NZCTU called for reversal of Myanmar junta invitation to ASEAN-NZ dialogue
In April 2024, NZCTU supported 33 Myanmar community organisations urging the New Zealand government to rescind its invitation to the Myanmar military junta for the ASEAN-NZ Dialogue meeting.
It was argued that inviting the junta signals support for a regime condemned for crimes against humanity, betraying New Zealand’s “principles and our reputation, and a betrayal of the Myanmar community in New Zealand”.
While Myanmar community organisations went to court to block entry, and the NZCTU spoke out in their support, delegates from Myanmar were able to enter the country.
The judge in the court proceedings did however recognise the understandable concerns raised about the human rights abuses by the military junta in Myanmar.
“The evidence before me indicates the junta is responsible for well documented, widespread and systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity,” his judgement read, as reported by RNZ.
Global trade unions file complaint against Israel for wage violations affecting Palestinian workers
In September 2024, ten global trade unions, including PSI, filed a complaint against the Israeli government for violating the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Protection of Wages Convention.
The complaint highlighted the situation of over 200,000 Palestinian workers who have faced unpaid wages and withheld benefits, following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
These violations have caused severe financial distress for affected families, who lack access to legal remedies. Union leaders argue that withholding wages amounts to collective punishment and breaches international law.
They demanded immediate payment of owed wages and the reopening of the labour market to Palestinian workers.
This complaint emphasised the urgent need for Israel to fulfil its international obligations and ensure justice for workers impacted by ongoing conflict and economic instability.
PSI continues work on care and migration support
In October at the Asia-Pacific Care Forum, hosted by the UN Women Asia-Pacific office, PSI’s Regional Secretary for the Asia-Pacific region Kate Lapin raised concerns about the overrepresentation of private sector interests, which often prioritise profit over workers’ rights.
The forum was designed to bring together UN agencies, private sector representatives, and trade unions, to discuss the future of care work and its impact on women’s empowerment and economic restructuring.
Lapin emphasised the importance of unionising migrant care workers, arguing that both workers and care recipients benefit from strong union representation.
PSI’s statement urged the forum to recognise care as a human right and adhere to the 5R Framework – recognise, reduce, redistribute, reward and represent – for decent care work, ensuring that workers have a genuine voice in shaping policies that affect them.