Asia-Pacific’s responses to global economic crisis to be discussed at high level meeting in Manila
Ministers of labour and finance, senior UN and government officials, workers and employers representatives from throughout Asia and the Pacific are due to meet in Manila next week to discuss responses to the current economic crisis.
13 February 2009 (ROAP/09/05)
BANGKOK (ILO News) - Ministers of labour and finance, senior UN and government officials, workers and employers representatives from throughout Asia and the Pacific are due to meet in Manila next week to discuss responses to the current economic crisis.
More than 11 countries are expected to attend the regional forum, entitled “Responding to the Economic Crisis - Coherent Policies for Growth, Employment and Decent Work in Asia and the Pacific”. Other senior officials expected to attend include Mr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, and Ms. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss, Vice-President, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank.
To assist discussions at the forum, a report, “The fallout in Asia: Assessing labour market impacts and national policy responses to the global financial crisis”, has been compiled by the ILO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The report will be available from 00.01, Manila time on Wednesday 18 February, and will be posted on the ILO website. Advance copies of the report will be available to the media on request under embargo.
This forum is one of a series of similar regional events that will feed into a high level meeting on the economic crisis called by the ILO’s Governing Body, which will take place in Geneva on 23 March.
The regional forum will be held at the InterContinental Hotel, Ayala Avenue Makati City, Philippines. It is scheduled to open at 09.00 on Wednesday 18 February and conclude at 11.30 on Friday 20 February. The opening session, from 09.00-10.30 on the 18 February in the Bahia Function Room (14th floor) is open to the press A press briefing will be held at 10.30 on Wednesday 18 February in the Dasmariñas Room (2nd floor).
The High-level Regional Forum is being convened by the ILO in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the Department of Labour and Employment of the Philippines, with financial support from the Government of Norway.
For further information on the regional forum please visit www.ilo.org/asia or contact:
Minette Rimando
ILO Subregional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific – Manila
Tel: +632 580 9905 / 580 9900
Mob: +63 921 9736849, Email
Sophy Fisher
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific - Bangkok
Tel: +662 288 2482, Mob: +66 8989 50912, Email
Krisdaporn Singhaseni
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific – Bangkok
Tel: +662 288 1664, Email