The Director-General’s
Report to the Meeting underscored "the necessity of finding
integrated responses to the challenge of decent work". The
Report further stressed that "there can be no decent work
without work itself. Neither can there be decent work without
equality of rights and opportunities for women and men". The
richness of the discussion at this Meeting has given us a clear
direction to plan for the next 2-4 years with you, our constituents, in
each of your countries individually and collectively, on the course of
our activities in the context of the decent work agenda.
In his opening address to
this Meeting, the Director-General emphasized that to respond better to
the challenges in Asia, as well as challenges on the global level,
"we need to forge a strong and cohesive tripartism. This means
enhancing social dialogue, and finding the will to respect the voice of
‘the other’ in order to find solutions that represent a genuine
consensus based on shared interests".
Her Excellency Ms Ladawan
Wongsriwong, the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Thailand,
in her inaugural address, focussed on the need for a consensus, starting
at the national level, since "the governments, employers and
workers of this region are the real experts on their countries’
circumstances and aspirations". She said that this Meeting "is
an important opportunity for review - and for planning", and she
hoped that, together, we will find a way to ensure that the
"activities and cooperation in our respective countries fit within
a single integrated framework". Indeed, as the Conclusions of this
Meeting indicate, the delegates have sent a powerful message. Ms Wilson
(Government, New Zealand) and Ms Knowles (Employers, New Zealand), along
with others have called on the Office to facilitate tripartite
discussion and consensus to establish National Plans of Action on decent
work. These will be the basis for subregional and regional level plans,
reflecting the priorities identified by our constituents, a timetable
for implementation and a set of indicators for the purposes of regular
tripartite monitoring and evaluation.
On behalf of all of us,
let me specially thank the Chairperson of this Meeting, Hon’ble Alavi
Mowlana, Minister of Labour, Sri Lanka for having graciously consented
to be the Chair. With his vast knowledge, experience and skills he has
guided the deliberations towards a positive and productive conclusion.
In his acceptance speech, he asked all the delegates to contribute
constructively so as to "find a consensus on that way
forward". There has been, what I might term, an overwhelming
response by your reiteration of the need to define and implement
policies at national level to reduce the decent work deficit through
tripartite social dialogue. Let me assure you that the ILO stands ready
to assist and work closely with you in this effort. I wish to also thank
the three Vice-Chairpersons for having ably contributed towards guiding
the proceedings of this Meeting. And, may I add here my gratitude to all
the other elected Officers for their role in helping us to conclude this
Meeting on a successful note.
Many of the delegates
referred to the overriding requirement to embark on a path to reduce the
decent work deficit. The time is now ripe to put that into practical and
operational terms. The ILO in the region plans to work with you towards
that end, immediately following this Meeting. As Mr Suzuki, the
employers’ spokesperson, put it, "we would like to see the ILO
programme increasingly addressing directly and helping countries to
overcome the root causes for decent work deficits". Mr Rampak, the
workers’ spokesperson, recalled the Asian financial crisis that
overshadowed the Twelfth Asian Regional Meeting (1997), which in his
words "was so devastating that it degenerated into a human
crisis". He further cited as important milestones the adoption of
the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the
Report on Decent Work during the period since then. "The most
challenging task now for the ILO and its three constituents is to put
into reality the spirit and text of these documents", he commented.
A question posed during
the discussion was, to what extent has the ILO carried out the
recommendations of the Twelfth Asian Regional Meeting, especially in the
aftermath of the financial crisis? The response of the ILO was debated
and evaluated by the Governing Body of the ILO on two occasions, in
November 1998 and in March 1999, when a special Governing Body Symposium
on the social impact of the crisis was held in Geneva. The papers
discussing the ILO’s response are available on the website. Let me add
a few words on this.
Among the most useful and
immediate responses provided to the constituents, was a high level
tripartite regional meeting which, in April 1998, brought together for
the first time the workers’ and employers’ representatives and the
governments, face to face, with the representatives of the World Bank,
the IMF and the Asian Development Bank, to discuss the economic and
social responses to the financial crisis. Other meetings debated
national and sub-regional responses to human resource development, to
employment services and to social protection. Studies on the specific
impact of the crisis on women workers, on migrant workers and on child
labour were made available.
The Governing Body
evaluation asked the ILO to strengthen its capacity to respond rapidly
and to have better analytical and research capacity. The ILO has
sharpened its focus around the decent work agenda and its four strategic
objectives. It has begun to highlight the different ways in which decent
work is part of the development agenda. A Decent Work Team has been set
up in the Asia Pacific region, as in other regions. One of its main
tasks is to assist in developing national decent work workplans, and to
facilitate coordination and monitoring of programmes and activities. We
have in our headquarters a crisis response programme which did not exist
before (this programme in consultation with both the Arab States and the
Asia Pacific region has worked out technical cooperation programmes in
the Palestinian Territories, South Lebanon, East Timor and India). And,
we have developed a greater capacity for policy development and
research. We have started initiatives to influence policies in the
international financial institutions. A recently launched joint ILO/ADB
project on core labour standards is a case in point. The understanding
of the role core labour standards can play in development with equity is
greater than before.
We are a more significant
player in creating a supportive international environment for your
national efforts. But we need greater cohesiveness. We need to apply the
good policy of preventive self reliance. We need to intensify social
dialogue in the face of gathering economic uncertainty. We need to build
up an adaptable and well trained work force, with greater public and
private investment in skills upgrading. Public sector investment with
employment generation has to receive renewed attention. The most
vulnerable need protection, and in the informal economy, in particular,
we need measures which extend protection to all workers.
I would now like to
comment on some of the specific issues raised in the course of the
discussion by strategic objectives.
2.1 Standards and rights
at work
On the issue of labour
standards, several speakers referred to the need for the ILO, in
applying these principles, to adapt the values enshrined in them in the
context of the diversity of the region. Mr Noakes (Employer, Australia)
stressed that standards must be relevant to workplace needs and which
can be fully and properly implemented.
While ratification,
especially of the core conventions, is fundamental, more emphasis should
be placed on the implementation and application of these standards. The
ILO is enhancing its assistance to the constituents through
strengthening labour inspection and labour administration to support
better implementation of standards. The ongoing review of standards and
reforms of standards setting is another step in ensuring its relevance.
The applicability of
standards, on the one hand, and the need for poverty alleviation
especially in the informal economy, on the other, presents a dilemma for
some. But, as was pointed out, the decent work concept is a
developmental agenda, that combines its four pillars as a package, with
each one mutually reinforcing the other.
The particular relevance
of the Working Party on the Social Dimensions of Globalization, that
underscores the complementarity of the economic and social concerns, was
referred to by Ms Nohno (Government, Japan), who reiterated Japan’s
support to and active involvement in this initiative.
The Office will further
assist the constituents in preparing for ratification and in applying
ratified standards - both those embodied in the Declaration as well as
the other standards. Additionally, measures are being taken to improve
the implementation and effectiveness of programmes under IPEC, in
particular aimed at the elimination of the worst forms of child labour
in the region and combating trafficking in women and children and bonded
labour.
2.2 Employment
There is acknowledgement
that decent work is first and foremost a development challenge, within
which employment is central. It should in turn lead to improving the
quality of life of workers. Employment is recognized as the most
important means of eradicating poverty. Many have asked that the skills
gap be filled and that support be given to vulnerable workers, low paid
women workers and those in the informal economy. Others have set the
goal of ensuring fuller employment and like Mr Nathan, (Employers,
Malaysia) reminded us that employment can only be created if the
enterprise is able to remain in business.
Mr Chandraprasert
(Government, Thailand) remarked that the decent work agenda is relevant
in terms of specific concerns - the youth, women workers and other
vulnerable groups (e.g. migrant workers, the disabled, indigenous
people, older workers and the unemployed).
Ms Patricia Tomas
(Government, Philippines) said, "unemployment after all, is the
greatest exploiter of labour". She, and others, called for ILO
expertise to be provided in this region on migration issues, and for the
setting up of a friendly and impartial forum for discussing the
situation of undocumented workers. Let me assure you that we will follow
the indications in this regard that you have given in the Conclusions.
The ILO, in working with
the constituents to establish and implement a decent work agenda, will
help in needs assessment, appropriate research, and facilitate
developing an employment framework relevant to country needs. Mr Li-Qiyan
(Government, China) pointed out, employment creation, poverty reduction
and fundamental principles and rights at work overlap and reinforce each
other, and ILO should be there to help with advice and technical
cooperation so that all these aspects can advance together. This is the
approach that we are jointly embarking on, for instance in China, where
the government and the ILO Director-General recently signed a Memorandum
of Understanding to implement a comprehensive decent work programme.
Other examples of our
assistance are: in Mongolia, where the government and our social
partners, in cooperation with the ILO, are preparing for convening a
national employment conference this October, out of which will emerge a
national employment programme consistent with the decent work agenda -
this, we expect, could provide an input to the Global Employment Forum
to be held in November this year in Geneva; special efforts are underway
to respond to the increasing unemployment of youth in the GCC States and
other Arab countries, including a Comprehensive Employment Policy Review
in Yemen.
A special focus will need to be placed on
promoting the decent work concept in the informal economy, where in
several countries the largest proportion of the workforce is found. Some
initiatives that are underway, in this regard, we hope could be reported
as specific case studies during the 2002 ILC at which this item is on
the agenda.
Dr Jatiya (Government, India) expressed
his expectation that ILO should take an important initiative in the
enhancement of skill levels so that higher productivity and improved
income levels could be attained. The ILO is in fact engaged in
discussions with the Ministry of Labour in India, on a programme for
employment creation and skills development.
Many of your countries cooperated with
the ILO, nearly twenty years ago, to build up national vocational
training systems. It is now clearly necessary to revitalize and renovate
those systems so that they are much more responsive to the human
resource requirements that this globalized era has imposed. Mr Al Ayyar
(Government, Kuwait) stressed the need for increased investment in human
resources development to cope with the rapid economic and social changes
that are taking place. A reform of the ILO Asia Pacific Skills
Development Programme (APSDEP) is being considered, in consultation with
the governments and social partners in the region.
2.3 Social protection
The delegates noted that social
protection must complement employment promotion. Particularly, there is
a glaring absence of social protection for those in the informal
economy. The discussion on Social Security at the 89th
Session of the ILC called for research and knowledge to help countries
extend more diversified social security benefits to more workers. The
Office will endeavour to allocate additional expertise and resources to
assist constituents address these issues.
As Mr Mansfield (Workers, Australia)
reiterated, a higher level of priority than hitherto should be accorded
to social security. Mr Ito (Workers, Japan), pointed out at the height
of the financial crisis, it became evident that the region lacked
adequate social security coverage for its working population, and he
called for specific ILO assistance to help countries in the region
establish and extend such coverage to all workers. Some delegates
highlighted the need to examine the means of providing such support
through both contributions and public-financed social insurance and
assistance schemes. ILO will enhance its technical assistance to address
these concerns.
Mr Ali (Employers, Bangladesh) stressed
the linkage between improved occupational safety and health practices
and enhanced productivity, which in the long run, he said, benefited the
enterprise and the workers.
The ILO is promoting at national level,
through our constituents, better occupational safety and health
management systems (OSH-MS). The guidelines for this system were
recently adopted, and programmes of assistance are being launched in
countries in the region, including a focus on the informal economy.
Assistance will also be provided to promote the new Safety and Health in
Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184).
2.4 Social dialogue
The role of social dialogue, especially
in dealing with the consequences of economic downturns, was repeatedly
highlighted. Mr Anand (Employers, India) pointed to the necessary
interaction among the government, social partners and the civil
community in converting the hope of decent work into reality.
Many delegates acknowledged that social
dialogue has been instrumental in minimizing the social consequences of
the Asian financial crisis.
The ILO will assist constituents to
ratify, or where they have to more effectively implement, the Tripartite
Consultations Convention, 1976 (No. 144).
Special efforts are needed to promote the
wider ratification and implementation of Convention Nos. 87 and 98, to
which the Office will give high priority.
The ILO will also provide the necessary
support to help strengthen the social partners through appropriate
research and training.
Let me now conclude with a few final
comments.
Asia is facing another period of economic
uncertainty and I would like the ILO to be as responsive to your needs
as possible. In preparation for this Meeting, an Annex listing all the
ILO activities in the region was provided to you. I propose to improve
this by including evaluations and impact analyses of our programmes of
assistance, and by placing these on the Regional Office website. Our
website, specially launched for the Thirteenth Asian Regional Meeting,
will continue as a part of our Regional website.
I am also planning to hold a series of
sub-regional and regional meetings with you to facilitate discussion and
elicit your comments on ILO programmes and activities and how perhaps we
could all work better together. These meetings can take various forms
and will be an important part of a continuous process of consultation
and cooperation between ILO and its constituents. Your most positive
comments, in particular, on the usefulness of the tripartite subregional
group discussions at this Meeting are very welcome.
The Conclusions you have adopted form an
important blue print for me to follow. National decent work workplans,
2002-03, currently being formulated will provide a framework for ILO’s
work with you, and for its monitoring and evaluation. Similarly, there
will be subregional and regional workplans - all prepared on the basis
of full tripartite and in-house consultations. They will include goals,
indicators, targets, and resources available and envisaged. When we have
these as firm drafts, they will be placed on our website for your review
and comments. The quantitative outputs and qualitative impact of the
various programmes and activities will be measured against the set
indicators.
Now, to conclude, it is my pleasant task
to most warmly thank the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of the
Royal Government of Thailand, for the excellent cooperation extended to
us for this Thirteenth Asian Regional Meeting and for their gracious
hospitality. On behalf of ILO and on behalf of all the tripartite
delegations present here, may I thank you for making this event a truly
memorable occasion.
My personal thanks to all the ILO staff
from both from Bangkok and Beirut, those from the region, from projects,
and from Headquarters, who have worked so hard and so diligently behind
the scenes and with the delegations to make the Meeting run smoothly and
efficiently.
Last, I wish to salute Ms Nicole de
Warlincourt, Clerk of the Meeting, for whom I understand this will be
the last constitutional Meeting of the ILO that she will organize. She
will be leaving us shortly. Her elegance and charm and above all deep
knowledge of the standing orders, and her organizational skills, will be
greatly missed. Best wishes to you, Nicole, with great affection from us
all.
Finally, to all the delegations, thank
you for your guidance and direction. I sincerely look forward to
continuing to work closely with you in developing, implementing,
assessing and achieving our mutual goal of decent work for all. That
truly is the way forward. I wish you all a safe and pleasant journey
back home.
