Engaging ASEAN in�Confusing Times: �Challenges to CSOs, POs & Trade Unions
Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo
Building Social ASEAN:�An Unfinished Task
In 2007, ASEAN adopted its Charter, making the organization not only rules-based. This is a follow-up to the 2003 Bali Concord II, which outlines that ASEAN has 3 community-building programs: as an economic community, as a political-security community and as a socio-cultural community.
Accordingly, “basic freedoms” of the people are recognized and that ASEAN is dedicated to become a “people-centred” Social ASEAN.
Reality 1: ASEAN declaration to become�a Social ASEAN a response to people’s pressures
Big catalyst: the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis,
which hit the region and led to social-economic convulsions.
Academics, trade unions, CSOs & gov’t officials asked what ASEAN was doing to stabilize the economy & people’s lives. ASEAN-civil society Social dialogues very strong in 2000-2012, especially under GenSecs Ong Keng Yong and Surin Pitsuwan and the formation of the Eminent Persons Group in 2006.
Major outcomes of SD: recognition of major problems facing the region such as development gaps, adoption of Charter & issuance of Declaration on Social Protection
Reality 2: Weakening of CSO-ASEAN Social Dialogue from 2012 onward due to character of ASEAN as an inter-governmental body
ASEAN Charter states that ASEAN is an inter-governmental body. Coordinating Council composed mainly of Foreign Ministers of ASEAN governments.
Decision-making is based on slow-by-slow consensus-taking style of ASEAN.
One outcome: less engagement w/ CSOs at the ASEAN Summit level.
And yet, Asean continues to spout rhetorics on “people-centred” regional dev’t, rhetorics with limited translation into practice
However, there are some CSO gains �in 2010-present
Series of positive declarations: Strengthening Social Protection in the region, Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment, Rights of Migrant Workers, Gender Mainstreaming, Corporate Social Responsibility, etc.
On the labor/industrial relations front:
Limited form of tripartism recognized involving Asean Trade Union Council and Asean Services Employees Trade Union Council, recognition of core labor rights & good industrial relations practices under the ALMM/SLOM programs.
Concerns of informal workers acknowledged �but positive actions limited
Concerns of informal workers reflected in the various declarations on social protection, transitioning, migrant protection, inclusive business and so on.
Limited participation of women’s & migrant groups in sectoral/sub-group meetings organized by Asean Secretariat & Ministerial and sub-Ministerial meetings, example, wide discussions on how to prevent violence against women, measures to reduce abuses of migrant rights, etc.
Challenge facing trade unions, POs and CSOs: �How to make Asean truly Social
Battle has to be waged inside and outside Asean.
Engagement w/ individual Asean governments a must because govt officials are the ones who determine Asean agenda of development.
Stronger unity of TUs, POs and CSOs region-wide a must
to exert pressures on gov’ts & Asean.
��Major Challenges to ASEAN
How to provide a seat to CSOs at the Asean table as recommended by the EPG in 2006?
How to address contradictory trends in the 3 pillars:
Economic community-building program largely neo-liberal, resulting in anti-people outcomes, versus socio-cultural community-building program, rich in pro-people rhetorics but short on implementation. Political-security community-building program and some avowal to democracy uncertain given the glove treatment to Myanmar & confused attitude towards China & other big powers.
And yes, what is the role of Asean today now that RCEP has been formed – as an appendage to China’s economy?
And how does Asean position itself in the big US-China rivalry in the Asia-Pacific?
Challenge to TUs, POs & CSOs
How to keep up the pressure to make Asean truly a “people-centered” community and enable the civil society movement gain not only a seat in the Asean table but be a major player in shaping a Social Asean.