News and Updates

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 declaration of emergency martial law in South Korea by President Yoon Suk-yeol. This anti-democratic action is a blatant attack on the constitutional order and a dangerous step towards dictatorship.

On 26 November 2024, millions of farmers and workers held coordinated protests in over 500 districts across India, marking the fourth anniversary of the farmers’ historic struggle that began alongside a nationwide workers’ strike. The protests were jointly organised by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to demand urgent action on a wide-ranging charter of demands (see photos below), focusing on addressing the deepening agrarian crisis, economic inequalities, loss of social security, and government policies that favour corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens.

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).