Investing workers' retirement funds for progressive and socially responsible purposes

Through this forum, the participants discussed: (1) the diversities of public pension funds and a deeper understanding about pension and social security at the global context; (2) to provide regional perspective and what mechanism or interventions that can be employed and useful for workers actions, and; (3) to come up recommendations and action point on how PSI at the global level can articulate the local concerns and hoe the unions at national level can play a bigger role with regard to pension funds and social security.

One of the important outcomes of the meeting was the development of mobilizing workers and strengthening political muscle in order to be part of the policy-making process.  The forum paved the way for the recommendation to create a regional network which shall be tasked to gather relevant information, engage with multilateral institutions, coordinate with global, regional and national trade unions & interest groups and develop recommendations on how to protect workers interests and benefits to lessen the burden on the pension fund benefits of next generation of workers.  Participating countries included Australia, India, Indonesia, Fiji, France, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and United Kingdom.

For more information:

• Download the programme (PDF)
• See the photos on Flickr

Download the presentations to the meeting:

• Public Sector Pensions An Overview - by Hazel Bateman

Session 1: Paper presentation on pension UK experience

• Worker's Capital and Economic Organising - by Colin Meech
• Developments in pension fund investment and trade union responses - by Colin Meech

Session 2: Strengthening pension safety nets

• National social security system in Indonesia - by Mr Agus Toniman
• Strengthening Pension Safety Nets - Dr. Mario “Mayong” J. Aguja
• Social Security in India - Looking beyond Employment - by Mr. R. Srinivasan

 Session 3: Ensuring ethical investment and addressing IFI's influences:

• Ensuring Ethical Investment and Addressing IFIs Influences - Dr. Mario “Mayong” J. Aguja
• Fiji National Provident Fund - by Rajeshwar Singh

Session 4: Trade union interventions and influence

• Australian unions and superannuation - by Ms. Anna Claude
• Pension Program Overview (Indonesia) - by Mr. Abdurahman Irsyadi