The UNI Apro Youth held its 17th UNI Apro Youth Committee Meeting last 28 August 2021, Saturday via zoom. It was participated by over 40 active youth members in 10 countries in the region, namely: Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The meeting opened with Bernadette Reyes, UNI Apro Youth President, requesting a moment of silence for all those affected and for those who lost their lives in the pandemic.
Marta Ochoa, UNI Youth Head, warmly greeted the UNI Apro Youth members and informed them of the UNI Youth Global Report and Global Strategic Action Plan. She expressed her excitement to see the active participation of our youths in the region and looks forward to the UNI Apro Youth Conference taking place next year.
In his solidarity remarks, UNI Apro Regional Secretary Rajendra Kumar Acharya expressed deep concern about the pandemic’s economic impact resulting in massive unemployment on women and young workers. He updated the youths on the geopolitical developments in Myanmar, the Philippines, Hongkong, Afghanistan, and other countries in Asia. He ended off by reiterating the importance of the youth’s role in organizing the trade union movement.
In this meeting, the UNI Apro Youth Committee reviewed the respective national youth activities focusing on union issues, campaigns, and organizing. They also discussed ways to raise the profile of union youths through social movements in relation to pressing issues of climate change, women’s rights, protecting mental health, and fighting for decent work for young workers.
Michelle Belino, UNI Apro Youth Director, updated on the progress of the UNI Apro Youth Action Plan 2018-2022 adopted during the 5th UNI Apro Youth Conference in Malaysia and shared the upcoming proposed UNI Apro Youth Online training focusing on Leadership and Organizing.
The committee, in closing, approved to start work on preparing for the 6th UNI Apro Youth Conference in 2022 in coordination with UNI Apro and UNI Youth.
