The All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendants of Post Offices (AIAIASP) commemorated International Youth Day 2009 with the seminar under the theme of Trade Union Rights and ILO Mechanisms.

It is important topics to be shared to young workers that trade union rights and dignity at workplace need to be protected. Young workers have a same rights as other employees (senior). The union also shared on the role and responsible of the organisation to protect the rights of workers. This seminar aimed that young workers could able to speak up strongly to extend their rights at work, and actively participate in building of the unions as organisations that put workers’ rights first. It was also awareness campaign on unionism, if they join union it will better representation, protection and opportunity to influence working conditions in the workplace than that provided by union.

The Workshop on Leadership and Capacity Building for the Youth and LGBT Trade Unionists was held by Public Services International Trade Union Right Network (PSI TURN) Project and it’s affiliated in Philippines. The workshop held on August 12, 2009 at Fersal Place Hotel, Quezon City, Philippines. The aims of the workshop were to increasing share of voice on the important issues concerning decent work and rights at work for LGBT workers.
The participants shared common concerns and workforce issues: discrimination, homophobia, denied their basic rights and benefits, unemployment and underemployment, unorganized/absence of LGBT workers in the union movement.

The participants concluded the workshop and given input that the unions should strive to achieve equality and equal rights for all. The participants also suggested possible recommendations:

• to create PSI Philippines LGBT Network
• to make proposal to develop a program for the Youth and LGBT under the Discrimination Convention of the ILO

For more information, please contact: Mr. Norman Grecia, National Project Coordinator of TURP in the Philippines and Mr. Eross Ocampo, PSI APYN Coordinator for Southeast Asia