APWSL NEWS

MONTHLY INTERNAL BULLETIN OF ASIA PACIFIC WORKERS SOLIDARITY LINKS

ISSUE 8                                                                                                     August 1999

Solidarity Greetings!

This is the Eighth Issue of APWSL News 1999. I am waiting for your response regarding my previous mail to you to send me a name and address of National Facilitator, his / her organization's name, organization's work, APWSL members name, addresses Tel / Fax Nos.and their organizations name. If you provide me this information as early as possible I can prepare a list of directory of APWSL Secretariat Team, RCT Team, National Facilitator and its members and send it to you. It can be helpful to know each other.

APWSL Exchange Program:

I am waiting your response for APWSL Exchange visit in future.

Budget for each exchange visit is US$ 2500, this amount covered the travel expenses, boarding and lodging.

APWSL KOREA NEWS:

It is very much encouraging for us that APWSL Korea committee prepared a news every month and distributed among APWSL groups.

Korea Committee Report:

APWSL Korea Committee submits the statement demanding the protection of Filipino worker's interest on the occasion of Philippine President visit to Korea.

§ 'The Exchange Talk about the situation and the labour environment of the women workers in Latin America was held. Exchange talk organized by "Korean Women Workers Associations United", Asia Monitor Resource Center and Makila Solidarity. Women Labour activists in Mexico, Dominica and El Salvador visited Korea.

In meeting APWSL Korea and Korea Committee have a plan to make a homepage in Jinbo.net in order to highlight International Solidarity.

APWSL East Asia Sub-Regional Coordinator Ms. Lee Sung-Kyung activist belongs to Youngdongpo Industrial Mission in Korea are being ready to visit Japan by the invitation of APWSL Japan Committee.

APWSL Pakistan News:

APWSL Meeting held in Sheikhupura-Punjab

APWSL Sheikhupura Committee organized a meeting on August 4, 1999 in Sheikhupura City. In the meeting APWSL 20 members were participated. Participants from Paper Industry, Home based female workers, Alevera Garment Factory, Alfa Pharmaceutical company, Samsonite factory were participated. In this meeting Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhry, Rubina Jamil and Aima Mahmood also participated. In the meeting APWSL members discussed about the activities of APWSL and how these activities will be more strengthen in Pakistan. Participants also chalk out APWSL Program from two months. Participants suggested that APWSL organized an AGM meeting in the month of October 1999. Members from different part of country will be attended AGM meeting.

Demonstration organized in Pakistan:

APWSL Pakistan take part in demonstration organized by Pakistan Workers Confederation against the Privatization, Increasing 15 % price of gas, petrol, electricity and fertilizers products in Rawalpindi / Islamabd on August 9, 1999. Speaker Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhry, President Punjab PWC, Rubina Jamil, Coordinator, APWSL& Secretary, PWC, Khurshid Ahmed, General Secretary PWC and others demanded the government to stop price hike and privatization. Implement ILO Conventions immediately.

Labour Movement Founder was died in Pakistan:

Mirza Muhammed Ibrahim, Founder of Pakistan Labour movement and President of All Pakistan was died on August 11, 1999 in his native village near Jhelum, Pakistan. He struggles against the Imperialist forces and remain in Jail 20 years. Many of his colleagues were famous in World like Mr. V.V. Gree who became the President of India and other colleague was the famous poet of Pakistan Mr.Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

ACTION ALERT

Action Alert letters & solidarity support letters were very useful to strengthen working class movement.

Coordinator's Work

The secretariat meeting report is finished now. Toady I want to send it to Artien, Bureau Asia, HIVOS. Later on I will send the report to all national Groups.

I have planned to visit Australia and New Zealand in September 1999. The objective of the visit is to meet trade unions, human rights group as well as APWSL members. Share experience with each other and how we will strengthen APWSL in Asia Pacific region.

Rubina Jamil

Coordinator

14 N, Industrial Area, Gulberg, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: 92-42-5759838 / 92-42-5715252

Fax: 92-42-5715252 Email: rjapwsl@nexlinx.net.pk