At a formative meeting in Kupang, the Indonesian Seafarer Union, Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia (KPI), the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and Papua New Guinea Maritime and Transport Worker's Union (PNGTWU) agreed the start of the coming financial year as the launch date for MIF.
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) president and MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin commented: "One of the major growth areas for jobs is the Asia Pacific, and the international trade union movement hasn't been able to keep up with this growth."
"We need a new model and a federation of like-minded unions is one of the ways we can change the old, tired model to build capacity and drive membership."
MIF has the potential to include the East Timor union SMETL, as well as others from the Asia Pacific region.
Key figures from the unions stated that the venture would bring greater bargaining power to the member unions and help secure well paying jobs and career paths for workers through strength in numbers.
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