(ILO Geneva) An exhibition to mark the 35th anniversary of the Japanese Government’s support for the International Labour Organization (ILO) will be held at the ILO’s Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-30 June.

The exhibition, “Japan and the ILO: A Partnership for Development” will be opened by Mr Taro Muraki, Assistant Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare and Ms Sachiko Yamamoto, ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, on 9 June at 11.00 in the ILO Library.

The exhibition will celebrate the longstanding cooperation between the Government of Japan and the ILO, working together to realize the goal of decent work for all in Asia and the Pacific. It will highlight a number of areas of work, including combating unemployment and underemployment, creating job opportunities for women, improving occupational safety and health at work, and managing cross-border migration.

“I am honoured that this exhibition values the continuous efforts of Japan and I am proud that our continual contribution to the programme could play an important part of the development of Asia and the Pacific over 35 years,” said Mr Yoichi Masuzoe, Japan’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. “We intend to continue such endeavours to meet future expectations”.

“The exhibition underscores the strong partnership between the Government of Japan and the ILO,” said Mrs Yamamoto. “This valuable support has helped tens of thousands of working women and men across the region and contributes to achieving the goal of Asian Decent Work Decade, including a response to the current financial crisis”.

The Government of Japan, through its Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, has financially supported the ILO – the UN specialized agency which deals with work and workplace issues -since 1974. The cooperation began with the funding of the Asian Regional Women Labour Administration Seminar in Tokyo in November 1974, and has continued steadily with the aim of addressing the changing needs of workers in Asia and the Pacific and realizing the Decent Work Agenda across the region. The cooperation programme is now known as the ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme and is based in the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok.