Asia Pacific Group labour ministers meet on sidelines of ILC
Ministers of labour of countries from the Middle East to Australia met to exchange ideas on generating employment for inclusive growth in the wider Asia Pacific region.
Geneva (ILO News) – Ministers of Labour from the Asia Pacific Group of the ILO (ASPAG) met on the sidelines of the 105th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva to discuss prospects of employment generation for inclusive growth in the region.
The Group is this year chaired by India, and the meeting opened with addresses by India’s Ambassador to the United Nations Ajit Kumar and the Minister of Labour and Employment of India Bandaru Dattatraya.
It was also addressed by ILO Director General Guy Ryder, who stressed the important role the Asia Pacific region plays in generating growth jobs.
He urged the region’s ministers to proactively take part in the ILO’s Future of Work Initiative, which aims to anticipate and respond to the forces transforming the world of work.
In her address to participants, ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat said the Arab States region is “an integral part of the discussion on employment generation for inclusive growth in the Asia Pacific region.”
Jaradat added that Asia and the Pacific are becoming more integrated – as a region, as well as with the global economy. “Regional integration initiatives such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and ASEAN integration will reduce trade barriers and could help accelerate growth and create new jobs, including as part of global supply chains,” she said.
“Regional agreements can also facilitate labour mobility,” Jaradat told participants at the meeting. “A good example of intra-regional cooperation on world-of-work issues is the Abu Dhabi dialogue. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates, it is a regional consultation process between the 11 Colombo Process countries, the 6 GCC countries, and Yemen, Malaysia and Singapore. It is aimed at improving temporary contractual labour mobility throughout Asia.”
Ministers presented updates on the labour market and employment situation in their countries. Participants also discussed preparations for an upcoming Asia Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of ILO constituents, scheduled to convene in Bali in December.
The meeting closed with handing over the year-long chairmainship of ASPAG to Iran. The Group will meet again at the ILO’s Governing Body session in November.
The Group is this year chaired by India, and the meeting opened with addresses by India’s Ambassador to the United Nations Ajit Kumar and the Minister of Labour and Employment of India Bandaru Dattatraya.
It was also addressed by ILO Director General Guy Ryder, who stressed the important role the Asia Pacific region plays in generating growth jobs.
He urged the region’s ministers to proactively take part in the ILO’s Future of Work Initiative, which aims to anticipate and respond to the forces transforming the world of work.
In her address to participants, ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat said the Arab States region is “an integral part of the discussion on employment generation for inclusive growth in the Asia Pacific region.”
Jaradat added that Asia and the Pacific are becoming more integrated – as a region, as well as with the global economy. “Regional integration initiatives such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and ASEAN integration will reduce trade barriers and could help accelerate growth and create new jobs, including as part of global supply chains,” she said.
“Regional agreements can also facilitate labour mobility,” Jaradat told participants at the meeting. “A good example of intra-regional cooperation on world-of-work issues is the Abu Dhabi dialogue. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates, it is a regional consultation process between the 11 Colombo Process countries, the 6 GCC countries, and Yemen, Malaysia and Singapore. It is aimed at improving temporary contractual labour mobility throughout Asia.”
Ministers presented updates on the labour market and employment situation in their countries. Participants also discussed preparations for an upcoming Asia Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of ILO constituents, scheduled to convene in Bali in December.
The meeting closed with handing over the year-long chairmainship of ASPAG to Iran. The Group will meet again at the ILO’s Governing Body session in November.