The ILO Subregional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific was established in 2000 with the merging of the South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (SEAPAT) and the ILO Area which existed in 1970.

The ILO provides advisory services and technical assistance to the countries in the subregion with the support of ILO Area Offices in Indonesia and Fiji.

ILO CONVENTIONS RATIFIED BY COUNTRY IN THE SUBREGION (MEMBERSHIP YEAR)

Australia (1919)

New Zealand (1919)

Solomon Islands (1984)

Fiji (1974)

Papua New Guinea (1976)

Timor-Leste (2003)

Indonesia (1950)

Philippines (1948)

Vanuatu (2003)

Kiribati (1990)

Samoa (2005)

23 January 2008 - Economic turbulence largely due to credit market turmoil and rising oil prices could spur an increase in global unemployment by an estimated 5 million persons in 2008, according to the ILO's annual Global Employment Trends report (GET). read more

Climate change is widely seen as a threat to our health, our wealth and our planet. Yet, it also presents huge opportunities for the creation of new jobs aimed at mitigating its effects through energy and industrialization policies. The 300th session of the ILO’s Governing Body opening this week will consider new initiatives by its government, employer and worker representatives for tackling the issue in the world of work. ILO Online spoke with Peter Poschen, the ILO’s senior sustainable development specialist, about the Organization’s “Green Jobs Initiative”. read more

25th October 2007 – The International Labour Organization, Disabled Peoples’ International and Irish Aid are jointly organizing an Asia-Pacific photograph competition under the theme “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities” to raise awareness of the United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons on the 3rd December 2007. The competition is open to everyone aged over 18 residing in the Asia-Pacific Region and has a first prize of US$1,000. The closing date for entries is noon on the 21st November 2007(11am, Manila time). More information on the competition, submission form and full terms and conditions are available via the competition website Asia-Pacific Photograph Competition

The Embassy of Finland and the International Labour Organization renewed their partnership with the signing of the second project agreement aimed at reducing poverty and promoting human rights among indigenous peoples.

In the Philippines, most of the estimated 13.5 million indigenous peoples or about 17 per cent of the population are marginalized. They face poverty, oppression, discrimination and exploitation. From being custodians of the land, they now confront the challenge of being the poorest of the poor in the country. read more - full PDF version

More than 3,000 government, worker and employer leaders are to meet here from 30 May to 15 June for the annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) to discuss issues ranging from decent work and development to child labour in agriculture, work in the fishing sector, equality at work, forced labour and the promotion of sustainable enterprises. International Labour Conference

Countries around the world are to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work this year, amid a new call by the International Labour Office (ILO) for applying internationally-agreed labour standards as a primary tool for reducing work-related accidents and illnesses that take some 2.2 million... - Friday, 27th April 2007
read more

“More women than ever before are in work, but a persistent gap in status, job security, wages and education between women and men is contributing to the “feminization of working poverty”, according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO) issued for International Women’s Day.” read more

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a new Core Labour Standards Handbook in collaboration with the ILO to help the bank raise awareness on labour standards and set guidelines for operational activities, resulting in increased social responsibility, sustainability and reduced vulnerability.

The handbook was launched recently by the ADB at an event involving ILO social partners in the Philippines, as well as civil society organisations. The handbook is the culmination of ADB and ILO collaboration in areas including joint labour market assessments, development of knowledge bases on social protection, and research on labour and social protection issues.read more

MANILA - Faces of men and women struggling to earn a living, farmers and fisherfolks producing food, ordinary people working extraordinarily to survive: these are some of the images hanging along the walls of the International Labour Organization, calling people to look again at decent jobs and better working conditions.

“All in a Day’s Work” is the first photo exhibit at the ILO, featuring Filipino workers and the different roles they play. “The Ayala Alabang Camera Club captured the spirit of the Filipino workers in these images as modern-day heroes who work hard and strive to be the best,” said Linda Wirth, Director of the Subregional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific.

“The images, remind us of people’s hopes to have a fair chance at a decent job. We can see workers risking their lives and struggling to earn a living. A decent job respects the dignity of work and promotes a sense of self-worth; it is more than just earning a living,” Wirth stressed.

“All in a Day’s Work” will run from May 17-Nov. 17, 2006 at the ILO Subregional Office, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

The Government of Japan and the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security have confirmed new funding of nearly 212 million yen (approximately $1.98 million USD) to help returned victims of human trafficking in the Philippines and Thailand resume normal productive lives in their home countries.

The Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of the Philippines are two countries in Southeast Asia struggling with the effects of human trafficking. Both countries have taken considerable measures to combat the problem. Various organizations, including the ILO and its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, are already providing technical assistance to the Governments to help prevent trafficking of children and young people.

This new project aims to assist returnees – former victims of trafficking – by providing social and financial assistance to help them through the transitional period following their return, thus giving them a sounder footing to re-start their lives at home. The project is expected to start implementation this summer and run for three years.

GENEVA (ILO News) – The Independent State of Samoa has become the 178th Member State of the International Labour Organization (ILO) following receipt in Geneva of a letter from the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, stating on behalf of the Government that Samoa formally accepts the obligations of the ILO Constitution. Samoa's membership became effective on 7 March. The country has been a member of the United Nations since 15 December 1976.