Attending ILO AP RM: Ath Thorn, CLC - Cambodia

It is interesting for us to attend, to know more about the priorities of the Asia Pacific Labour movement. We learn about the situation of decent work in each country. We see how sometimes the employers’ or government group try to limit our efforts, even though we are supposed to all work together for decent work. Their delegates often pretend everything is fine, while there are many labour issues and violations. Only 14 states among 47 Asia Pacific have ratified the 8 ILO core conventions.

I particularly remember the opening remarks made by the President of ITUC-AP, Felix Anthony, which strongly pointed out the problems, while other delegates are often softer, more diplomatic.

Also the intervention by Andy on behalf of IYCW and WSM was very well made and touched upon the issues of the network. The tripartite dialogue system in Asia is there on the regional or continental level, but at national level, it is often absent or lacking, while that is the most important level. It is not comparable to Belgium, even though I hear social dialogue is under attack there as well. In Cambodia, it remains fragmented and under pressure. I made an intervention at the ILO AP RM because previously I learned more about the ILO system, the supervisory complaint mechanism regarding Cambodia and made interventions at the ILC in Geneva. My intervention here is important to strengthen the complaints I lodged earlier at ILO level. My intervention, which is made with representatives from government and employers’ next to me, pushes them to respect decent work in Cambodia better. This is how the international pressure can function, enabled through these ILO meetings.