Regional activities and events

2007

1. The EU and the Social Dimension of Globalization

   2 - 3 March 2007, Ghent, Belgium

   This conference dealt with EU initiatives concerning the social dimension of globalization that impact on its external relations policies and development cooperation.

2. Workshop on Globalization and Changes in Employment Conditions in Asia and the Pacific

   22 - 23 February 2007, Seoul

   The workshop aimed at providing information on the labor market in various countries in Asia and the Pacific region, comparing actively developing countries of the region such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand with relatively industrialized countries such as Korea, Australia, and Japan.

3. Eighth Annual Global Development Conference: Shaping a New Global Reality: The Rise of Asia and its Implications

   14 - 16 January 2007, Beijing, China

   The rise of Asia belongs to the most dramatic international developments at the turn of the 20th century. This regional development implies large impacts on trade, global trade rules and on the global economy.

2006

1. Social justice in a globalised world

   30 November - 1 December 2006, Bonn, Germany

   The event began with a presentation of the need, justifiable in terms of ethics and realpolitik, to counter the growing social inequality both between and within individual regions of the world in a constructive way.

2. Social Policy in a global Economy – the Challenges for organized labour

   4 October 2006, Lisbon, Portugal

   A GURN workshop was held on 4 October 2006 in Lisbon immediately following the joint ILO, EC and Government of Portugal World Conference “Social Protection and Inclusion: converging efforts from a global perspective”. As a contribution to a socio-economic floor, the main theme of the GURN workshop was on pension systems, their reforms and the role of unions in shaping public debate.

3. World Conference “Social Protection and Inclusion: converging efforts from a global perspective”

   2 - 3 October 2006, Lisbon, Portugal

   The International Labour Office, the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity of Portugal, and the European Commission organized jointly this Conference, which will be held within the framework of the common objective established between the three organizing bodies, to promote "Decent Work for All" and to contribute to a minimum floor of social protection.

4. Subregional Conference of South East European Countries “Employment Strategies in the Face of Globalization”

   11 - 12 September 2006, Istanbul, Turkey

   The aim of the conference was to discuss and develop employment strategies towards full employment to realize the potential benefits of globalization as well as to minimize the costs associated with it. It also called for policy coherence at national and international levels and called for enhanced technical concertation and political cooperation efforts in the region for attaining decent work for all.

5. “More and Better Jobs - Working Jointly to Strengthen the Social Dimension of Globalisation" the first ASEM Labour and Employment Ministers' Conference

   3 - 5 September 2006, Potsdam, Germany

   This conference was attended by the Labour and Employment Ministers from the Asian and European member Countries and by the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunity of the European Commission to debate on social issues, and in particular labour and employment policy concerns, to take up their place in the European-Asian dialogue.

6. 6th Asia Europe People's Forum

   3 - 6 September 2006, Helsinki, Finland

   The Asia Europe People's Forum (AEPF) has the strategic purpose of raising awareness about the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) policies among the people of Asia and Europe; AEPF helps increase the transnational solidarity and interaction between non-governmental organisations and social movements.

7. The ILO Fourteenth Asian Regional Meeting: Realizing decent work in Asia

   29 August - 1 September 2006, Busan, Korea

   The tripartite constituents of the countries of the region commit to the achievement of specific decent work outcomes in accordance with their respective national circumstances and priorities, and to cooperate on specific initiatives at the regional level where joint action and sharing of knowledge and expertise will contribute to making decent work a reality by 2015.

8. World Ecomonic Forum 2006

   25 January 2006, Davos, Switzerland

   Juan Somavia took place in the debate on job creation, on the World Economic Forum. He mentioned that the world is facing an “unprecedented jobs crisis” with growing unemployment.

9. Seventh Annual Global Development Conference: Institutions and Development: At the Nexus of Global Change

   19 - 21 January 2006, St. Petersburg, Russia

   While it is accepted that “good institutions” are essential for sustainable economic growth, the conference sought to go beyond this cliché to explore the meanings of “effective” institutions in multiple settings of the world and in an increasingly globalized environment. Five workshops were held at this years’ conference: * Moving out of Poverty * Asian and Other Drivers of Global Change * Bridging Research and Policy * Impact of Rich Countries’ Policies on Poverty: Perspectives from the Developing World * Multidisciplinary and Intermediation Research Initiative

2005

1. Expert Group Meeting on The Impact of Globalization on the Social Situation in the Arab Region

   19 - 21 December 2005, Beirut, Lebanon

   This meeting built on the outcome of the international and global conferences, and therefore focused on action to promote a globalization with a social development content. In this context, the meeting offered a multifaceted perspective on the impact of globalization on Arab societies.

2. Expert Group Meeting on The Impact of Globalization on the Social Situation in the Arab Region

   19 - 21 December 2005, Beirut, Lebanon

   This meeting builds on the outcome of the international and global conferences, and will therefore focus on action to promote a globalization with a social development content. In this context, the meeting will offer a multifaceted perspective on the impact of globalization on Arab societies. Within this framework, the meeting aims to: 1.Provide a forum for experts to meet and exchange views on the impact of globalization on the social situation in the Arab region; 2.Identify the major factors of globalization affecting the social situation in the Arab region, and the primary issues and challenges emanating from this process; 3.Answer questions about how and in what way the Arab countries can maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of globalization; 4.Recommend an approach which promotes equity and social inclusion enabling Arab countries and societies to cope with globalization and make use of its opportunities.

3. Annual Conference for Development and Change

   2 - 4 December 2005, Neemrana, India

   Three key themes were selected for promoting sustainable economic growth and human development in a globalized context for the 2005 conference. I. Sustainable Economic Development and the External Sector II. Sectoral Development, Macroeconomic Policies and Employment III. Social Development, Institutions and the State

4. Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization, ILO Governing Body 294th Session

   3 - 18 November 2005, Geneva, Switzerland

   The Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization discussed the consequences of the current international financial system for enterprises and workers and how improved policy coherence between different international organizations including the international financial agencies could enhance growth, investment and decent work.

5. Tripartite Meeting of Experts on "ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration"

   31 October - 2 November 2005, Geneva, Switzerland

   In line with the recommendation of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization to develop a multilateral framework on labour migration, the meeting was convened to review the draft prepared by the Office in which principles and guidelines for labour migration policy formulation and best practices had been developed.

6. Tripartite Meeting on Promoting Fair Globalization in Textiles and Clothing in a Post-MFA Environment

   24 - 26 October 2005, Geneva, Switzerland

   The purpose of the meeting was to review the immediate social and economic impact of the end of the Multifibre Agreement (MFA) and the strategies that have been put in place or are being developed with a view to facilitating the elaboration of appropriate integrated strategies for promoting fair globalization in the sector worldwide.

7. XIV Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) of the OAS

   26 - 27 September 2005, Mexico city, Mexico

   The overarching theme of the meeting was “People and their work at the heart of globalization” and it focused on three substantive topics: * People and their work at the heart of economies, State policies and globalization * Social dialogue as a tool to confront the social and labor effects of globalization * Social and labor effects of public policies on employment and the fight against poverty.

8. XVIIth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work

   18 - 22 September 2005, Orlando, USA

   XVIIth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work was held in 2005 in Orland, USA with the participation of over 3000 experts and practitioners and served as a global forum on Occupational Safety and Health facilitating exchange of experiences, networking and partnerships. Based on fostering of multistakeholder dialogue, this congress also promoted decent work.