when it comes to unionism and social justice, the director general of the International Labour Organisation's Caribbean office said yesterday.

"Bermuda has done a lot in terms of social justice and tripartism,'' Mrs.

Hong-Trang Perret-Nguyen said in reference to the joint efforts of governments, management and labour to improve the lot of workers.

"As faithful members of the ILO, (Bermudians) have always sent tripartite delegations to our meetings.'' Schooled in Paris in law and political science, the Vietnamese-born French national joined the ILO's Geneva office in 1966 and was made director of the Caribbean multi-disciplinary advisory team in July of last year.

Currently based in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Mrs. Perret-Nguyen is on the Island to address a special session of the Labour Advisory Council and to celebrate two significant milestones.

"I'm very glad to be here in Bermuda -- this year in particular,'' she told reporters. "Not only is it the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ILO, but it is also the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Philadelphia.'' The Declaration of Philadelphia is a manifesto on the unalienable rights of workers. Mrs. Perret-Nguyen presented LAC representatives with a copy of the Declaration at a reception that was hosted by the Premier and Lady Swan on Wednesday night.

At the same time as she is marking these important events in the labour movement's history, however, Mrs. Perret-Nguyen said yesterday she was very concerned about the weakened role of unions in the current global order.

"It's not a particular aspect of the US,'' she said of unionism's decline.

"The unions are declining in many countries, even in the Caribbean. It's a trend around the world.'' Among the reasons that Mrs. Perret-Nguyen cited for the comedown were the worldwide increase in blue-collar workers and the barriers to unionism in many Third World nations.

She said that unionists would have to redefine the movement if they wanted it to survive in the next millennium.

"They may have to change their agenda, how they work, to attract new members,'' Mrs. Perret-Nguyen surmised. "This is a concern because you need unions. It is a fallacy to think you can talk directly to a whole body of workers. It is not only a question of democracy but of efficiency.'' Mrs. Perret-Nguyen felt the question was particularly vital in the Caribbean, where the main challenge to workers was "finding jobs and keeping them.

"This is true of most of the countries in the Caribbean. Some traditional markets are being lost and have to be replaced,'' she said.

Responding to a locally geared question, Mrs. Perret-Nguyen commented that it was not commonplace for unions to have to divulge their financial statements.

"As far as I know,'' she told reporters, "it is not very much practised.'' Last week, longtime members of the Bermuda Industrial Union complained that they were being denied disability benefits by the unions after years of making contributions.

Financial reports for the last financial year showed that the union collected $43,613 in contributions and paid out $8,545 to members. A total of $882,385 in "other expenses'' was also listed.

LABOURING AWAY -- Mrs. Hong-Trang Perret-Nguyen, director general of the International Labour Organisation's Caribbean office, addresses reporters yesterday as Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman looks on.

CHARITY SHOW IS CANCELLED FNR Charity show is cancelled Saturday's National Gallery fundraising show at the Robin Hood, featuring the rhythm and blues band Shaky Ground, has been cancelled.