Address the missing link in ASEAN integration: Realize people’s agenda for a Social ASEAN.

Statement of Civil Society, Trade Unions, Migrants, and Parliamentarians in Southeast Asia
to the 22nd Senior Officials Meeting of the ASCC and the 17th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting

On 6-9 March 2017, ASEAN Senior Officials and Ministers will tackle socio-cultural and environmental concerns in the region at the 22nd Senior Officials Meeting of the ASCC and at the 17th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting. The latter will discuss preparations for and the declarations or statements for adoption by the Heads of States at the ASEAN Summit, with the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” in April.

We – civil society organizations, trade unions, workers, migrants, marginalized sectors, and parliamentarians in Southeast Asia –  urge high officials and leaders in ASEAN to include in the discussions and declarations the perspectives of ordinary women, men, and vulnerable groups aspiring for a better quality of life – a life of dignity.
We call on the Senior Officials, Ministers, and Heads of States of ASEAN to make the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN truly meaningful by leaving a golden legacy to the peoples in Southeast Asia; make “people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN” a reality. Adopt the people’s agenda for a Social ASEAN.
Majority of the peoples in Southeast Asia have been suffering from economic and social deprivation, insecurity, social exclusion and oppression as inequalities continue to widen. More than 65% of the workforce in the region are in precarious work – without permanent and decent jobs, access to social services and social protection, and without adequate income that could enable them a life with dignity.  Less than 30% of the population have social protection as government expenditure for social protection remains low. In Southeast Asia, an average of only 3% of GDP per country goes to social protection and in 4 of the ASEAN countries it is below 2%.

While ASEAN has committed to also forming a socio-cultural community, the social dimension of integration remains sketchy. The economic integration is prioritized, for instance, over any social protection measure or benefit.
Integration efforts are taking place at a time when ASEAN member states are signing a slew of new free trade agreements especially mega-trade pacts like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) between the ten member states of ASEAN and six states with which it has free trade agreements. RCEP would affect almost half of the world’s population.

The needs and rights of the people take a back seat to markets and profits under this regional integration that pursues neoliberal interests affirmed by free trade agreements –tilted towards serving big businesses and transnational corporations, and designed to liberalize our economies including public services and weaken government authority.
People’s rights and demands should stand above markets and profits. Market liberalization, deregulation and privatization have only led to the loss of traditional livelihoods and means of survival, and further exploitation of workers. They have also led to diminished public access to essential services and social security.
With the above conditions, the need to incorporate a social dimension in ASEAN’s integration process is urgent. It is imperative to integrate a social dimension that guarantees people’s needs and rights promoted, protected, and fulfilled in the regional integration process.  We propose the notion of a Social ASEAN – where sustainable jobs, worker’s rights, universal healthcare, education, water, energy, social security and affordable housing are integral components of the integration effort.  This will create opportunities for all.
Adopt the agenda for a sustainable Social ASEAN that reflects the aspirations and demands of the peoples in ASEAN. To achieve a sustainable Social ASEAN, the following structural issues be addressed and factored into the decision-making processes of ASEAN governments and non-state actors. This would require existing ASEAN Declarations with a social dimension be made binding on governments and the notion of non-interference set aside in the interests of the people.

1. Democratic and participatory processes at national and regional levels;
2. Gender equality and protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups (children and young people, older persons, persons with disability, LGBTIQ persons, migrant workers and their families);
3. State duty to provide essential services, especially universal healthcare  and lifelong learning opportunities for all;
4. Social protection for all (universal living pension as well as health, education, housing, water, electricity, land, employment); 
5. Safe and affordable food and access to productive resources; and
6. Ratification and implementation of ILO core labor standards.

Governments must be more inclusive, accountable, and willing to work in partnership with all their citizens towards social justice, sustainable development, and a life of dignity.

Signed,

  Working Group on Social ASEAN
    ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
 ASEAN Services Employees Trade Union Council (ASETUC)
   Migrant Forum Asia (MFA)
   Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP) – Asia/Southeast Asia
 Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)
   Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN) - Malaysia
Trade Union Rights Centre (TURC)

National organizations/formations in Southeast Asia
  Buhay na may Dignidad para sa Lahat (DIGNIDAD) Alliance - Philippines
WomanHealth  Philippines
Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP) - Philippines
Associated Labor Unions-TUCP - Philippines
Aksyon sa Kahandaan sa Kalamidad -National Coalition - Philippines
Alyansa Agrikultura, Centro Saka, Inc. – Philippines
Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) – Philippines
Empower - Philippines
Federation of Free Workers (FFW) - Philippines
     Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF)
Keep Hope Alive - Philippines
Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN) - Philippines
LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women's Rights) – Philippines
Manggagawang Kababaihang Mithi ay Paglaya (MAKALAYA) – Philippines
     National Movement for Food Sovereignty (NMFS) - Philippines
National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW) - Philippines
Partnership for Clean Air (PCA) Inc.  - Philippines
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) – Philippines
Philippines for Natural Farming, Inc. (PNFI) 
Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW)
Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)
Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)- PSI - Philippines
Reporma Isusulong ng Survivors Kalamidad -Laguna Lakes - Philippines
Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance Inc. - Philippines
Sustainability and Participation through Education and Lifelong Learning (SPELL) - Philippines
Women's Legal and Human Rights Bureau, Inc. (WLB) – Philippines
World Council for Curriculum and Instruction (WCCI) – Philippines
ZAMBAL KA – Philippines
Cambodian Grassroots Cross-Sector Network (CGCN)
CamASEAN Youth's Future (CamASEAN) – Cambodia
Cambodian Independent Civil-Servant Association (CICA)
    Independent Farmers Association for Community Development (IFACD) - Cambodia
    Farmers for Farmers Network (FFF) - Cambodia
    Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK) – Cambodia
Social Action for Change (SAC) – Cambodia
Aspek - Indonesia 
FSPMI (Federation of Metal Workers)- Indonesia 
Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ)
INISIATIF - Indonesia
INKRISPENA – Indonesia
Jamkes Watch (Social Security Healtcare & Workers)- Indonesia
Institut Pemberdayaan Perempuan-Institute for Women Empowerment (IWE) - Indonesia
Konfederasi Pergerakan Rakyat Indonesia (KPRI) - Indonesia
Konfederasi Serikat Nasional/National Union Confederation ( KSN) - Indonesia
Lembaga Informasi Perburuhan Sedane/Sedane Labour Resource Center (LIPS) – Indonesia
Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Masyarakat/Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) - 
Forum Islam Progresif/Progressive Islam Forum - Indonesia
Local Initiative for OSH Network (LION ) - Indonesia
Migrant Care – Indonesia
Sarekat Hijau Indonesia/Indonesian Green Union (SHI) - Indonesia
Serikat Mahasiswa Progresif Universitas Indonesia/Progressive Student Union (SEMAR UI) –Indonesia
Serikat Pekerja Percetakan Penerbitan dan Media Informasi Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia (SP PPMI SPS) – Indonesia
Solidaritas Perempuan (Women’s Solidarity for Human Rights) – Indonesia
SPN (Nasional Trade Union) -Indonesia
Working Peoples Party (PRP) - Indonesia
Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia/ Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) – Indonesia
   National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) - Malaysia 
  TENAGANITA – Malaysia
  Phan Tee Eain (Creative Home) - Myanmar
  Yangon Watch – Myanmar
  Think Centre  - Singapore
  HomeNet Thailand
  Vietnam Peace & Development Foundation

Regional and other National Organizations in Asia 
ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF)
ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF)
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus 
ALTSEAN-Burma
     HomeNet Southeast Asia
      Asian Roundtable on Social Protection 
      Asia Network on the Right to Social Protection (ANRSP)
      Asia Monitor Resource Centre
     Asia Pacific Network for Food Sovereignty (NMFS)
     Building and Wood Workers International  - Asia Pacific Region (BWI-AP)
     Disabled Peoples’ International Asia Pacific (DPIAP)
     Focus on the Global South
     HelpAge International
     NGO Forum on ADB
    Bangladesh Krishok Foundation
     Centre for Environmental Justice/Friends of the Earth - Sri Lanka
     Christian Development Alternative (CDA) - Bangladesh 
     Globalization Monitor – Hong Kong    
     Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)
     Mrinal Gore Interactive Centre - India
     Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
     Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee 
     Programme on Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR) - India

Individuals and other International networks
    Achin Vanaik, retired professor of "International Relations and global Politics," University of Delhi 
    Anuradha Chenoy, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University – India
    Birgit Daiber, Common Good Network
  Cora Fabros, Co-Vice President of International Peace Bureau
    Girlie E. Amarillo, DSD, Alay kay Inay Foundation, Inc.  
    Francois Houtart, professor-National Institute of Higher Studies of Quito (Ecuador)
    Kamal Mitra Chenoy, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University – India
    Samir Amin, Chair – World Social Forum
    Subodh R Pyakurel, Chairperson, INSEC (Informal Sector Service Center) - Nepal
    William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Defender and Freelance Journalist - UK  
    Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF)
  Global Social Justice
    Institute for Globalization studies and social movements (IGSO) - Moscow
 World Social Forum