BANGKOK (ILO NEWS). The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Ng Gek-Boo, will be paying the Organization’s first official visit to Brunei Darussalam since the country joined the ILO.

Brunei Darussalam became the ILO’s 180th member state on 17 January 2007. The country has been a member of the United Nations since 21 September 1984.

Mr Ng will arrive in Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday 3rd April and depart on Thursday 5th April. During his three-day stay he will meet the Minister for Home Affairs Mr. Pehin Dato Adanan Yusof and other senior Government officials. He will also hold discussions with employers’ and workers’ organizations, including the President of the Brunei Oilfield Workers Union, the President of the International Chamber of Commerce and the Presidents of the Malay, Chinese and Indian Chambers of Commerce.

“This is a historic occasion,” said Mr Ng. “Brunei’s accession to the ILO means that all 10 members of ASEAN are now members. This will boost regional co-operation, strengthen the ILO’s work within ASEAN, and will make it easier for us to achieve our shared goal of decent work for the people of the ASEAN region”.

“This visit is an excellent opportunity to discuss possible areas of co-operation between the ILO and Brunei with national employers and workers and the Government,” he added. “I am looking forward to hearing their views and explaining more about the work of the ILO and the aims of the Asian Decent Work Decade”.