One of the important objectives of the ASEAN Programme on Industrial Relations for Development (a joint project ILO/UNDP/ASEAN) was to promote the study and analysis of basic issues in labour relations and labour laws within the ASEAN countries. To meet this objective a number of national experts have been invited under the Project to prepare country studies on the following issues: the problem of union recognition; the administration and enforcement of collective agreements; the voluntary and compulsory arbitration of labour disputes; the right to strike and lockout. These studies, which have now been completed and published, are aimed to provide an opportunity for students, practitioners, policy-makers to acquire valuable insights based on the experience of the ASEAN countries. It is hoped that these materials will promote comparative studies in labour relations and labour laws which in turn could lead to cross-fertilisation of ideas and concepts and even to desirable reforms.