The Asia Pacific Regional Executive Committee was held in Fiji following the meeting of affiliates from across the Oceania region in early September. It was the first meeting held in Fiji since the election of a new government in 2022. PSI’ Fijian affiliates – the Fiji Nurses Association (FNA) and the Fiji Public Services Association (FPSA) – spoke about the significant changes that have occurred in the past two years as well as their ongoing campaigns.

Both unions have won significant improvements for their members in the past two years including big pay increases for nurses, an end to short term contracts for public sector workers and the restoration of social dialogue and collective bargaining.

During a workshop on labour migration, the nurses’ union raised concerns about the impact of migration on the public health system. Speakers from the International Labour Organisation and the Australian government discussed the potential to improve the labour migration programmes so that countries of origin benefit as well as workers and health systems in the country of destination.

Tackling the climate crisis is a major priority for unions in the Pacific and a Climate Crisis Symposium was organised to deliberate on various concerning issues. The meeting provided an opportunity to hear from the Fijian government’s climate negotiator, Dr. Sivendra Michael, and the General Secretary of the Pacific Council of Churches, Rev James Bhagwan, on how unions and climate movements can work together to advance the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and encourage bold climate action.

The APREC commenced planning for the Asia Pacific Regional Conference in 2025. The APREC resolved to hold the meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal in September 2025. Affiliates from across the region went through a process of determining priorities that will shape the Regional Action Plan and the programme of APRECON. They identified Young Workers, the Climate Crisis, Trade Union Rights, Fighting Privatisation and Digitalisation as the top 5 priorities.

The Asia Pacific Women’s Committee discussed progress in the region to ratify C190 and heard how affiliates in Samoa successfully campaigned for C190 to be ratified. Samoa joins Fiji and Australia as countries in the region to ratify the convention. The APWOC also discussed the survey on reproductive health entitlements and priorities for the Beijing Platform for Action +30 review as well as future priorities for APRECON and the Regional Action Plan.

Oceania affiliates passed resolutions in support of a global and regional Indigenous workers committee, incorporating an LGBTQI+ observer to APREC, supporting young workers events at APRECON and supporting affiliates to attend the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) conference in South Africa scheduled to take place in November 2024.

Affiliates also enjoyed the famous hospitality of Fijians and our Fijian affiliates, including a night of solidarity with the sun setting and singing the famous and inspiring “Solidarity Forever” song by the ocean.