PSI to hold three-day 11th APRECON-2006 from tomorrow

Chennai, Sep 5 (UNI) Public Services International (PSI), the Global Trade Union Federation (GTUF), will hold s three-day 11th Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRECON 2006) here from tomorrow.

PSI General Secretary Hans Engelberts and Asia Pacific Region sub-Regional Secretary Ms Lakshmi Vaidyanathan told reporters here today that more than 350 representatives from 22 countries, representing 150 trade unions from different sectors would attend the conference.

This would include 20 trade unions from India like Indian National Defence Workers Federation, Tamil Nadu Government Officials Union, National Organization for Government Employees, TNEB Employees, Contract Labourers Union and All India Cantonment Board Employees Federation.

The conference would discuss various aspects of improving the ''Quality Public Services'' in different sectors like power, water, government services, health and social services.

Discussions would also Centre on the impact of GATS in these public services and how it would lead to non-transparent and non-accountable regime, Ms Lakshmi said.

One of the interesting features of the conference was that the proceedings would be translated into ten languages simultaneously for the benefit of foreign participants.

The recommendations made in the conference would go into the mainstream discussions of the PSI World Congress to be held at Vienna in Austria next year.

The discussions would be devoted mostly to quality public services for all, trade union rights for all Public service workers, Gender equality and employment equity for all, public alternatives to privatisation of services, a strong and united trade union movement, irrespective of their political ideologies, social justice in the work place and poverty reduction and debt-relief.

On improving the quality of public services, She said the PSI would work closely with international organizations, state government and Centre, consumer lobbies, community organizations and NGOs.

As a prelude to this a conference on youth and women was held in the city.

UNI GV VR 1447