In the capitalist system the ever present need for workforce is accompanied by the the ever present oppressions of the workers. While workers everywhere observe this year’s International Workers’ Day, we are aware of the ongoing challenges and new obstacles workers face as the world moves into the second decade of the 21st century. Today, escalating food prices and cost of living made it impossible for many wage earners to live a decent life in their own countries. Many of these workers eventually have to seek employment in other countries. The workers have no country, so goes the old saying. This is even truer for migrant workers because not only they are strangers in the countries where they work, but more often than not, they receive no protection from their home countries.

SOCDEM Asia is committed to advocate for the strengthening of social security in particular here in Asia. The right to social security must be extended to both domestic and migrant workers. Workers who labour for the country must be allowed to enjoy the fruits of their labour, share in the nation’s prosperity and be cared for in return when they can no longer contribute their labour. Without social security, a worker labours in vain for others, sacrificing the best part of his or her life without any hope of reaping a return. This situation is very real in Asia with studies showing only about 25% of workers in major parts of the region are covered by some kind of pension schemes. Governments in this region must begin to listen to the cries of the workers. The recent revolutions in Africa and the middle east displayed the strength of the working class who will react when governments continually ignore our pleas. The workers who generate economic growths can also generate political changes.

In solidarity,

Steven Sim
Executive Secretary
Network of Social Democracy in Asia
01 May 2011

(Pic: May Day 2011 protest in Malaysia-Souce: the Internet)