[asia-apec 48] Workers' Primer on APEC, Part III

[ALARM]

ALARM Update (online version)
Monthly newsletter of the APEC Labour Rights Monitor (ALARM) project
Issue Nos. 4 & 5, July & August 1996


16. What is our experience with NAFTA?

A number of studies have been conducted on the effects of NAFTA,
particularly in Mexico. The Mexican Action Network on Free Trade (RMALC)
published this March 1996 report (“Challenging Free Trade in the Americas:
Building Common Responses”, by Prof. Alberto Arroyo of UAM, et.al.)

According to the study, the effect on Mexico was felt barely two years after
the NAFTA implementation. The structural problems of the Mexican economy did
not begin with NAFTA; the neoliberal growth model has been operative since
at least 1982. In 1995, one year after NAFTA, the Mexican economy was
plunged into its deepest crisis in more than 60 years. During the time NAFTA
has been in effect, GDP per capita has declined by 7.1% (some estimates put
it at 8.62%). This is the second largest economic decline of the century,
surpassed only by 1932 when Mexico touched bottom after the 1929 world
recession. “At a single stroke, the crisis wiped out all the growth of the
six Salinas years.”

Its currency is worth 50% of last year’s value, many state enterprises have
been privatised and industries deregulated.  Unemployment has skyrocketed.
After NAFTA, more than 1.6 million Mexican workers lost their jobs.
Businesses are functioning at a fraction of their real capacity and wages
are lower in real terms. Productivity has been badly affected because of the
structural damage that liberalisation and NAFTA has caused the Mexican economy.

“In summary, neoliberalism has not only  been unjust and caused greater
concentration of wealth, it has also failed in its most basic goal -- to
make the economy grow at a faster rate than the population. It has not
achieved real growth over its 13-year trial, not even in the 12 years before
the 1995 crisis. Nor has it produced real growth during the two years of
NAFTA.” (Full text of report available on request)

17.  Should non-APEC countries be concerned about APEC?

“India has been trying desperately to get into APEC, but it has been
excluded. At the time of the Seattle meeting (1993), India applied to be
part of APEC, but, since it does not ‘touch the Pacific’, it was denied
membership. [D’Souza, AMPO, 1995]

In fact, countries in the APEC waiting list include Vietnam, Peru, Ecuador,
Colombia, Mongolia, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Israel. Many of
these countries are concerned of being “left out” if they can’t join APEC.

Workers and people’s groups in these and other non-APEC countries have
direct and general reasons to be concerned about APEC. As discussed earlier,
APEC is only one expression of the free market neoliberal agenda.

 The WTO, the US in particular, will create other forms to implement their
agenda of “open regionalism” in other parts of the world. South Asia,
because of India’s huge domestic market, is a high priority agenda.

As an Indian worker has quipped, “We are not in APEC, but we are very much
within the politics of APEC.” APEC initiatives will directly affect the
economies, workers and people in nearby countries, especially South Asia and
the rest of Latin America. 

Shifting of capital from non-members is likely to happen, foreign investment
will move out and transfer to APEC, and existing jobs will be lost. APEC
countries will increase trade with each other, possibly at the expense of
former non-APEC trading partners. APEC will surely influence the flow of
trade, investments and capital, including labour migration.

18. What are ongoing people’s initiatives on APEC?

It is impossible to identify and enumerate existing people’s initiatives
against APEC, free trade and globalisation, especially at the country level.

The main Asia-Pacific regional initiative on APEC is spearheaded by the
network of NGOs and people’s groups. This same network was involved in the
1995 “NGO Forum on APEC” in Kyoto.

The forum has turned the responsibility over to the Philippine Hosting
Committee (PHC), to organise and host the “1996 People’s Forum on APEC”
(PFA 96) to be held on 17 - 26 November 1996 in the Philippines. From the
Philippines, the task will be transferred to the Canadian groups to organise
and prepare for the 1997 meeting.

In addition to this, special APEC/free trade monitoring groups and projects
are ongoing, e.g. APEC Labour Rights Monitor (ALARM, Hong Kong), GATT
Watchdog (Aotearoa), FOCUS-on-APEC (Thailand), APEC Watch (newsletter).

Long-standing regional and international NGOs and development groups  have
also incorporated or given priority to APEC in their programmes and plans.

These groups include Asian Migrant Centre (AMC, Hong Kong), Asia Monitor
Resource Center (AMRC, Hong Kong), Asian Regional Exchange for New
Alternatives (ARENA, Hong Kong), Committee for Asian Women (CAW, Hong Kong),
Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA), International Centre for
Human Rights and Democratic Development (ICHRDD, Canada), Mexican Action
Network on Free Trade (RMALC, Mexico), Asia Pacific Worker Solidarity Links
(APWSL, Bangkok), Focus on the Global South (Bangkok), ANGOC (Manila), etc.

These groups have formed a supporting “International Convenors Committee”
(ICC) which helps the PHC organise the PFA 1996.

In addition, friends in the media have formed supporting media teams in Hong
Kong and the Philippines to help project the people’s position on APEC.

19. What is the position of women workers’ groups on APEC?

Women's groups in Kyoto made the following calls, as embodied in the
declaration: "take steps to protect farmers and the land rights and tenure
of women and indigenous peoples; protect the rights of women and migrant
labour, and defend children from exploitation."

Philippine women's groups statement: "We, women belonging to various NGOs,
movements and organisations, oppose the current Philippine development model
that APEC likewise espouses."

"(T)he Osaka Declaration claims that market-oriented reforms will ...
enhance prosperity and living standards. Filipino women's  experiences,
however, belie the market's touted democratizing potentials."

Rural women have had to cope with land and food insecurity; more and more
businesses have resorted to subcontracting women;  women are most vulnerable
to the casualization and "flexibilization" of labor; "free flow of labor"
translates into a virtual hands-off policy on overseas workers, especially
women.

"In this light, we call for changing the current market-led, growth-oriented
development strategy to one that is equitable, sustainable and empowering." 
(Women' Forum Statement, 3 July 1996, Manila)

20. What is PFA ‘96?

The 1996 People’s Forum on APEC (PFA ’96) is the continuation of the
regional people’s response on APEC. It is a follow-through of the 1995 Kyoto
forum, and it will move on to a parallel people’s forum in Canada in 1997.
The 1995 Kyoto Declaration serves as the minimum basis of unity of groups in
the PFA. The Kyoto Declaration is rejecting APEC and its model of free trade
and economic liberalization.

Preparations and hosting for PFA ‘96 is being done by the PHC and the ICC.
PFA ‘96 will be held on 17 - 26 November 1996 in various parts of the
Philippines. It is composed of 3 main events:

 (1)	4 pre-summit regional fora to be held from 17-20 November in various
              parts of the country;
 (2)	PFA main forum to be held on 21-23 November in Manila; and
 (3)	People’s Caravan, 2 two day walk from Manila to Subic, to be held from
              24-26 November. 

To facilitate discussion of the people’s concerns, the PFA has organised
topics into 4 major themes or clusters. These 4 clusters will hold
simultaneous Asia-Pacific conferences on 17-20 November:

a)	people’s rights, democratisation and governance (venue: Tagaytay City);
b)	labour and migrants rights (venue: Tagaytay City);
c)	economic and social development (venue: Davao City); and
d)	ecology and environment (venue: Cebu City).

Around 350 delegates (250 overseas, 100 local) coming from NGOs and people’s
groups in Asia-Pacific are expected. The ICC has formed a Selection
Committee which will draw up and finalise the invitation list for overseas
participants. 

The ICC has drawn up the following main criteria for participation: gender
balance (50% mix), PO/NGO balance, geographic balance, APEC/free trade
programmes/activities. (See ALARM Update #1 for PFA schedule)

21. What is the “Labour and Migrants’ Rights Forum”?

The Labour and Migrant Rights  forum, one of the four fora under PFA ‘96,
aims to discuss workers situation (especially trade unions, women,
migrants), the violation of workers’ human rights, impact of APEC, workers
alternatives and vision. The forum is also expected to come out with
recommendations and action plans regarding APEC and labour. The Labour and
Migrant Forum will be held in Tagaytay City. Primary  participants are
grassroots workers, trade unions, labour support groups, women workers,
migrant workers organisations. Around 50 participants are expected.

ALARM, together with labour support groups in Asia-Pacific (APWSL, AMRC,
AMC, CAW, RMALC) are helping coordinate this forum.

An initial list of labour groups (per country is being circulated for
comments/modifications). The  final draft will be submitted to the Selection
Committee.

ALARM is also coordinating the drafting of a “State of Labour Report” which
will be submitted to the PFA and the LMR forum in particular.

22. What do we want to achieve by these initiatives?

Based on the 1995 Kyoto forum, some of the main objectives of the people’s
initiative against APEC are:

1) broaden people’s networking in Asia-Pacific, and the world in general
2) continue to build and shape our common positions, vision, agenda; people’s
    alternative
3) intermediate intervention: lobby respective governments to withdraw or
    become answerable for their actions in APEC
4) wide publicity (national, regional), especially of the people’s position
    on APEC to counteract government and APEC propaganda
5) document and build our information base about the impact of APEC and
    neoliberalism on workers and the people in general.
6) education, campaign, organising, especially at the country and grassroots
    level; strive to involve community groups, local unions and grassroots
   workers, women and migrants groups in the APEC issue.

23. What can workers do?

So far, much of the energy and initiative on the APEC campaign comes from
the regional groups, especially NGOs. The most important task and role of
workers in the region (especially thrid world countries) is to seize the
initiative and spearhead the regional advocacy and response against APEC and
globalisation. 

NGOs and regional groups have repeatedly emphasised their desire for workers
and grassroots groups themselves to take the initiative; NGOs have committed
to support, facilitate and strengthen such grassroots initiatives.

Strategic tasks:
	
     * grassroots and community organising, education, training  with clear-cut
       agenda on APEC, free trade, liberalisation, government development
programme
     * local and national lobby and advocacy against APEC, free trade, etc.
     * national agenda- and consensus-building on APEC and neoliberalism;
       forming a broad national network to document and campaign against APEC
     * prepare and disseminate information and education materials (readings,
       visuals, photos, etc.) about APEC, workers and the people

Specific activities:

     * Join the 1996 People’s Forum on APEC (PFA 96), especially the Labour and
       Migrants Rights (LMR) Forum:
     * suggest names/groups (especially grassroots workers, women and migrants)
       for the LMR; forward your suggestions c/o ALARM secretariat
     * gather all interested labour, women worker and migrants groups in your
       country and try to come up with common recommendees for country
delegates        to LMR
     * Hold solidarity actions in your own area in November (in time for the
       APEC summit)
     * workers, women and migrant workers groups are encouraged to hold local
       actions in time for the ministers summit in the Philippines
     * migrants can lobby at their respective embassies in countries where
they work
       local workers can hold demonstrations or dialogues with their local
officials
       pamphlet and reading materials can be reproduced and distributed to
       fellow workers to ensure everybody gets substantial information on APEC
     * On November 25, during the actual APEC meeting in Subic, you can hold
       picket and protest actions in front of governement offices; we can all do
       this as a simultaneous “hour of protest” in the Asia-Pacific region.
     * Build consensus and programmes on APEC in you country
     * hold consultation meetings involving different labour groups in your
       country or area and try to build a common perspective and consensus
on                APEC, free trade, globalisation
     * try to plan a collective programme in response to APEC, especialy to
       organise, educate and reach out to grassroots workers
     * encourage your own organisation to pick up the APEC issue and make it an
       important part of your organisational plan/agenda
     * contribute materials, photos, information on APEC and workers; you can
       forward this c/o ALARM secretariat and your own network
     * if possible, publish simple, one-page bulletins/information sheets in
       your own area about APEC
     * help disseminate this workers’ primer on APEC, ALARM Update, APEC
Watch, and other APEC materials
     * begin or strengthen documentation and monitoring work on the impact of
       APEC on workers and  communities. Share and exchange information with 
       similar groups in the region. You can contact ALARM and we will help you
       link up with other groups.
     * Help make the “State of Labour Report” by contributing information about
       workers and APEC in your own country or area of work. Please send
       contributions to ALARM. Copies of this report will be circulated
publicly,
       especially to the contributors.
     * lobby them to withdraw from APEC and ask them to ratify international UN
       and ILO standards and conventions especially those protecting workers,
       women, migrants and trade unions.
     * hold protest actions like pickets, demonstrations, circulate petition
       letter and publications against APEC
     * hold community, factory and small group meetings, discussions and
       workshops on APEC
     * write protest letters to the media and your government about their
       involvement in APEC and APEC’s plans and agenda.

Conclusion

The actual and potential disaster of APEC’s global free trade agenda on half
of the world’s population couldn’t be overemphasized. Peoples in the region
couldn’t afford to be passive and simply watch as the ministers decide the
people’s fate. It is important for peoples, especially the  most vulnerable
-- workers, migrants, women, children -- to speak out, intervene, influence,
and fight APEC and the global neoliberal agenda.

These past few years have clearly demonstrated to workers and civil society
that isolated, country- centered responses to local workers’ and people’s
issues are increasingly becoming ineffective. As capital has become global,
so too have production systems, information, labour. Shopfloor workers,
migrants, women workers and civil society are now facing a fast-consolidating 
global capital power. 

There is no singular approach. Our response all at once need to be local and
global, specific and multi-level. As we continue to try effective
combinations of initiatives and responses, we also continue to explore and
develop our own visions and agendas for the future.

APEC is one issue which has given us the opportunity to build stronger and
broader people’s unity, and forge links across the seas and national borders. 

Workers should seize this opportunity to galvanise regional opposition to
APEC and spearhead such initiative.Let Subic symbolise the victory of
regional people’s power. Once again, let it be the Waterloo of US and global
capitalist domination.

Sources:

IBON Facts and Figures, 1995

The Big Picture, May  6, 1996

ALARM Update issues 1, 2, 3   

AMPO, Vol. 26, No. 4, 1995 

Arroyo, Alberto et. al. “Challenging Free Trade in the Americas: Building
Common Responses”, RMALC, March 1996.

Asian Migrant Centre. Background Information on Korea Migrants Workshop,
Hong Kong, July 1996.

Bronson, Diana and Stéphannie Rousseau. Working Paper on Globalisation and
Worker’s Human Rights in the APEC Region, International Centre for Human
Rights and Democratic Development, 1995.

Kelsey, Jane. Economic Fundamentalism: Structural Adjustment in New Zealand,
1995.

Kyoto Declaration, Kyoto, November 1995

Manila People’s Forum on APEC 1996 (pamphlet), Manila, 1996

Tadem, Ed and Lakshmi Daniel (eds.). Challenging the Mainstream, Hong Kong,
Jointly published by Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA),
Asia Alliance of YMCA's (AAYMCA), Christian Conference of Asia-International
Affairs (CCA-IA) and Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA), Hong
Kong, 1995 

Women’s Forum Statement for the APEC Manila Process, July 1996


ALARM UPDATE
APEC Labour Rights Monitor

ALARM Secretariat
c/o Asian Migrant Centre 
4 Jordan Road
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2312 0031  Fax: (852) 2992 0111
E-mail: alarm at hk.super.net

Rex Varona
Project Coordinator

Bien Molina, Jr.
Researcher

ADVISORY GROUP

Muchtar Pakpahan
Convenor

Members:

Apo Leong
Asia Monitor Resource Centre

Micheline Levesque
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development

Robert Reid
Asia-Pacific Workers' Solidarity Links

ALARM aims to monitor and disseminate information on labour rights, issues
and actions in Asia and Pacific rim countries, with emphasis on the APEC
countries.

ALARM is supported by the International Centre for Human Rights and
Democratic Development and Catholic Fund for Overseas Development