TPPA can help address human trafficking issues in Asean, panellist says

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — In the long run, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) can serve as a tool to help eradicate human trafficking issues in Asean countries, a panellist told the World Economic Forum on Asean here.

UNI Global Union, Asia and Pacific Regional Secretary Christopher Ng said for the first time, an economic cooperation agreement contained a ‘labour chapter’ on the minimum condition with regard to protection for workers, including migrants.

“By having the provision in this chapter, it will ensure all countries cannot be competing by lowering standards. 

“It will also mean that the movement of people will be regulated,” he told reporters after an interactive session on ‘A New Map to End Human Trafficking” today.

The Labour Chapter of the TPPA states, among others, that each party shall adopt and maintain statutes and regulations, and practises thereunder, governing acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health.

Ng said human trafficking issues emerged when people had to move to find jobs and better living.

Therefore, he urged governments to create good jobs back home so that the people only moved out by choice, not necessity.

Ng said currently, governments were subjected to multinational conditions; thus by having the provision, everyone would have to conform and not compromise on the standards.

“But if you remove the condition (in one country’s current regulation), they can raise their wages and people don’t need to move out...and you don’t have to be subjected to somebody exploiting you.”

He stressed that the ‘race to the bottom’ must have a limit which reflected a country’s standard.

“If you don’t have this minimum provision, then there will be no trade union capable of negotiating. However, the union must be responsible and not abuse the power that comes with this provision,” said Ng.

He said Malaysia should also play a role to influence other member states to sign the TPPA as it would be beneficial for the whole region. — Bernama