Major Programme 270. Field Programmes in Asia and the Pacific
Summary of 1998-99 proposals and comparison with previous biennium (including funds from other sources)
| PROGRAMME | TITLE | WORK-YEARS/MONTHS |
U.S.DOLLARS |
||||
| PROFESSIONAL | GENERAL SERVICE | STAFF COSTS | OTHER COSTS | TOTAL RESOURCES | |||
| 270.01 | REGIONAL MANAGEMENT | 2/00 | 2/00 | 524,728 | 91,090 | 615,818 | |
| 270.02 | REGIONAL TECHNICAL PROGRAMMES | 73/00 | 50/00 | 12,393,236 | 5,950,780 | 18,344,016 | |
| 270.03 | RELATIONS, SERVICE AND SUPPORT | 12/06 | 62/06 | 4,979,150 | 1,213,581 | 6,192,731 | |
| 270.04 | NETWORK OF OFFICES | 41/00 | 176/03 | 11,018,110 | 3,249,993 | 14,268,103 | |
| 1998-99 TOTALS | |||||||
| REGULAR BUDGET | 128/06 | 290/09 | 28,915,224 | 10,505,444 | 39,420,668 | ||
| OTHER SOURCES | 1/06 | 49/06 | 1,478,372 | 249,611 | 1,727,983 | ||
| 1996-97 TOTALS | |||||||
| REGULAR BUDGET | 129/06 | 270/09 | 29,611,212 | 10,300,396 | 39,911,608 | ||
| OTHER SOURCES | 1/06 | 49/06 | 1,052,688 | 10,953 | 1,063,641 | ||
270.1. Despite their impressive economic performance over recent years, there remain wide divergences in the economic and social conditions within and between countries in Asia and the Pacific. Asia still accounts for almost two-thirds of the world’s estimated 1.1 billion poor, with the largest concentration in South Asia. The region also includes a large number of economies in transition and small island economies, many of which are facing serious problems of poverty, unemployment and underemployment.
270.2. A number of important global changes are affecting the economic and social situation in Asia and the Pacific. These include the new world trade arrangements, which are resulting in reduced protection for domestic industry and the gradual elimination of preferential quotas to markets in the advanced industrialized countries. The pace and volume of intra-regional trade and investment flows are increasing as domestic markets expand, trade is being liberalized within existing regional blocs, such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and new trading partnerships are emerging across the Asia Pacific rim, in the form of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). As the role of the State diminishes and public sector activities are increasingly privatized, the resulting restructuring and downsizing will require appropriate safety nets and the redeployment of the displaced labour force into alternative jobs. In order to adapt to the far-reaching global changes, the small island economies of the Pacific will have to design development programmes that take particular account of their special circumstances.
270.3. The challenge for the region is to sustain and broaden economic growth, accelerate efforts to alleviate poverty, ensure a more equitable distribution of the benefits of growth and narrow income gaps within and between countries. Critical to the success of these efforts is the translation of economic growth into increased demand for labour and the establishment of mechanisms and institutions which ensure that employment is remunerative and productive and that conditions of work are sound. However, as the need for competitiveness has intensified and economic liberalization has removed constraints on labour mobility, the protection of workers’ rights and the promotion of international labour standards have emerged as central concerns. In this respect, in a free market environment, stronger labour market institutions and greater respect for fundamental ILO principles, and particularly freedom of association, can go a long way towards promoting social harmony and laying the foundations for sustained growth in the region.
Priorities and objectives
270.4. The alleviation of poverty through the creation of productive and remunerative employment and the promotion of social justice continues to be of central importance in the region, particularly in view of the increasing pace of economic liberalization, globalization and regionalization. It is therefore of great importance to strengthen Ministries of Labour and employers’ and workers’ organizations so that they can respond to these challenges. These trends have accentuated the need for a well-trained and adaptable labour force to provide countries with increased competitiveness in export markets. However, the pressures of increased competitiveness have led to the exploitation of workers in many countries, and particularly of women, and vulnerable groups such as children, in labour-intensive industries. Serious problems of retrenchment and redeployment have also arisen as a result of industrial restructuring as the former centrally planned economies undergo market reforms and mixed economies adjust to trade liberalization. In nearly all the countries in the region, the recent trends in the world economy have placed increasing pressure on industrial relations systems to ensure that terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are competitive and at the same time fair. There is also an urgent need for the improved protection of workers, especially in the field of occupational safety and health, as well as for the development and extension of social protection systems to provide adequate coverage for the entire population, including the unorganized sector.
270.5. Taking account of the work carried out during the biennium 1996-97, such as the ILO country employment policy reviews to be implemented as a follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, comprehensive and well-integrated policy packages, including innovative micro-action programmes that can be replicated for wider use, will be designed and developed by the ILO’s advisory and technical services, spearheaded by the multidisciplinary advisory teams with the support of the headquarters technical units. These policies and programmes will address the long-standing and emerging issues identified through the process of policy dialogue with the constituents in the region and the country objectives exercises, including employment and human resources development, the problems of women workers, the protection of migrant workers and the promotion of micro and small enterprises (SMEs) and the improvement of working conditions and environment. These issues are central to the concerns expressed at the World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Employment and poverty alleviation
Comprehensive employment policies and human resources development strategies
270.6. In their efforts to deal with the problems of unemployment, underemployment and poverty alleviation, governments in the region are becoming increasingly aware of the need to combine policies for productive employment generation with the development of education and training systems and the strengthening of institutional capacity to monitor and implement policy measures. With a view to adopting new and cost-effective approaches to enhance the employability and productivity of the labour force, existing skills training systems are being modified and new institutions set up. In designing new policies, policy-makers in the region need to be able to learn from each other and share their experience. They are also turning to the ILO for assistance in reviewing existing human resources development and employment generation policies and for the development of measures that minimize skill mismatches through appropriate and cost-effective investments in education and skills training.
270.7. The objective in this programme area is the strengthened capacity of governments and the social partners to design and implement integrated strategies for employment generation and human resources development. With a view to achieving this objective, in-depth reviews and analyses of employment and human resource development policies and investigative studies of the functioning of the labour market will be carried out in a number of countries in the region by the multidisciplinary advisory teams with the active participation of the social partners. These will lay the basis for the provision of comprehensive advice, integrated employment policies and human resources development strategies. Emphasis will be placed on the development of national capacity for the regular monitoring of the labour market and the use of labour market indicators as a basis for proactive policy formulation. In view of the limited employment generation capacity in other sectors, priority will be given to measures to encourage the establishment of micro and small enterprises, particularly in the informal sector. Advisory services will be provided to assist in the design and implementation of skills development policies and systems to cope with the changing skill needs. Assistance will be concentrated on creating a favourable economic environment for SMEs and facilitating their access to productive resources, especially to credit, infrastructure and training in technical and business skills. Special attention will also be paid to the needs of the rural sector through labour-intensive infrastructure projects and the support provided for activities to encourage the growth of rural industries.
Women workers
270.8. Although women are active agents in development, they are still unrecognized, underpaid and overworked. They also face a variety of problems arising out of discrimination, low socio-economic status, the double burden of family and economic responsibilities, sexual harassment and other factors. Improving the status, education, skill levels and terms and conditions of work of women is vital in order to break the vicious circle of poverty in many Asian countries. In the formal sector, the major task is to ensure that manufacturing offers women secure, safe, remunerative and long-term employment. However, a large proportion of women workers in the region are self-employed or unpaid family workers, concentrated largely in the rural areas. The policies and measures that are adopted to encourage the development of self-employment and micro-enterprises need to address more effectively the issue of productive employment for women. Effective action to improve their situation requires a multi-pronged approach and effective cooperation between a wide range of government agencies, employers’ and workers’ organizations and NGOs to deal with the issues of employment, training, poverty and social protection.
270.9. The major objective in this respect is the strengthening of national capacity to implement plans of action as a follow up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. Assistance will be provided to governments, the social partners and NGOs for the formulation and implementation of strategies and programmes which comprehensively address the issues of: the progressive elimination of discrimination against women in employment; employment promotion and income generation; organization building and participation; and social protection. Particular emphasis will be given to workers in the unorganized sectors and in non-standard forms of employment, including migrant women workers. In all these activities, priority will be given to promoting the economic empowerment of women, awareness building on women and gender issues, and the promotion of women workers’ rights.
Migrant workers
270.10. Migration has emerged as a central issue for both labour-sending and labour-receiving countries in the region. Labour-sending countries are increasingly concerned to improve the treatment and protection of migrant workers, both documented and undocumented, while labour-receiving countries are expressing growing preoccupation at the rapid increase in the flows of undocumented workers, especially to the countries of South-East and East Asia, which are facing labour and skill shortages. Under pressure to reduce the migration of unskilled workers, and especially female domestic workers, a number of labour-sending countries are giving higher priority to the development of domestic employment opportunities and the implementation of programmes for the productive re-absorption of return migrants. In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to expand skills training programmes to meet the needs of both domestic and export markets.
270.11. Building on the experience acquired by the ILO, the objective in this area is the development and maintenance of mechanisms permitting a more orderly movement of labour across international borders and affording better protection to migrant workers. Studies will be undertaken and advisory services provided to assist in the development of systems that afford better protection for migrant workers, and especially the more vulnerable female migrant workers, and the formulation of more transparent plans and programmes to deal with foreign workers in labour-receiving countries. Assistance will be provided to both labour-sending and labour-receiving countries to strengthen mechanisms with a view to facilitating cross-border flows at a reasonable cost to the migrants, including the movement of skilled workers to meet skill shortages or surpluses. In all of these activities, emphasis will be placed on promoting the ratification of international labour standards on the protection of migrant workers’ rights and improving their application in both law and practice.
Employment promotion in a context of industrial restructuring and technological change
270.12. The former centrally planned economies are encountering serious problems of retrenchment and redeployment as they undergo market reforms and adjust to trade liberalization. These problems are exacerbated by the impact of technological change and the fluctuating nature of foreign investment flows. However, most of these countries have not developed comprehensive policies and programmes to deal with the problems arising out of retrenchment, redundancies and redeployment. In many cases, responses are ad hoc and on a case-by-case basis. There is therefore an urgent need to develop proactive policies and concrete programmes to deal with these problems.
270.13. The objective in this respect is the enhanced capacity of governments in the region, through Ministries of Labour and Manpower, to develop sound policies to deal with the problems arising out of retrenchment and redundancies in a manner that is consistent with ILO principles and standards. Drawing on the ILO’s experience and knowledge in this field, and in close consultation with the tripartite constituents, programmes will be developed and designed for the redeployment and retraining of the workforce. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring that these programmes are supported by agreements between the employers and workers most closely involved in the restructuring process.
Micro and small enterprise development
270.14. The increasingly limited potential of large enterprises to provide substantial job opportunities is aggravating the already acute unemployment and underemployment problems faced by many of the countries in the region. This has focused attention on the important role of micro and small enterprises (SMEs) in the generation of employment, although the environments in which many such enterprises operate are becoming particularly challenging in several countries in the region as a result of current economic liberalization processes. Entrepreneurship development, especially for self-employment, will therefore continue to be given high priority during the biennium 1998-99. The tripartite constituents and other relevant organizations need to develop their capacity to formulate policies and programmes for the promotion and protection of SMEs in a liberalized economic regime. In this respect, it should be noted that both ASEAN and the APEC forum are also giving high priority to the development of SMEs and the setting up of special institutions to cater for their needs.
270.15. The objective in this connection is the strengthened capacity of constituents to identify and develop new approaches, strategies and delivery mechanisms to meet the needs of SMEs, particularly in the informal sector. Assistance will be provided to the ministries and organizations responsible for small enterprise development, as well as to employers’ and workers’ organizations and other potential partners, including NGOs and self-help associations active in this field. This assistance will take the form of policy advice on the creation of an enabling environment for the growth of SMEs and the development of new instruments for their promotion. Activities will be undertaken to develop the capacity of organizations promoting SMEs, particularly in the fields of credit, business training, business opportunity identification and consultancy services. Networking between these organizations will also be promoted so that they can share experiences and learn from each other. Small-scale credit will receive special attention in this context, since access to credit is one of the most frequently cited obstacles to the development of SMEs and the realization of their employment creation potential, particularly for women and vulnerable groups in society, including persons with disabilities.
Workers’ protection
Workers in micro and small enterprises
270.16. While economic development in many Asian countries is gradually leading to improvements in workers’ protection in the modern sector, working conditions in SMEs are often very poor. Working conditions are closely related to the productivity and income levels of enterprises and improvements in both areas have to be sought in an integrated manner. In view of the large number of enterprises involved and the fact that most workers in these enterprises are unorganized, the traditional approach to improving workers’ protection in the formal sector, through such means as labour inspection, enforcement and collective bargaining, is poorly suited to achieving similar improvements in SMEs and the informal sector. New mechanisms therefore have to be identified in order to promote a more proactive approach to the improvement of working conditions and productivity in SMEs.
270.17. The objective in this programme area is the enhanced capacity of national authorities, the social partners and other organizations to improve the protection of workers in SMEs. Advisory services will be provided to Ministries of Labour and guidelines and manuals will be produced on the best approaches and practices for the improvement of workers’ protection in SMEs. A series of training courses will also be organized on this subject for employers’ and workers’ organizations.
Improvements in occupational safety and health and working conditions
270.18. The additional pressure placed on enterprises to become more competitive has, in some instances, resulted in a deterioration in conditions of work, an increase in safety and health risks and a general degradation of the environment. New technologies and chemicals have brought with them new types of hazards. Moreover, small and micro-enterprises lack the knowledge and the financial and technical resources to find solutions to safety and health problems and provide workers with acceptable working conditions. The problem is compounded by the increasing numbers of people working under more precarious forms of employment and an unsatisfactory general level of enforcement of the relevant legal provisions.
270.19. The objective in this programme area is the improved awareness of national authorities and workers’ and employers’ organizations of issues related to working conditions and occupational safety and health, together with the strengthening of their capacity to design and implement policies and measures that reduce work hazards and raise productivity through the adoption of good safety and health practices. In several countries in the region, training workshops will be organized with a view to developing the capacity of employers’ and workers’ organizations for the detection of deficiencies in preventive measures and their strengthening. Programmes will also be designed to strengthen the capacity of labour inspectorates to ensure the observance of legal provisions covering the protection of workers and their conditions of work.
Extending social protection
270.20. Social protection systems in the region have not kept up with economic growth and industrialization. Although progress has been made, there remains a need to expand social security systems and to introduce new schemes to cover a wider range of beneficiaries, and preferably the entire population. The provision of effective social protection depends on the costs of such systems, and on the soundness of their administration. A major effort will have to be made if the question of social protection is to be accorded appropriate priority alongside issues of economic policy and public finance. Fundamental decisions with long-term consequences will also have to be taken concerning the provision of security in old age in view of the rapid rise in the proportion of elderly persons in Asian societies.
270.21. The objective in this respect is the enhanced capacity of governments to extend their social protection schemes to the population as a whole. Advisory services will be provided on the approaches that can be adopted to achieve this objective, taking into full account the principles of efficiency, equity and sound administration. Case studies will be undertaken to analyse the policy implications of the ageing of the population in terms of social protection systems, the financial viability of social security schemes, conditions of work and labour markets. These activities will provide a basis for the subsequent provision of policy advice and the design and implementation of programmes that strengthen the capacity of the social partners to address these issues effectively.
Child labour
270.22. The elimination of child labour remains the long-term goal. However, experience shows that it is unrealistic to believe that this long-standing problem can be eliminated quickly and that children can be removed from all types of work. Indeed, there is a real danger that the strict enforcement of child labour laws could have the effect of placing some child workers in an even more precarious and dangerous situation. There is therefore a need to seek integrated approaches that result in a realistic transition. However, while there is now a better understanding of the factors underlying child labour, significant solutions for the eventual elimination of the problem are only slowly emerging. One of the principal achievements of IPEC in this region has been its contribution to the creation of a broad social alliance against child labour. However, in order to make a real impact on this problem, solutions to it will have to be integrated into national social and economic development policies, programmes and budgets. This means that long and short-term goals and strategies have to be translated into visible and concrete components in the programmes of government administrations and society at large.
270.23. The objectives in this programme area are: the development of the capacity of governments to formulate and implement policies to remove child workers from hazardous, dangerous and exploitative situations; and the continued mobilization of national authorities and workers’ and employers’ organizations for the promotion of attitudes and practices concerning child labour that focus on the needs of the child as an individual. Assistance will be provided in the formulation and implementation of national action programmes on child labour in some ten countries in the region. Six country studies will be carried out to identify sustainable action against child labour. Guidelines will also be prepared for policy-makers on how to initiate a sustainable, comprehensive, country-driven process towards the elimination of child labour.
Promotion of human rights, democracy and international labour standards
Industrial relations, globalization and liberalization
270.24. The current tendency towards individual, rather than collective, industrial relations has major implications for the role of the State and the social partners. Moreover, the impact of globalization and liberalization on industrial relations systems is a matter of increasing concern to ILO constituents in the region. Increased international competition in product and service markets is placing greater emphasis on the need for economic efficiency, to the detriment of social justice. Furthermore, the emergence of regional blocs and new trading partnerships and the resulting growth of intra and interregional investment are raising new issues concerning effective management and workplace relations.
270.25. The objective in this programme area is the increased capacity of ILO constituents, particularly in countries in transition, to develop and strengthen industrial relations systems that are adapted to changing labour market conditions. Assistance will be provided for the establishment of legal, institutional and procedural frameworks that facilitate collective and individual labour relations, support broader economic developments and incorporate social justice considerations. Further assistance, particularly in the form of technical advisory services, will be provided to member States for the establishment of mechanisms and procedures that promote tripartite cooperation and the prevention and settlement of labour disputes. Guidance will be offered and training programmes organized for workers’ and employers’ organizations to enhance their capacity to participate effectively in these industrial relations systems, particularly through collective bargaining.
Strengthening labour administration structures
270.26. In many countries in the region, the phenomena of rapid economic growth, economic liberalization or the transition to a market economy have not been accompanied by the necessary adjustments in labour administration systems. Labour administrations in the region are now seeking to adopt more innovative orientations. The many challenges faced by labour administrations, such as increased industrial disputes and safety and health hazards, deteriorating working conditions, changing patterns of work and retrenchment, require an enhanced capacity to develop innovative policies and new operational arrangements.
270.27. The objective in this respect is the strengthened capacity of Ministries of Labour, at both the central and decentralized levels, to provide a range of services to the social partners and local enterprises that is adapted to the context of economic reform and liberalized trade. Training activities will be organized and advisory services provided to assist in the restructuring of labour administrations to make them more service-oriented, increase their overall capacity and productivity and adopt a performance management approach to their work. Retraining courses will also be organized for officials of labour administrations at the provincial and local levels with a view to improving their skills and knowledge in such fields as working conditions and the settlement of industrial disputes.
Strengthening employers’ and workers’ organizations
270.28. Although tripartism is a key element in promoting industrial peace and social justice, its success depends on the effective participation of the representatives of the social partners in social dialogue. However, in several countries in the region in which democratization is still at an early stage, organizations of employers and workers are not yet recognized as equal partners. ILO activities to strengthen employers’ and workers’ organizations will therefore be continued in order to further enhance their capacity to play their proper role in public policy formulation and social dialogue with a view to reinforcing consensus and stability at the national level.
270.29. In the case of employers’ organizations, their need to adapt to the rapidly changing expectations of their members makes it necessary for them to review and develop their services and formulate strategic plans for their future development. In order to be able to respond to the increasing demands of their members, many of them need assistance in strengthening the capacity of their staff to participate in policy dialogue, supply information on labour-related matters and provide advisory, training and representation services. In economies in transition, employers’ organizations with a social policy mandate have either yet to emerge, or are still in the process of adjusting to the needs of employers in a market economy. Once established, they need to develop services to members and increase their membership base among private sector employers.
270.30. The objective in this respect is the strengthened capacity of employers’ organizations to influence the policy environment and participate in tripartite dialogue, particularly in economies in transition. Staff training will be provided, together with other forms of assistance, with a view to: a quantitative and qualitative improvement in the advisory services and training capacity of employers’ organizations, particularly in the fields of workplace industrial relations and human resource development; and the establishment of better information systems on labour market issues. Assistance will also be provided for the periodic review of the development plans of employers’ organizations and the adjustment of their activities accordingly. In economies in transition, advisory services will be provided, information disseminated and training organized to assist employers’ organizations assume their proper role in a market economy. They will also be assisted in the identification of their future development objectives, the type of services expected by their members and the development of these services.
270.31. Trade unions in the region face many difficult challenges in the years ahead. These include: recruiting unorganized workers; promoting the ratification and application of basic human rights standards; dealing with the implications of globalization, technological change, structural adjustment and privatization; and promoting the protection of migrant workers, women and child workers. Moreover, in both developing and newly industrializing countries in the region, unions face attacks on their very existence. In economies in transition, the challenge faced by unions is to participate in the design of new forms of industrial relations and to find a role that is relevant to their new members. In order to respond to this situation, trade unions will need to step up the momentum of their activities among the general public and, more importantly, among present and potential members. New groups of workers, such as women, white-collar and informal sector workers, are increasing as a proportion of the total workforce and are therefore becoming strategically important for the maintenance, strengthening and ultimately the survival of unions as a countervailing balance to other influences in society. All of these issues make it necessary for trade unions to formulate comprehensive policies and develop a strategic planning agenda.
270.32. The objective in this programme area is the development of the capacity of trade unions to influence national policy, participate in the industrial relations situation and offer improved services to their members. Reports and manuals will be prepared, workers’ education activities organized and advisory services provided to assist in the achievement by trade unions of the status of equal social partners and the establishment of greater levels of consultation and cooperation with employers’ organizations and governments. With global and regional enterprises extending their influence in the policy environment, emphasis will be placed in these activities on the need for trade unions to ensure that considerations of efficiency are balanced by an equal concern for equity.
International labour standards
270.33 The ratification and application of international labour standards, particularly those containing basic workers’ rights, remains a high priority for the ILO in Asia and the Pacific. The application of basic human rights standards continues to meet with some hesitation in the region, as shown by the low number of ratifications of the seven core Conventions, which remains a long way below the worldwide average. It is necessary to create an understanding among constituents that, far from constituting an obstacle to economic development, the application of international labour standards is conducive to the creation of a stable social environment in which real growth can take place. It is therefore of special importance in the region to find an appropriate balance between economic efficiency and equitable and reasonable means of protecting and defending workers against unfair treatment and unacceptable conditions of work.
270.34. The objective in this connection is the promotion of basic human rights standards, particularly those concerning freedom of association, equality of rights, child labour and forced labour. Advisory services will be provided and technical meetings organized at both the regional and national levels to explain the relevance and importance of international labour standards in the development process, and the significance of ILO principles, standards and effective tripartite institutions in underpinning democracy. Assistance will be provided to member States to create the conditions in which they can ratify the relevant Conventions and to strengthen their capacity to implement them in law and practice.
Support from headquarters
270.35. The support required from headquarters for this programme of work will include research and publications to orient practical activities and information on trends and experience in other regions. Advisory services to constituents will require expertise in specific fields which are not adequately covered by the multidisciplinary advisory teams. Meetings in the region will often involve the participation of officials from the major technical programmes at headquarters.
270.36. The role and structure of the major programme will continue to evolve within the framework of the active partnership policy. The increased responsibilities of the ILO offices and the services of the multidisciplinary advisory teams have been well received in the region. Employers’ and workers’ organizations in particular appreciate the increased number of specialists dealing directly with them. A variety of tasks continue to be reassigned from headquarters to the field structure and it will be necessary to increase administrative efficiency and productivity on a continuing basis in order to cope with the additional workload.
Resources
270.37. The regular budget resources for this major programme amount to some $39.4 million. There is a decrease of some $86,000 in real terms compared with 1996-97 biennium, which is mainly due to a reduction in non-staff resources partly offset by an increase of some $165,000 in RBTC field projects. The total technical resources available for the multidisciplinary advisory teams in the region are also increased. A provision of some $0.5 million in real terms has been made to cover the costs associated with the establishment of an office of senior technical adviser in Viet Nam. There is a reduction in the resources allocated to the network of offices, through the suppression of deputy director posts in certain area offices. However, no office will be closed and the same level of representation as at present will be maintained in Colombo and Kathmandu. The extra-budgetary resources available for technical cooperation programmes, including the SPPD and STS facilities, are expected to remain at the same level in real terms as for the biennium 1996-97.
270.38. The total RBTC resources available for field projects in the region will amount to $3,965,000. These will be used to fund activities at the national, subregional and regional levels according to the priorities expressed by constituents in their country objectives. Most of these resources will be allocated to ILO offices to enable them to respond to requests for assistance from the constituents. RBTC credits will also be used to supplement SPPD-related activities and the work of the multidisciplinary advisory teams. In these activities, emphasis will be placed on strengthening employers’ and workers’ organizations and labour administrations and on promotional activities related to international labour standards.
270.1. Regional management
270.39. This programme covers the general management and coordination of all activities carried out under the major programme. Provision is made for the Assistant Director-General in charge of ILO activities in the region, together with travel resources and secretarial support.
270.2. Regional technical programmes
270.40. Provision is made under this programme for three multidisciplinary advisory teams composed of technical advisers with professional expertise in the technical fields lying within the ILO’s basic mandate and based on the priority needs identified for the region. The teams have been allocated additional resources for the provision of technical support to member States as outlined in their country objectives. The teams will cooperate closely with the ILO offices in the region in the formulation and updating of country objectives and programmes, the provision of technical advisory services and the backstopping of technical cooperation activities. In line with the active partnership policy, the team members, together with the ILO offices, will seek to ensure continuing dialogue with constituents at the country level. The three multidisciplinary advisory teams will continue to be located in Bangkok, Manila and New Delhi.
East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
270.41. The team is located in Bangkok and is composed of 18 technical advisers, covering the following member States: Cambodia, China, the Republic of Korea, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. It will provide technical support to the ILO offices located in Bangkok and Beijing, the office of senior technical adviser in Hanoi and the other teams in technical areas not covered by their staff.
South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
270.42. The team is located in Manila and will be composed of six technical advisers covering the following member States: Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and the island countries of the South Pacific. It will provide technical advice and support to the ILO offices in Manila, Jakarta and Suva.
South Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
270.43. The team is located in New Delhi and will be composed of 13 technical advisers, covering the following member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The team will provide technical support to the ILO offices in Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad and New Delhi, and to the office of senior technical adviser in Kathmandu.
270.3. Relations, service and support
270.44. The main functions of this programme are to ensure that: ILO activities in the region are properly planned, coordinated, implemented and followed up; the regional major programme reflects the needs and priorities of ILO constituents; and the public is informed of ILO objectives and activities. Liaison is maintained with United Nations agencies, regional organizations of employers and workers, regional intergovernmental organizations and selected non-governmental organizations.
270.45. The work covered by this programme is divided into the following subprogrammes: Programme management and support; Regional programming; Relations and public information; Library and documentation; and Regional financial and administrative services. Provision is made under the Programme management and support subprogramme for the deputy regional director, secretarial assistance, travel and a meeting of directors of ILO offices and multidisciplinary advisory teams in the region.
270.4. Network of offices
270.46. Provision is made under this programme for offices in: Bangkok, Beijing, Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi, Suva and Tokyo, as well as for the offices of senior technical adviser in Hanoi and Kathmandu.