General

APEC must address exploitation: ACTU

Stronger international efforts to prevent the exploitation of workers and to halt human trafficking and sex slavery in the Asia Pacific should be a priority for next week's APEC meeting in Sydney, unions said today.

Senior trade union leaders from Asia Pacific countries are meeting in Sydney today (Thurs 30 Aug) to exchange information about human rights abuses among workers in APEC nations and to discuss reports that the Asian region is fast becoming a hub for the trafficking of women for sexual slavery.

A major research report has estimated 1.36 million people in the Asia Pacific region are victims of trafficking across borders for sexual or economic exploitation - with children accounting for up to 50% of trafficking victims.

Sharan Burrow, the President of the peak Australian union body the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and head of the global union organisation ITUC, said today:

"People trafficking, the sex trade and the exploitation and abuse of workers, especially migrant workers, are the ugly faces of globalisation.

"These are important issues that affect all of the APEC member nations and should not be left off next week's APEC agenda.

"In Australia this week we have seen disturbing reports of migrant workers from neighbouring countries, Indonesia, China, Singapore and the Philippines, who have been exploited, bullied or killed while working in sometimes slave-like conditions in Australia.

"Also, an important newly released Australian film - The Jammed - that is based on actual events and court transcripts of young women trafficked into sexual slavery in Sydney's Kings Cross and suburban Melbourne has added to the growing public concern over the issue.

"Our regional leaders need to be coming up with new solutions to safeguard human rights and labour rights in the Asia Pacific and to prevent exploitation and abuse, especially among vulnerable migrant workers, women and children," said Ms Burrow.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20070830_APEC.html
Last Modified: 30 Aug 2007