority Employees' Association (HAEA).