You worked for UNIDO and UNICEF for more than 30 years, including in India, Japan, Myanmar and Timor-Leste. How do you think that your experience with these agencies will help you in your new role?
I spend almost all of my 34 years in the field and had first-hand experience of the situation in Asia, particularly the informal economy and the rural poor. This first-hand knowledge and experience helps me understand the poverty of workers in the informal economy, the situation of migrant workers, children forced to work in difficult circumstances and women working in servitude as domestic workers. I feel the hardship they go through. Of course I also learned what it takes to achieve results. I gained knowledge from the different national settings, how to get the right policies and legislation in place to prevent exploitation, mobilize resources and get action.
The ILO has a supervisory role to ensure that governments follow international labour standards through their national laws. The ILO is willing to serve as a mediator and discuses complaints in its committees, which is unique. The ILO also helps build the capacity of governments and partners so they are capable of developing action plans and implementing them. It’s a challenging task in this region as it involves 34 countries.
Asia and the Pacific is full of dynamism and innovation. The region has achieved unprecedented economic growth. We need to find ways and means to translate these tremendous economic gains into social progress that benefits everyone. Income gaps and inequality in the distribution of economic gains must be tackled. However, I feel a sense of assertiveness and confidence in Asia when it comes to addressing these social and labour market issues. I’m confident that we can build strong relations with governments and social partners to overcome the gaps and spread out the benefits of growth.
What do you see as the most important issues and areas of work in this region?
We have to be ahead of the latest developments in the world of work. For that we must have accurate data and models for analysis of the labour market system. So we have to improve our analytical tools and our projections.
Another priority is managing labour migration in ASEAN. There are five million migrant workers in ASEAN and 30 million from ASEAN countries, and their plight requires urgent attention. The ILO must play an advocacy role to alleviate the suffering and protect the fundamental rights of these migrant workers. We need to introduce the principles of decent work to these populations.
Asia continues to provide an inexpensive labour force for many industries. While promoting growth and job creation we have to advocate the importance of decent work. It is the increasing number of people with decent work that will create sustainable economic growth in the region. Inequality is widening in many parts in Asia. This needs to be corrected as it disrupts sustainable growth and may cause instability in society.
How are you going to harness political support for improving working conditions in the region?
Political support is indispensable. I believe without political support nothing works. It’s a challenge, but we have to advocate the political benefits of promoting decent work for all. I’m sure good politicians will understand that.
The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) will come into being in 2015. How should the countries of the region prepare for this and what can the ILO do to help them?
This will be a historic move, making ASEAN a strong source of growth, employment, and social benefits. In order to sustain growth ASEAN must reduce inequality, provide social protection, social services and foster good labour relations. ASEAN must keep improving its image and its ‘brand’ as a responsible manufacturing base. With Myanmar emerging as an active member of ASEAN, I’m sure this will inject additional stimulus to economic growth and prosperity.
What do you hope to achieve during your tenure?
The year 2015 not only marks the beginning of the AEC but also the end of the Asian Decent Work Decade, 2006-2015, in which the ILO tripartite constituents committed themselves to improving key priority areas in order to achieve Decent Work for All. These include action against child labour, promoting youth employment, skills and employability, promoting productive and sustainable enterprises, improving labour market governance and better management of labour migration. These priorities have guided our programmes in the region.
Much has been achieved but more work remains ahead. There are many challenges and many problems, but with determination and hard work, we – governments, workers and employers — can work together towards realizing Decent Work for All.
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