Export processing zones are used by countries around the world as areas of extremely cheap labour for companies to use as union organising is severely repressed.

Hundreds of mainly women workers in the Cavite Export Processing Zone just north of Manila, The Philippines, have gone out on strike in protest at the dismissal of union organiser at their factory.

We talk to Arnel, spokesperson of the Labor Party of the Philippines, on the dispute at the Lakepower Converter electronics factory and the determination of the workers to stay on the picket line even in the face of repeated attacks by thugs.

This is the last program podcast for Asia Pacific Currents for 2017. We will be taking a summer break. Our first program for 2018 will be Saturday the 3rd of February 2018. The APC team wishes a safe and relaxing break to all our listerners.

Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia