The 7th Asia Regional Congress of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA) was held in Bali, Indonesia from September 20 to 23, 2010. This was the first regional congress held after the International Industrial Relations Association (IIRA) was renamed the ILERA in 2009. The theme of this conference is "Industrial Democracy, Social Partnerships and Decent Work in Response to the Global Financial Crisis". More than 230 delegates from 26 countries in Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe attended the conference. Among them, attendees from China included Professor Chang Kai of the School of Labor and Human Resources of Renmin University of China, Dr. Liu Kaiming, President of the Institute of Contemporary Observation, and Associate Professor Qiao Jian, Director of the School of Labor Relations and Human Resources of the China University of Labor Relations.

Janice R. Bellace, new President of the ILERA and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Russell D. Lansbury, former President and Professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, Tayo Fashoyin, Secretary-General of the ILERA, Boediono, Vice President of Indonesia, and Muhaimin Iskandar, Minister of Manpower and Immigration of India, attended the conference and delivered speeches. Greg Bamber from Monash University of Australia, Rene Ofreneo from the University of the Philippines, and other prominent scholars gave keynote speeches. The conference also held a book launch ceremony for the fourth edition of International and Comparative Employment Relations edited by Bamber, Lansbury, and others. Five parallel forums were held on topics such as labor relations in globalizing Asia, responding to the global financial crisis, partnerships in the workplace, labor relations in the irregular sector, green jobs, the future of work, and human resource management, with lively and productive discussions on practices in various Asian countries. Professor Bellace provided insights into the future development of labor relations in Asia.

Associate Professor Qiao Jian delivered a speech titled "The Multiple Roles of Chinese Trade Unions in the Transition to a Market Economy" in the second sub-forum, and exchanged views with scholars from various countries on the topic of reform of Chinese trade unions. In the spare time of the conference, Qiao Jian also discussed academic research and cooperation in labor relations with renowned scholars including Bellace, Lansbury, and Bamber.

Many papers at this conference explored the evolution of work, and the relationship between industrial democracy and efficiency. With the integration of the Asian regional economy, there is a need for better practices in employment and labor relations. Social dialogue among governments, employers, and workers has increased significantly. Workers need mechanisms that allow them to voice their concerns in order to fight for their rights in the deteriorating employment conditions after the financial crisis.

(School of Labor Relations and Human Resources)