These are major challenges and it is important that unions have clear perspectives on their implications. I trust this debate will give us an opportunity to go deep into the political implications and the practical aspects of a bigger role for the unions. Here I would like to list some issues for further consideration by the participants in this forum. Broader concerns of society . The changing environment implies that the unions ought to take on a bigger role in an integrated world.
Unions are no longer the spokespersons of mere sectoral groups.
In fact, there are no sectoral solutions to integrated problems. Unions need to transcend the bounds of sectors and industries, embrace the broader concerns of the society and perform new roles that go beyond their traditional functions within enterprises. I will be brief and stick to the main issues. Perhaps the most important concern is the traditional mandate of unions to maintain social cohesion. It is a lesson from history that social cohesion can be sustained only in an environment which guarantees secure income for all concerned under conditions of freedom and dignity.