Programme and participants

Chair: Vice-chairperson of the Meeting

Moderator: Mr José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Director, Employment Sector

Panel:

• Government : Mr Anup Chandra Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, India
• Government : Mr Yoshio MAKI, Senior Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Government of Japan
• Employers Representative (tbc)
• Workers Representative (tbc)

Background

Even before the current crisis the quality of jobs being generated was a cause for concern. Unless this issue is addressed it will not be possible to rebalance growth in the region effectively. Non-standard and informal employment, offering low pay and poor working conditions, has grown steadily and is contributing to growing inequalities in incomes.

This panel looks at issues relating to poverty reduction, productive employment and social and economic mobility, and particular attention is given to the needs of young people. It considers how the formal economy can be expanded in low and middle income economies in the region, and discusses what measures are necessary to create the required, enabling environment and, support sustainable enterprise. Ways of increasing efficiency and productivity in the informal sector is also discussed. The panel also explores the prospects for increasing investment in human resources and better working conditions, and the role the social partners can play in this process.

This panel is intended to be highly interactive, so that as many participants as possible are able to share their knowledge and express their views. The aim is to identify key, tangible, outcomes that can be achieved in the next four years through cooperative, tripartite work in the region, and to seek the commitment of constituents in taking the lead and implementing these activities.