The ILO at Work: Results 2014-2015

ILO results in Asia and the Pacific

The range of world of work issues that emerge in this diverse region is immense. Asia and the Pacific have some of the world’s highest levels of informality and labour mobility, and ILO support in 2014-15 focused in particular on migration issues, social protection and working conditions.

It is necessary to view employment not as a problem but as the solution to current global economic challenges. Increased employment alone is not enough; improvements in employment quality are also needed."

Professor Deepak Nayyar, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, at the World of Work Summit, International Labour Conference, June 2014

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • In Indonesia the National Medium-Term Development Plan 2015–19, developed with ILO support, includes comprehensive strategies for promoting growth and jobs in four key sectors.
  • China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Sri Lanka with ILO support developed and implemented integrated programmes and policies to promote decent work for young women and men in 2014-15.
  • In Myanmar trade unions established a migration resource centre that focuses on human trafficking, adopted a plan of action on the protection of migrant workers, and provided input to the government’s draft migration policy.
  • Thailand’s fishing industry is dominated by migrants. The ILO contributed to the adoption of a ministerial regulation that provides for application of the minimum wage, introduces minimum rest hours, and raises the minimum age for admission to employment to 18 years.
  • ILO support has led to the development of a National Social Protection Strategic Plan in Myanmar and the development of a National Medium-term Development Plan in Indonesia that will add 2.2 million informal economy workers to social security programmes.
  • In Viet Nam, a tripartite Code of Conduct on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace was launched in May 2015 to improve labour law compliance. The new Bangladesh National Technical and Vocational Qualifications Framework enables women motorcycle mechanics to participate in nationally recognized training programmes
  • In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic a local strategy to promote rural employment for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups was piloted in six villages, and its demonstrated success in addressing poverty reduction has given rise to requests to replicate the model in other provinces.
  • India’s support for MSMEs links modernization with formalization and promotes local economic and value chain development. A SCORE Business Centre has been established in the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) to support their members in sustaining competitiveness by improving productivity and working conditions in the supply chains.