KUALA LUMPUR: UNI-Apro, an Asia Pacific trade union body, has launched an award to recognise employers that have outstanding relations with their trade unions and among the winners is Singapore's MediaCorp.

A bi-coloured pewter trophy of two human silhouettes holding up a golden flower symbolises the harmonious and mutually beneficial partnership between employers and trade unions.

UNI-Apro is the Asia-Pacific arm of the world's largest grouping of trade unions, the United Network International.

The grouping represents three million employees from 20 Asia Pacific countries.

At the inaugural presentation in Kuala Lumpur, five companies received their trophies from Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

Chan Yit Foon, executive vice president of Human Resource at MediaCorp, said: "Our goal is really to take the company forward in being Asia's top media company. In order to do this, you really have to engage everybody at all levels. First of all, to communicate and disseminate information; secondly, to explain the policies, programmes and initiatives."

With a staff strength of 2,800, MediaCorp emphasises corporate transparency and the management engages in constant dialogue with its trade union, which represents half of the employees.

Sharing the same philosophy is Malaysia's largest telecommunications company.

Telekom Malaysia avoided massive layoffs during the process of privatisation by consulting its trade union.

Abdul Wahid Omar, CEO of Telekom Malaysia, said: "Gone are the days that both sides take opposing or confrontational approach. Admittedly, there will be differences in opinions from time to time, but what's important is when you have opposing views, you actually sit down and address those different views and come up with a solution."

The other award recipients are Banco de Oro Universal Bank of the Philippines, Malaysia's Star Publications and Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC).

UNI-Apro hopes that this prestigious award, presented on a biannual basis, will spur companies in Asia Pacific to work harder towards improving their industrial relations as employers and employees face challenges ahead.


- CNA/so