Kuala Lumpur Time𝐔𝐍𝐈 𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐎 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐛-𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦
The UNI APRO Commerce Sub-Regional Organising Forum was successfully organised on 21 October 2025 at the Federal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, jointly organised by UNI Apro Commerce in cooperation with UA Zensen, with around 50 participants from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Nepal, Vietnam Cambodia and Philippine.
The forum inaugurated with welcome remarks and an inspiring address from Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI-MLC. He congratulated UA Zensen for co-organising the event and highlighted the importance of effective interaction, cultural understanding, and strategic adaptation in organising workers and strengthening solidarity.
Bro. Rajendra Acharya, UNI Apro Regional Secretary, discussed the challenges of organising across borders and encouraged unions to build stronger structures and collective power.
Mr. Takeshi Watanabe, Vice-President of UA Zensen, delivered an insightful presentation on Industrial Relations and Building Power for Trade Unions. He underscored the role of policy-making in strengthening unions and shared the structure of Japanese trade unions.
Subsequent sessions featured Ms. Jo Clossick, Assistant Branch Secretary, Western Australia Branch, and Ms. Deb Dunning, Assistant Branch Secretary, both from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA)Australia. They shared their experiences in organising commerce workers, tackling workplace issues, and building stronger unions through training, group work, and interactive presentations.
In the afternoon, Mr. Katsutoshi Matano, Central Executive Standing Committee Member and Director of International Affairs Bureau, UA Zensen, and Ms. Alice Chang, Director of UNI Apro Commerce, introduced the UNI Apro Commerce Action Plans and Campaigns, focusing on the Organising Handbook and Violence at Work. Participants were encouraged to develop their own action plans to further strengthen their unions’ roles and effectiveness.
The forum concluded with a strong commitment to defending workers’ rights, promoting work-life balance, and enhancing trade-union organising in the commerce sector.
The forum inaugurated with welcome remarks and an inspiring address from Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI-MLC. He congratulated UA Zensen for co-organising the event and highlighted the importance of effective interaction, cultural understanding, and strategic adaptation in organising workers and strengthening solidarity.
Bro. Rajendra Acharya, UNI Apro Regional Secretary, discussed the challenges of organising across borders and encouraged unions to build stronger structures and collective power.
Mr. Takeshi Watanabe, Vice-President of UA Zensen, delivered an insightful presentation on Industrial Relations and Building Power for Trade Unions. He underscored the role of policy-making in strengthening unions and shared the structure of Japanese trade unions.
Subsequent sessions featured Ms. Jo Clossick, Assistant Branch Secretary, Western Australia Branch, and Ms. Deb Dunning, Assistant Branch Secretary, both from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA)Australia. They shared their experiences in organising commerce workers, tackling workplace issues, and building stronger unions through training, group work, and interactive presentations.
In the afternoon, Mr. Katsutoshi Matano, Central Executive Standing Committee Member and Director of International Affairs Bureau, UA Zensen, and Ms. Alice Chang, Director of UNI Apro Commerce, introduced the UNI Apro Commerce Action Plans and Campaigns, focusing on the Organising Handbook and Violence at Work. Participants were encouraged to develop their own action plans to further strengthen their unions’ roles and effectiveness.
The forum concluded with a strong commitment to defending workers’ rights, promoting work-life balance, and enhancing trade-union organising in the commerce sector.
