Safe, Effective and Free Vaccine to All; Vaccine is a global and national public good
1) Public service without profit-motive and transparency drives the vaccine model
2) Free access for people, prioritized the most vulnerable and ensuring decent working conditions
3) a global effort to produce and equitably distribute vaccines and treatments
4) A robust health care system is needed to deliver the free vaccine,
5) A strong role and a wide space for CSOs in the general response to COVID-19
Palm oil has long been the subject of criticism from various quarters. Amidst of criticism, the global demand for palm oil is increasing, and palm oil plantations are also increasing in many places, in particular in Indonesia, the largest palm oil producer in the world.
This year, in the run up to International Women's Day, on March 8, 2016, AMRC is publishing a series of stories to highlight the struggles and voices of women workers from across Asia.
AMRC in collaboration with other 13 organisations and networks conducted a series of 4 workshops in the platform of World Social Forum 2024 on the 17th February in Kathmandu, Nepal. There were more than 200 participants from over 14 countries of Asia and Europe. The workshops include:
In this February 2024 Edition of the AROSP Newsletter, we delve into the multifaceted challenges shaping our world, from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the urgent need for socio-economic justice amidst global crises. We explore the intricate interplay between social protection, gender dynamics, and the informal economy, particularly focusing on the agrifood sector across South and Southeast Asia.
This research highlights the challenging conditions of maternity protection in the South Asian agrifood sector. Despite existing laws, both formal and informal sector workers face widespread denial of standard maternity benefits such as paid leave and health protections. Informality is rampant even in ostensibly formal sectors, leading to violations of labor laws and further exacerbating the problem.
This research investigates the status of social protection, particularly maternity protection, among agrifood sector workers in Southeast Asia. The agrifood sector encompasses the entire value chain from farm to table, playing a vital role in the region's economies, contributing significantly to GDP and employment. Despite its importance, women in the agrifood sector face various challenges, including lower wages, limited access to resources, and a higher likelihood of informal and precarious employment.
The 2023 ACSC/APF with the theme of ‘Reclaiming safe space, restoring democracy in Southeast Asia” was successfully held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 1-3 September. The convergence space on “Integrated Approaches to Socio-Economic Justice” is among 6 thematic convergence spaces of the event, which was collectively organised by 21 networks and organisations from global, regional and country levels.
This toolkit focuses on best practices for social protection advocacy. Its fundamental starting point is the assertion that social protection is a human right. Social protection is defined as a set of policies to help women, men and children reach or maintain an adequate standard of living and good health. Building social protection systems (including social protection floors) is at the forefront of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, because these systems reduce and prevent poverty while also levelling out inequalities.
In this 2022 Edition of our Newsletter, you will find several products of AROSP. We are honoured to introduce to you 2 new e-publications, including the ‘Grassroots modalities collection #1 - Toward Transformative Social Protection’ and the ‘SOCIAL PROTECTION TOOLKIT’, which will hopefully encourage civil society to raise its voice and take stronger action for more comprehensive, inclusive and just social protection.
The Asian Roundtable on Social Protection (AROSP) was established more than 10 years ago. For the past several years, AROSP members have contributed to many achievements on the way toward transformative social protection to change structural poverty by addressing fiscal policies and power imbalances. This grassroots modalities collection is drawn from their stories, focusing on the success that organizations have had in advocating for social protection policy in Asia.
Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) is requesting for proposals to develop a research paper: 1) exploring how global brands, through the mechanism of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), have been responding to the plight that the working class experienced during the Covid-19 crisis, and 2) probing into what the working-class alliance (e.g., civil society organizations) has been doing to hold these brands accountable. For application details please refer to the attached request for proposal document.
One Year Later: Lao Informal Workers and the Covid-19 Pandemic
Bing Phonkao, 39, informal worker and mother of four, lives in Vientiane Capital, Laos, with her husband and two youngest children. She moved to the capital five years ago in search of work, and after getting married she decided to relocate.
The Grassroots Mutual Aid Practice During Pandemic in Indonesia: A Community of Practice (CoP) Study Case
Prepared by Rizki Estrada and Rozi Hariansyah
Departing from the above problems, the purpose of this study is to address the following key questions: 1) How do the grassroot organizations build social resilience in the period of Large-Scale Social restriction policy amidst a pandemic? 2) What are the actions of grassroots communities when facing a pandemic, and amid the uncertainty of social protection provided by the Indonesian government?
A Participatory Research on impact of COVID 19 of workers in informal economy: Documenting Solidarity-Based Actions as Social Protection Response
By The Homenet Philippines and PATAMABA
1. To describe the impact of COVID-19 in the informal worker
communities identified for the research, with primary focus on Rizal
province (municipalities of Angono and Taytay).
2. To document and assess the solidarity-based actions already
conducted in the sites.
3. To share and derive lessons from the research results not only to the
LOCKDOWN STORIES Workers’ Struggles Amid the Pandemic
By Center for Trade Union and Human Rights & Women Workers in Struggle for Employment, Empowerment and Emancipation
RISKING LIFE AND LIMB IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON ECONOMIC SITUATION OF BPO WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE NEED FOR SOCIAL PROTECTION
by BPO Industry Employees Network