GLOBAL SKILLS FORUM 2025 DIRASMIKAN TIMBALAN PERDANA MENTERI – MALAYSIA TERUS PENERAJU TENAGA KERJA MASA HADAPAN

 

Kuala Lumpur | 22 Oktober 2025 

Malaysia melakar sejarah apabila menjadi tuan rumah Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025, yang dirasmikan oleh YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia, di Hotel Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur. Forum ini diadakan sempena ASEAN Year of Skills 2025 dengan ucapan aluan oleh YB Encik Steven Sim Chee Keong, Menteri Sumber Manusia.

GSF 2025 menghimpunkan pemimpin global, pembuat dasar, majikan dan pakar industri bagi membincangkan masa depan kemahiran sejagat, sejajar dengan hasrat Malaysia MADANI untuk membina tenaga kerja inklusif, berdaya saing dan berteraskan nilai kemanusiaan. 

Dalam ucapan perasmian, Timbalan Perdana Menteri menegaskan keperluan tindakan kolektif menghadapi perubahan teknologi, peralihan hijau dan demografi dunia. Malaysia komited menjadi peneraju serantau melalui KESUMA dan HRD Corp, menjadikan pembangunan kemahiran asas kemajuan dan keadilan sosial.

Beliau turut menekankan peranan sektor swasta sebagai rakan strategik kerajaan dalam membentuk ekosistem latihan yang berasaskan keperluan industri serta memperluas program peningkatan dan penyesuaian semula kemahiran, termasuk dalam bidang AI, ekonomi hijau dan digital. 

YB Menteri Sumber Manusia pula menegaskan bahawa GSF 2025 melambangkan komitmen Malaysia memperkukuh jaringan global, menghubungkan bakat, pengetahuan dan inovasi ke arah tenaga kerja masa depan yang berdaya tahan dan sejahtera.

Forum ini turut menyaksikan pengumuman ASEAN Joint Statement on Skills Development for the Future Workforce, yang menegaskan kerjasama serantau memperkasa kemahiran digital, hijau dan mobiliti tenaga kerja rentas sempadan — selaras dengan teras Malaysia MADANI berasaskan Kesejahteraan, Keadilan dan Ihsan.

 

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𝐔𝐍𝐈 𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐎 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐛-𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦

 

The UNI APRO Commerce Sub-Regional Organising Forum was successfully organised on 21 October 2025 at the Federal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, jointly organised by UNI Apro Commerce in cooperation with UA Zensen, with around 50 participants from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Nepal, Vietnam Cambodia and Philippine.

The forum inaugurated with welcome remarks and an inspiring address from Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI-MLC. He congratulated UA Zensen for co-organising the event and highlighted the importance of effective interaction, cultural understanding, and strategic adaptation in organising workers and strengthening solidarity.

Bro. Rajendra Acharya, UNI Apro Regional Secretary, discussed the challenges of organising across borders and encouraged unions to build stronger structures and collective power.

Mr. Takeshi Watanabe, Vice-President of UA Zensen, delivered an insightful presentation on Industrial Relations and Building Power for Trade Unions. He underscored the role of policy-making in strengthening unions and shared the structure of Japanese trade unions.

Subsequent sessions featured Ms. Jo Clossick, Assistant Branch Secretary, Western Australia Branch, and Ms. Deb Dunning, Assistant Branch Secretary, both from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA)Australia. They shared their experiences in organising commerce workers, tackling workplace issues, and building stronger unions through training, group work, and interactive presentations.

In the afternoon, Mr. Katsutoshi Matano, Central Executive Standing Committee Member and Director of International Affairs Bureau, UA Zensen, and Ms. Alice Chang, Director of UNI Apro Commerce, introduced the UNI Apro Commerce Action Plans and Campaigns, focusing on the Organising Handbook and Violence at Work. Participants were encouraged to develop their own action plans to further strengthen their unions’ roles and effectiveness.

The forum concluded with a strong commitment to defending workers’ rights, promoting work-life balance, and enhancing trade-union organising in the commerce sector.

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The 7th UNI APRO Commerce Conference's second day

 

The second day of the 7th UNI APRO Commerce Conference was successfully held at the Federal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. 

Mr. Gerard Dwyer, President of the UNI Apro Commerce Sector, led the final day’s proceedings. He reaffirmed the importance of workers’ safeguards, fair wages, and work-life balance, emphasizing the need to address challenges such as long working hours and unjust workplace transformations to ensure fair, safe, and respectful working environments in the commerce sector. 

During the panel discussion, Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI-MLC Malaysia, delivered an insightful presentation on the philosophy of Smart Partnership as a core principle for effective organizing. He shared the successes, challenges, and experiences of UNICOME Malaysia, highlighted the status of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), and expressed his gratitude to UNI Apro, UA Zensen, and all partners for their continued support and trust. 

In the intervention session, Bro. Muhammad Hider B. Md Yusoff (AEON Big Managers Union), Bro Muhammad Fadhli B. Muhammad Zamzuri (AEON Co. Workers Union), and Bro. Amirul Mustaqim B. Mohd Fauzi (CSEU) from Malaysia shared their organizing achievements, reflecting strong progress and unity across commerce sector unions. UNI Apro extended its appreciation to the UNI-MLC team for their dedication and commitment to union organizing. 

The conference concluded with the adoption of the “Workers Rising Together” Action Plan and the election of the UNI Apro Commerce Sector Committee, including the President, Vice Presidents, and UNI Apro Representatives to the UNI Global Commerce. On behalf of UNI-MLC, we proudly congratulate Bro. Gerard Dwyer as newly elected President of the UNI Apro Commerce Sector, along with all newly elected leaders and members. 

UNI-MLC also expresses sincere gratitude to Bro. Rajendra Acharya, Regional Secretary of UNI Apro, and Sis. Alice Chang, Director of UNI Apro Commerce, including all UNI APRO Staffs for their leadership and dedication in making this conference a meaningful success.

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𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢

 

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7th UNI APRO Commerce Conference

 

7th UNI APRO Commerce Conference (Day-1) officially commenced at the Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 19th-20th October 2025, gathering trade union leaders, worker representatives, and global labor advocates under the theme “Rising Together for Justice as Essential Workers.” The two-day conference aims to strengthen solidarity, empower commerce workers, and establish a collective path for transformation in the commerce sector across the Asia-Pacific region.

The conference opened with the Malaysian national anthem Negaraku and the Labour Day Song from KESUMA.

In the Welcome Address, Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI MLC Malaysia, warmly welcomed all distinguished guests and participants. He expressed his sincere gratitude to UNI Apro for choosing Malaysia as the host country for this significant conference. Datuk Shafie emphasized the evolving global challenges faced by workers and trade unions in the commerce sector. He highlighted the need to develop effective organizing strategies and concrete actions to address these challenges in this new era of transformation.

This was followed by the Presidential Address by Mr. Gerard Dwyer, President of the UNI Apro Commerce Sector, who emphasized the importance of unity and resilience among commerce workers amid evolving global challenges. He explained the importance of worker’s respect, social protection and fair wages for the workers in commerce sector.

Solidarity greetings were delivered by Mr. Stuart Appelbaum, President of UNI Commerce Global (via video message), Mr. Rajendra Acharya, UNI Apro Regional Secretary, Ms. Ayako Nakata, President of UNI Apro Women Committee, and Mr. Mathias Bolton, Head of UNI Global Commerce Sector.

Following the opening, the conference proceeded with the adoption of the conference agenda, standing orders, and the election of the credentials and resolutions committees.

UNI Apro Commerce Rising Together for Justice as Essential Workers Reports (2020–2025)

Ms. Alice Chang, Director of UNI Apro Commerce, introduced the report, highlighting key achievements and ongoing challenges in advancing workers’ rights and justice across the commerce sector. The session featured active discussions among delegates, culminating in the adoption of the “UNI Apro Commerce Rising Together for Justice as Essential Workers” report.

The day concluded with a spirited Solidarity Action, reaffirming participants’ shared commitment to justice and equality for all workers in Commerce Sector.

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