FOREWORD
The Asian and Pacific Regional Roundtable on Roles of Enterprises and Society Partnerships brought together representatives from governments and the employers= and workers= organizations of 12 Asia-Pacific countries to determine how to overcome the social problems that still afflict our region during its recovery from the financial crisis.
For the first time in the region representatives from ministries of trade and industry joined their labour-ministry counterparts and other traditional ILO constituents at a meeting whose focus was on human resources management, entrepreneurship and corporate citizenship.
The major issues in each of these areas were set out in an extensive technical report (posted on the Internet at www.ilo.org/asia) to stimulate and guide discussion.
As new technologies and globalization lure many companies down the path of retrenchment, it is more important than ever for enterprises to make the most of their human assets by investing in skills development and giving employees a safe and healthy working environment. The successful companies of the 21st century will be those with a record of good industrial relations, no child labour and equal treatment of women and men.
As small and micro-enterprises have the greatest potential for job-creation B and therefore social integration B in today=s globalized economy, it is fitting that best practices at this level also featured prominently in the debate.
In essence this comes down to no more than respect for the international labour standards adopted and promoted by the International Labour Organization.
I hope that this record of the proceedings of the Regional Roundtable will help ensure that the ideas discussed and solutions envisaged in Asia and the Pacific may contribute to better management practices everywhere.
Mitsuko Horiuchi
Regional Director
ILO (Asia Pacific)
Updated by TN. Approved by BW. Last update: 31 May 2000.