Trade unions need greater research capacity.

The trade union movement nationally and internationally requires greater research capacity to advance trade union and worker goals. In a report on her attendance at the Trade Union Research in Asia and the Pacific workshop in Singapore, NZNO policy analyst Eileen Brown said a strong research capacity enabled trade unions to:

* be watchdogs on economic and social issues;

* protect and promote the rights of workers;

* undertake and participate more fully in social dialogue;

* provide policy alternatives, and

* raise the tiring standards of the workforce through collective bargaining.

The development of a research network among unions would boost collective research capacity.

Developed countries needed to support those Asian and Pacific countries which had less research capacity. Eleven countries were represented at the workshop, which was hosted by the International Council of Free Trade Unions' Asia and Pacific Regional Office. Brown gave a presentation focusing on how the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and New Zealand unions had developed a social participation agenda. She presented examples of worker participation structures, including workplace health and safety committees.