Letter to Minister Kevin Rudd calling for Labour forum in APEC 13 September, 2010 13 September 2010 The Hon Kevin Rudd, MP Minister for Foreign Affairs PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Mr Rudd The ACTU seeks your support for the establishment of a Labour Forum within APEC. For the past fifteen years the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), in conjunction with our counterpart organisations in the Asia Pacific region and the International Trade Union Confederation, has actively sought to make workers’ views heard by APEC, and has engaged with APEC’s policy agenda through participating in and contributing to the associated public debates on economic, social and environmental issues. We are strongly of the view that this ongoing and significant contribution should now be brought within the formal APEC architecture. It is timely for APEC to formalise a permanent structure for consultation with trade unions, to support and promote the work of trade unions in their dialogue with governments, businesses and other groups involved in the APEC process. We note that the current absence of a formal trade union advisory body in APEC contrasts to the privileged access of business to APEC (and the associated benefits) via the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). It also contrasts with fora such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) where unions have an official advisory status. A standing APEC Labour Forum, comprised of representative trade union centres from APEC member countries, would consider a full range of labour-related issues; including skills, training and workforce development; effective management of workplace/industrial relations; the creation of social safety nets; occupational health and safety; corporate social responsibility; environmental sustainability; and other relevant areas on the APEC agenda. Further detail regarding this proposal, including the proposed composition and mandate of the APEC Labour Forum, is set out in the Annexure. The ACTU is confident that granting official standing and recognition to an APEC Labour Forum will assist in the accomplishment of APEC goals by providing relevant insight and experience to APEC and particularly to bodies such as the Human Resources Development Working Group and the Gender Focal Point Network, as well as to Ministerial Meetings in the areas of Human Resources Development, Environment and Education. Such recognition would constitute a genuine move towards greater inclusiveness. I strongly urge the Australian Government to support the establishment of an APEC Labour Forum and look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely Jeff Lawrence Secretary