[asia-apec 842] APPA Labour forum - Information and Programme

[AHRC Urgent Appeal]

Dear friends,
Attached are information the APPA Labour Forum. Please note that since
labour forum has received no external funding, we cannot afford to subsidise
any participant. we will be arranging accomodation from our end. Room rate:
RM 40 (twinshare) per night and RM 75 (single room). For food and conference
venue, it costs RM 50 for day. If possible, we will try to cover the local
expenses, however we appeal to participants contribute for these expenses.

regards,

Labour Forum

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Asia-Pacific Peoples' Assembly
Confronting Globalisation, Reasserting the Peoples' Rights

Invitation to Labour Forum


Dear friends,

Warmest greetings from Malaysia. 

The organising committee of the Asia Pacific Peoples' Assembly (APPA) Labour
Forum is pleased to invite you to participate in the forum. The Labour
Forum, which is part of the Asia Pacific Peoples' Assembly, will be held
between 11 and 12 November. The main conference of APPA will be held between
10 to 15 November.

The main theme for the Labour Forum is "Globalisation and Workers' Struggle
for Employment Security". We call on participants to contribute papers,
publications or reports related to the theme. Any materials you wish to
share with other participants (even if you could not attend the meeting),
please submit them to APPA Secretariat before November 5 in order to be
included in the delegate folder.

Although the date for APPA is fast approaching, we still have not received
any confirmation for funding. If funds are available, subsidies for travel
or local expenses will be provided for limited number of people. However, at
the present stage the organizing committee could not commit to provide
sponsorship for invited participants. We urge you to actively seek other
sources of funding.

Attached are several documents related the registration of the Assembly.
Please fill in the relevant forms and return to the Secretariat. The
registration rate of APPA is US50.00. Due to our limitation of fund, it will
be helpful that if the more resourceful organisations e.g. trade unions from
the North, international or regional bodies, could also contribution some
financial support to the Labour Forum.

Thank you and looking forward to see you in Kuala Lumpur.


Solidarity,



------------------------------------
Tian Chua
On behalf of organising committee



Important Reminder: 

1. Please fax your flight details to APPA secretariat before you fly to
Malaysia. 
2. APPA volunteers will be stationed at the Kuala Lumpur International
Airport to facilitate transport to your hotels, start from Nov 6 - Nov 10,
9.00am - 9.00pm. 
3. We would advise you to check multiple purpose of visit in the embarkation
form for the immigration. You can check conference, holiday, business etc. 
4. According to the new currency policy, you are not permitted to carry into
and out of Malaysia, ringgit notes not exceeding RM1,000 per person.
Non-resident is permitted to carry out of Malaysia, foreign currency notes
including traveler's cheques not exceeding the amount brought in. 
5. For emergency, please contact 603-2836245.


Please fill in the form below for logistic arrangement and send it back to
the secretariat at appasec at tm.net.my or fax 603-2833536. Thank you. 

Name: ________________________________________________ 

Organization: ___________________________________________ 

Country: _______________________________________________ 

Accommodation: ________________________________________ 

Flight/Train No: __________________________________________ 

Arrival Date & Time: ______________________________________ 

Departure Date & Time: ___________________________________ 


Program of the Labour Forum:

Exposure (9 October) 
Factory Visit and exchange with trade unions and labour activists in Malaysia
Half-day visit
Electronic factory: Harris Semiconductor
Automobile factory in Klang Valley

Day 1 (October 11)
9.00 am		Opening speech:
		
		Presentation:
		"Key trends of the workers' movement in the Asia-Pacific region"
		by ALARM, AMRC and CAW

10.30 am	Tea break

11.00 am	Workshop will be divided into 4 groups:
1. Women workers - Irene Xavier (Sahabat Wanita)
2. Trade unions - Syed Shahir (NUTEAW)
3. Community and non-formal sector 
4. Labour supporting services (AMRC/LRC)

Each workshop will discuss what are impacts of globalisation on respective
sectors and how to defend workers' rights and employment

11.00 am 	Workshop: Reflection and evaluation of the present situation
		(problems, difficulties and opportunities)
		
1.00 pm		Lunch

2.00 pm		Workshop (continued): Discussion on demands to put forward and strategy

4.00 pm		Report back and plenary

5.30 pm		Close

8.00 pm 	Videos and informal discussion


Day 2 (October 12)

9.00 am	Inputs:
		Presentation: experiences of existing struggles
		(some case presentations of Asia and Latin America)

10.30 am	Tea break

11.00 am	Workshop on ways of:
		- Forging solidarity between different sector
		- Developing common programs

1.00 pm		Lunch

2.00 pm		Summary and plenary

3.30 pm		Tea break

4.00 pm		Evaluation of previous cooperation and common program
			(how to prevent duplication of tasks and avoid repetition of 
mistakes)

5.00 pm 		Resolution

8.00 pm		Solidarity night


Rally (November 15)
The workers sector will propose to workers groups and trade unions to hold a
rally during the period of APEC. The theme is suggested to be on human
rights, employment and food security.


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