Developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region need support for appropriate strategies to address labour issues. In times of economic turmoil, massive underemployment and wage shrinkage increase the demand for improved employment opportunities, and in times of a stable economy, these countries need to continue to develop skills training.
The Government of Japan, acknowledging the difficulties faced by developing countries in the region, worked with ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Bangkok to establish the ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme in 1974. This regional programme combines the technical expertise of the ILO, with financial support from the Government of Japan. The ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme covers Asia and the Pacific countries in promoting Decent Work in the region through the projects at community level, national level and regional level.
Thematic priorities
The Government of Japan is keen to provide financial support decent work country programmes and regional priorities, especially in focus to ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and Korea) countries and ONE-UN initiatives.
For 2008, the Government of Japan approved the funds to provide support following projects:
- Promoting Occupational Safety and Health to Achieve Decent Work in Selected ASEAN Countries
- ASEAN-ILO/Japan Industrial Relations Project
- Promotion of Decent Work for Young Women and Men Through Enhancement of Employment Possibilities in Sri Lanka
- Managing Cross-border Movement of Labour in Southeast Asia
- Japanese Technical Officers Programme
- Launch Labour Law Network Project
- Expansion of Employment Opportunities for Women, Cambodia and Vietnam
Institutional framework
The ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme, under the overall guidance of the ILO-ROAP, works in close collaboration with specialists in ILO sub-regional offices and ILO country offices in the target countries in the region. The ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme team, comprising Overall Programme Coordinator, Programme Officer, Programme Assistant and Secretary, is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the smooth delivery of the Programme.
An Annual Review Meeting is normally organised once a year, as a mechanism for the Government of Japan and the ILO to share experiences and lessons learned, report the progress of continuing activities and agree upon the forthcoming year’s work plan.
Achievements
Over 30 years, the ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme has significantly contributed to the improvement of labour administration, labour standards and employment in the region by various projects including capacity building, regional and national seminars, network building, training, research and personnel contribution of Japanese technical officers. Examples of current achievements are for instance:
- Expansion of Employment Opportunities for Women, Cambodia and Vietnam (EEOW project): has contributed to national efforts in alleviating poverty and promoting gender equality in the world of work through socio-economic empowerment of women.
- Launch Labour Law Network Project: has been contributing to the growth of labour law scholarship in Asia through various seminars amongst the labour law scholars and practitioners, researches on labour-law related topics in the region, and the establishment of the Asian Society of Labour Law in November 2008.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Kiyotaka Higuchi
Chief Technical Adviser and Overall Coordinator
Tel: +662-288-1720
Fax: +662-288-1023
Email
Ms Onpreeya Chitpakdee
Programme Officer
Tel: +662-288-2301
Fax: +662-288-1023
Email