ITUC-AP/SARTUC Conference on South Asian Regional Meet on Sustainable Labor Market through Decent in South Asia (II) was organized in Kathmandu on April 1-2, 2013. The Conference was attended by 14 Organizations from five countries of SAARC region.
Inauguration Session April 1, 2013
 Brother Laxman Basent, Acting General Secretary, SARTUC, welcomed and conducted the inaugural session.
SARTUC President Dr. G. Sanjeeva Reddy, President INTUC, inaugurated the Conference. In the inaugural session Brother P. Haridasan conveyed message on behalf of ITUC-AP General Secretary Noriyuki Suzuki and spoke on the ITUC-AP support to regional initiative, evolution of SARTUC and its challenges and agendas.
Brother Bishnu Rimal (President, GEFONT), Brother Shalik Ram Jamakattel (President, ANTUF), Brother Ramjee Kunwar (Senior Vice President, NTUC-I), all from host-country Nepal greeted the participants. Each of the speakers highlighted the challenges facing the trade union movement and the response. They also share the view that regional trade union movement should work on areas of migrant workers, women’s issues, wages and social security.
Brother Jose Assalino, Country Director ILO Nepal office also spoke on the occasion and hoped that this important regional meeting and initiative will give direction to the trade union movement in the region. He also highlighted the importance of decent work agenda in realizing workers rights.
President Sanjeeva Reddy, in his inaugural address listed the challenges facing the trade union movement in the region. He also shared his experience of Feb 20-21, 2013 trade union action which halted India. He was of opinion that such action was possible because of unity among unions. He hoped the trade unions in the region will start working together to address the plight of millions of workers for betterment of their living conditions. He hoped this conference will bring the trade unions closer.
Working Session of the Conference
Working session of the conference had 5 papers. Brother Hari Sharma of Nepal moderated the session. While facilitating the session Brother Sharma presented the summary of research paper on “South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation and Socio-Economic Situation: Trade Union Response†which was evolved through discussions in the First ITUC-AP/SARTUC Conference on South Asian Regional Meet on Sustainable Labor Market through Decent Work, December, 2012 in Colombo Sri Lanka. The presentation was followed by comments from the participants.
Thematic Paper Presentation
 December 2012 Conference decided to organize Kathmandu conference around five thematic areas. Each member country was asked to coordinate and prepare a draft paper to be discussed at the Kathmandu meeting.
Following are the themes and coordinator country.
- Minimum wages in South Asia- Bangladesh
- Getting Unions on board SAARC process- Sri Lanka
- Mainstreaming Gender- India
- Social Security in South Asia –Pakistan
- Protecting the Rights of the and promoting benefits for South Asian Migrant workers- Nepal
The coordinator country chaired each thematic presentation and the session. SARTUC Kathmandu office provided the technical support to thematic presentations.
Each presentation was followed by question and answers. Moderator Brother Sharma thanked the participants, chairs and paper presenters and concluded the sessions on thematic issues. The conference was closed with the note that we need to develop an action plan to realize the goals discussed in each thematic area. It was also expected that the member unions will work closely with the SARTUC Secretariat in Kathmandu for developing action plans in 2013.
In the evening of first day (April 1, 2013) three National affiliates of SARTUC in Nepal hosted a dinner in honor of the delegates and guests.
Second Day April 2, 2013
 First half of the second of the conference was devoted to interaction among the SARTUC members and formal meeting of SARTUC.
Inauguration of SARTUC Constitutional Convention
Dr. G Sanjeeva Reddy inaugurated the SARTUC Constitutional Convention 2013 by his presidential address.. The convention began with the welcome note by Brother Laxman Basnet. ITUC-AP General Secretary Brother N. Suzuki also spoke on the occasion.
Brother Basnet, Acting General Secretary submitted the General Secretary’s report. He also reported on both SARTUC Conference on South Asian Regional Meet on Sustainable Labor Market through Decent Work in South Asia, which was held in Sri Lanka 2012 and Kathmandu, April 1, 2013.
Delegates from the each participating countries presented the country report on trade union situation.. The presentations were followed by discussion where delegates deliberated on matters such as SAARC recognition, collective action plans and strategies for building strong trade union movement in the region.
Constitutional amendment
Brother Basnet introduced the amendments proposed by the Secretariat. Brother Haridasan explained the salient features of amendments.
Delegates discussed the amendments proposed by the Secretariat and also the proposals from Bangladesh affiliates, which was meant to make the organization more functional. The convention unanimously adopted the amendments which included (i) removal of the post of finance secretary and entrusting the work of finance to the Gen Secretary (ii) one vice president from each country, and (iii) Dues collection procedure.  The amended constitution is attached..
The convention unanimously reelected Brother G. Sanjeeva Reddy, India, as President for three years. Similarly Brother Laxman Basnet, Nepal was also unanimously elected General Secretary for three years. Brother K. Velayudam from Sri Lanka and Alhaj Sukkur Mahamud, Bangladesh were elected Deputy Gen Secretaries. Sister Usha Devkota from Nepal was elected as women secretary.
Five Vice Presidents were also elected as under:
- Bishnu Rimal, Nepal
- Muthu Shivalingam, Sri Lanka
- Shah Md. Abu Zaffer, Bangaldesh
- Pakistan – to be decided later
- Thampan Thomas, India.
Important Meetings on the sidelines of the Conference.
- Conference delegates paid a courtesy call on President of Nepal, Mr. Dr. Rambaran Yadav.
The delegation was led by SARTUC president Sanjeeva Reddy along with ITUC-AP General Secretary N. Suzuki on April 01, 2013
During the visit, a brief introduction was made with President. The delegation briefed the president about SARTUC conference and the issues which are dealt with. The president praised the trade union role in Nepal during the people’s uprising of 2006. The president thanked the delegation for visiting him.
- Visit to SAARC Secretary General
On April 02 a SARTUC delegation led by its president visited the secretariat of SAARC. The delegation comprised with ITUC-AP General Secretary along with SARTUC leaders.
SAARC Secretary General welcomed the delegation together with his desk directors. SARTUC president made opening remarks and ITUC AP general secretary briefed on trade unions engagement with various regional platforms.
"The ITUC is representing all socio economic groupings ranging from G20 to OECD forming corresponding trade groupings like T20 and TUAC respectively. There are regional trade union network at Europe as ETUC and ATUC in ASEAN".
Following points were raised by the delegation with the SAARC Secretary General.
- SARTUC wants to be recognized by the SAARC as its labour Apex body, wanted to know the process and note that we are expecting your cooperation. By this, the trade unions in the region want to engage collectively with its counterpart- the SAARC chambers of commerce on various issues of economic cooperation and development. The issue of SAFTA is equally point of concern to the unions as of employer’s organization
- SAARC region has the largest number of working people. The SAARC states are both country of origin and destination of migrant workers. You can term it issue of cross border migration as well. We have few issues, which can be implemented, in regional world of work:
- a) Minimum wage
- b) Safe migration
- c) Gender issue and problem of human trafficking
- d) Social protection
The SAARC Secretary General explained the process and asked to keep in touch with the director of concerned cell.