From Priama akcia
January 14, 2026
The first ever IWA Congress in East Asia took place on 27-29 December 2025, with 22 delegations, including Priama akcia, in person and online. In addition to the sections, which are the only ones with voting rights, the Friends, Initiative and Contact organizations also attended. Here is a summary of the highlights.
IWA expansion and development of contacts in South America and Africa
Two new sections outside Europe joined IWA. WSF from Pakistan requested to change its status from Friends to Section and FORA-AIT from Argentina returned to IWA after 8 years. In addition, shortly before the congress, another non-European organization expressed interest in becoming a member section (they are currently Friends of IWA). On the other hand, the congress confirmed the long-standing fact that BASF Bangladesh no longer exists and officially removed it from the list of IWA sections.
However, the development of contacts continues, not only in Asia, and the congress approved a lecture tour in countries in South America and Africa, where there are contacts interested in anarcho-syndicalism.
Project support
Congress confirmed the creation of a working group dedicated to anti-militarism and supported the creation of a self-governing solidarity bakery in Bogotá, which is also intended to be a social center in a neighborhood inhabited mainly by the working class.
Discussions – the founding and growth of anarcho-syndicalist organizations
One of the most interesting items on the agenda were the practical ones, mainly discussions about the fight for the payment of unpaid wages in the context of anarcho-syndicalism and the founding of new organizations.
Delegations from different countries shared their experiences. There was talk of whether the International Week Against Non-Payment of Wages (and the fight for unpaid wages in general) contributes to an increase in membership. A more general question emerged in the discussion as to whether our struggles should have this purpose alone. It was interesting to hear the different approaches of the unions. For example, some organizations require workers to join a union before they will support them in disputes. Others, including the Priama akcia union, support workers regardless of whether they decide to join a union.
We also talked about the first steps in organizing in our workplaces, about dismissals for union activities, but also about possible Eurocentrism in IWA materials for new organizations. Due to lack of time, a significant part of the topics remained undiscussed (including the entire point about the current social movement in Serbia) and we will reserve more space at the next plenary.
Next meeting
We consider it a success that we managed to hold the first congress in East Asia, although it had to be held in secret due to government repression of anarchist and anarcho-syndicalist groups. We will continue to support our friends in Asia and the next meeting (plenary in 2027) will be held in Pakistan.
For more information about anarcho-syndicalism, we recommend:
- a short leaflet "What is an anarcho-syndicalist union" at https://www.priamaakcia.sk/data/File/Propagacia/PA_cojeAS.pdf
- the book "We Fight for Each Other: Anarcho-syndicalism and Class Struggle" at https://priamaakcia.sk/Vychadza-kniha-Bojujeme-za-seba-Anarchosyndicali… .
Comments
Where in East Asia?
anonymous (not verified) Sun, 02/01/2026 - 08:21
just curious.
Jakarta, according to this…
anonymous (not verified) Sun, 02/01/2026 - 18:39
In reply to Where in East Asia? by anonymous (not verified)
Jakarta, according to this article from KRAS:
29th Congress of the International Working People's Association
From December 27 to 29, 2025, the 29th Congress of the Anarcho-Syndicalist International - International Workers' Association - was held in Jakarta in underground conditions. It was attended (in person, online or by delegation) by delegations from sections, friendly organizations and contact groups from 22 countries, including Australia (Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation ASF), Argentina (Argentine Regional Workers' Federation FORA-AIT), Britain (Solidarity Federation SF), Germany (Anarcho-Syndicalist Network ASN), Indonesia (Brotherhood of Anarcho-Syndicalist Workers PPAS), Ireland (Organize!), Spain (CNT-AIT-E), Canada (Circle of I.A.T. Supporters in Montreal), Colombia (Union of Libertarian Students and Workers ULET), Korea (Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation), Myanmar (I.A.T. Initiative in Yangon), Norway (Norwegian Syndicalist Federation NSF), Pakistan (Workers' Solidarity Federation WSF), Poland (Union syndicalists of Poland ZSP), the Russian Federation (KRAS-M.A.T.), Serbia (Anarcho-syndicalist Initiative ASI), Slovakia (Direct Action RA), the USA (Workers' Solidarity Alliance WSA), France (CNT-AIT-F), Chile (Workers' Solidarity SO) and Sweden (Local Federation of Örestad OLS).
Among the decisions taken, it is worth noting the admission of the Pakistan Workers' Solidarity Federation (WSF) and the Argentine Regional Workers' Federation (FORA, which revived its activities within the International after breaking with the dissenting reformists) into the International as full sections. At least one other friendly organization has announced its intention to obtain full section status in the future.
A crucial decision, given the current growing threat of world war, was the reaffirmation of one of the fundamental principles of the I.A.T.—anti-militarism. The corresponding resolution was adopted at the proposal of the CNT-AIT-F of France and the KRAS. All sections expressed concern about the widespread growth of nationalism, authoritarianism, militarism, and capitalist wars. A special permanent working group on anti-militarism will be created within the International. Furthermore, some I.A.T. sections are cooperating with other anti-militarist organizations and internationalist networks.
The I.A.T. confirmed its commitment to expanding contacts and activities in South America and Africa, for which purpose it will undertake appropriate tours and meetings with organizations and groups interested in anarcho-syndicalism. The International will provide assistance to comrades in Colombia who are planning to open a collective bakery that will also serve as a social center for a neighborhood populated by workers.
The congress discussed the campaign against unpaid wages and whether it allows sections to expand their membership. Many sections had different experiences, so it was very useful to hear about this and discuss issues related to our direct actions and strategies for developing our organizations.
A number of proposals required further development and will likely be discussed at the next plenum, scheduled for Pakistan. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it was not possible to address the topic of creating new anarcho-syndicalist organizations, exchanging experiences with some of the new organizations (initiatives) and with each other, or the need to adapt some materials to the realities of work in Asian countries.
The congress participants decided to transfer the functions of the future I.A.T. Secretariat to the Spanish and Polish sections, and the functions of the vice-secretariat to the Indonesian section. The next regular congress is scheduled to be held in South America.
All of this boring name…
anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/02/2026 - 02:30
In reply to Jakarta, according to this… by anonymous (not verified)
All of this boring name-throwing of alphabet shell groups sez abolustely nothing about the people involved and their agency (what they do IRL besides bureaucracy). Are the workers and "congress participants" living, existing, conscious human beings or just projected identities?
Also is a "secretariat" the future of anarchy? lol What was Stalin's very function in the Party?
So pathetic that's the most vocal anarchism we get from these mostly-fascist countries.
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