ASIA, PACIFIC AND ARAB STATES MINISTERS MEET TO DISCUSS JOB CREATION, EQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Bali, Indonesia, Dec. 4 (NsNewsWire) – Representatives from about 35 countries throughout Asia, the Pacific and the Arab states, will meet in Bali, Indonesia next week (6-9 December) to discuss issues affecting employment and the world of work.
The 16TH Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) is being organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations specialized agency dealing with work-related issues. Such regional meetings are usually held every four years.
About 400 people, including more than 20 Ministers, are expected to attend the four-day meeting, which is due to be opened by the President of Indonesia, H.E. Joko Widodo and the ILO’s Director Genera, Guy Ryder.
Discussions will cover strategies for creating jobs and promoting equity and decent work. The meeting will start with a High-Level Panel on ‘Inclusive Growth for Social Justice”, which will include Mr Ryder, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Bakri, Minister of Manpower of Oman, Ms Linda Kromjong Secretary General of International Organization of Employers, Mr Felix Anthony, National Secretary of Fiji Trades Union Congress, and Mr Vivek Puthucode, General Manager for the Public Sector, Microsoft.
Plenary sessions will look at some of the challenges faced and policies required to create better jobs, developing the workforce skills needed for economic development, and strengthening social dialogue so that it supports inclusive growth. There will also be discussions on labour migration and migrant recruitment, the growth of Multinational Enterprises in the region, and improving the gender balance in policy discussions.
The conclusions of the APRM will help to shape the national labour and employment policies of the ILO’s member States, as well as the ILO‘s work in the region. A range of specially prepared documents will support the discussions, including a new report from the ILO’s Director-General that focuses on building inclusive and sustainable development with decent work, a statistical report with labour and employment-related data from the region, and technical briefs on gender equality, global supply chains, labour migration, social protection, trade and regional integration, wages, the garment sector, youth employment and fragile states.
National delegations are usually led by a Minister. Each delegation includes representatives from the Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, so ensuring that discussions reflect the broadest range of issues and opinions affecting the region’s economy and labour markets. Policy makers, academics and civil society groups from throughout the region will also attend.
The Bangladesh delegation will include Md. Mujubul Haque, State Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mikail Shipar Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Salahuddin Kashem Khan, President, Bangladesh Employers’ Federation and Dr. Wajedul Islam Khan General Secretary, Bangladesh Trade Union Centre.
The work of the APRM can be followed via the website (www.ilo.org/aprm) or via Twitter (#ILOAPRM). All sessions are open to the media.