On Tuesday 6 December, Flanders Department of Foreign Affairs is organizing an international networking event celebrating 25 years of cooperation between Flanders and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The event will take place in the Flemish Parliament in Brussels.

During the event, the findings of a recent ILO study on "Labour Provisions in International Trade and Investment Arrangements", financed by the Government of Flanders, the European Commission, Canada and Switzerland, will be highlighted, as well as what the Future of Work will have in store for Flanders' labour market in 2050.

The event will conclude with a reception, including a testimony on Flanders' Trainee Programme.

Programme

13h15 Registration

13h45 Opening and introduction

• Mr Koen Verlaeckt, Secretary General, Flanders Department of Foreign Affairs
• Ms Claire Courteille, Director, ILO-Mr Karel Van Eetvelt, President, SERV (Social and Economic Council of Flanders)
• Mr Karel Van Eetvelt, President, SERV (Social and Economic Council of Flanders)

14h15 25 years of cooperation

• Mr Eric Maertens, former ILO Official and Associate Research Fellow UNU –CRIS
• Mr Kris Dierckx, General Representative of the Government of Flanders to the UN

• Mr Moazam Mahmood, Director a.i., ILO Research Department (moderator)
• Ms Marva Corley-Coulibaly, Chief, Globalization Team, ILO Research Department (presentation)
• Mr Jan Van Hove, Professor, University of Leuven
• Mr Kris De Meester, Manager Health & Safety Affairs and Industrial Relations, VBO (Federation of Entreprises in Belgium)
• Trade union representative

15h40 Coffee break

16h00 Future of Work: Flanders’ labour market in 2050: presentation and debate

• Mr Benedict Wauters, Director innovation and impact evaluation of ESF Flanders, Department of Work and Social Economy (moderator)
• Mr Raf Boey, Policy advisor, Flemish Department of Work and Social Economy (presentation)
• Mr Fons Leroy, Managing Director, VDAB (Flanders' public employment service)
• Mr Luc Cortebeeck, Vice-president of the ILO Governing Body and Chair of the Workers' Group
• Mr Paul Verschueren, Regional Director Flanders, Federgon
• Ms Claire Courteille, Director, ILO-Brussels

17h00 Conclusion

• Mr Koen Verlaeckt, Secretary General, Flanders Department of Foreign Affairs

17h15 Testimony on the Flanders Trainee Programme

• Mr Rafael Peels, Research Officer at ILO Research Department and former trainee

17h30 Networking reception

20h00 End

Register here before 1 December 2016.
Location: Flemish Parliament, Leuvenseweg 86, Brussels