Outsourcing Contract Becomes Big Problem in Digital Era: UNI Apro

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Union Network International-Asia Pacific Regional Organization (UNI Apro) emphasized that the outsourcing contract became a big problem in the digital age.

"The outsourcing contract in the digital age is increasingly becoming a scourge for workers," UNI Apro Regional Secretary Christopher Ng said here in Davao, Philippines, Wednesday.

Christopher Ng made the statement in a joint session of the Conference of The Union Network International Asia Pacific Region (UNI Apro) MEI which took place in Davao, the Philippines, from Aug 14-15, 2018.

Outsourcing contract makes workers have no social security and pensions and decent wages.

"Digitalization will reduce jobs a lot even though the digital era will create a new profession," he said.

Contract labor system, he added, made workers were unable to focus on improving their skills in dealing with the digital age.

"Social and health security as well as decent wages are needed by workers so that they can focus on improving skills," he said.

Christopher said that the development of the digital economy has progressed rapidly.

The government, trade unions, even workers, cannot stem the advancement of technology.

"We are required to change. If we can not change our mindset, we will not compete," he stressed.

All business sectors, manufacturing industries and so on are required to follow digital trends, which are currently developing.

Therefore, trade unions must work with the government to formulate breakthrough policies to deal with changes in the employment sector.

Vice President of UNI Apro MEI Khairruzzaman Hj Mohammad earlier stated journalists were representatives of the public in seeking information and had the right to know what is recognized and guaranteed in various international declarations and agreements.

Based on the law, he emphasized that the state has an obligation to protect the rights of journalists.

Journalists must be protected while seeking the widest possible information, he asserted.

He said journalists often risked their lives while covering social conflicts and humanitarian disasters.

"The journalists` safety is particularly at stake while covering in conflict and disaster areas," he remarked.

Hence, he stated that media company owners must provide insurance to journalists especially while covering extraordinary events, such as social conflicts and disasters.

Indonesia, the Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Nepal participated in the Conference of UNI Apro for MEI.

ANTARA