On February 20-21, 2025, unions of hospitality and tourism workers across Asia and Pacific region met in Nadi, Fiji to discuss the important update and key issues around the sector. Focusing more on the challenges of island countries and to strengthen the trade unions in Pacific regions, the meeting brought together unions from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Japan, Hong Kong, Maldives, The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The meeting began with the update on the current state of hospitality and tourism industry in Asia and Pacific region to provide the unions some insight on tourism trends and projection. The plans of major tourism operators in the region and relationship with international hotel chains like Accor was highlighted. This update is important for the unions to formulate their next campaign and organizing strategy.
Sister Asuka Sakurada from Service-Tourism Rengo explained about the current situation of hospitality and tourism workers in Japan.
The unions also shared the information and experience on the common challenges that they face. They learned from each other on how to respond on these challenges. One common thing about the unions is that they are all rebuilding their union post pandemic crisis. When talking about working situations at hospitality and tourism industry, unions agreed that combating precarious employment and unsafe working conditions as well as improving workers welfare should be priority. The important concept of union density was demonstrated to show the importance of being organized to strengthen union collective bargaining power.
Some challenges in tourism recovery and growth were discussed. Overtourism and labor shortages became the main topics that were talked about. Organizing through job skills training was said to be the solution to address issues of the lack of skilled workers in the industry and to introduce youth into the union. The need to transform the job in the industry to become a better job was discussed to attract more people to work in the sector to overcome workforce shortages.
The input from Regional Hotel & Tourism Workers’ Meeting will be incorporated in the planning for the 15th IUF Asia/Pacific Regional Conference in 2026.
The Global Housekeeping Campaign (GHC) was explained to participants as one of a tool to achieve a safe and decent working condition for all hospitality workers, especially housekeepers. Campaign on ‘room quota kills’ and several activities around it, including the making bed and towel folding competition was shared by National Union of Workers in Hotels, Restaurants and Allied Industries (NUHWRAIN) of The Philippines. It was agreed by the participants that housekeeper jobs are skilled, thus need to be compensated with decent wages and decent working conditions.
Furthermore, to promote the safety, wellbeing and dignity of hotel workers, the meeting recommended a policy to respect hotel workers that is applied for every participants/delegates in every IUF Asia/Pacific activity. The policy highlighted the importance of ending harassment towards hotel workers that are done through imposing unreasonable demands or malicious complaints that undermine their dignity.
Brother Michael Young from NUCHTIE described the challenges in organizing in island resort in term of geographical, financial and time.
Challenges and strategies in organizing in island resorts, especially in the private island one, were explained by the National Union of Hotel, Catering, and Tourism Employees (NUHCTIE) of Fiji and the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM). It was highlighted that collective agreement articles that include accommodation and boat transfer is very important. Specific challenges on organizing foreign workers in a hotel or resort in a remote area was also a discussion as the union commit to combat exploitation of these workers due to their vulnerability.
As the Pacific unions shared about the uniqueness of tourism in their countries, concern over climate change and its impact on workers were highlighted. It was emphasized that the right of livelihood and health and safety of hospitality and tourism workers must be protected during climate crisis. Union should negotiate climate clauses in their collective bargaining agreement to reduce workers anxiety. Some important element such as union involvement, comprehensive information, education and recognition of green skills should be the attention.
Sister Tulia Wanemut from Vanuatu National Workers Union shared about the extreme weather events occur in her country due to climate change.
The meeting was concluded by the Federation of Hotel, Restaurant, Plaza, Apartment, Catering and Tourism Workers’ Free Union (FSPM) of Indonesia presentation on new organizing initiative in rebuilding membership, namely expanding into workers in informal economy, such as tour guide, souvenir sellers and tour driver. Through this sharing, participants learned that they can explore new strategies by organizing workers outside hotel and resorts.
As there is a need to recover to build better future, these unions of hospitality and tourism workers learn one thing in their struggle – there is nothing more important than having a union in the time of crisis.
Participants formed study circle to learn more about collective bargaining agreement, Global House Keeping Campaign (GHC), new organizing and campaign to stop harassment and abuse by customer.
