Creating "decent work" for Asian workers will help combat poverty and social problems that have worsened in the aftermath of the regional economic crisis, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said Tuesday.
ILO director-general Juan Somavia told the ILO's 13th Asian Regional Meeting here that employment opportunities that ensures basic rights would unleash Asia's "enormous" potential in the global economy.
"Decent work is a development strategy," he told the four-yearly meeting.
"It is built on four pillars -- standards and fundamental principles and rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue.
"Just imagine the impact of China, India, Japan and the region as a whole, all expanding at healthy rates of sustainable growth and sound social development."
Somavia said the ILO had introduced its "decent work" plan in several Asian nations already, including anti-child labour measures in Nepal and plans to stop the trafficking of women and children in Mekong river delta countries.
He added that the international community had put too much emphasis on managing financial capital rather than investments that created jobs.
"We should... increase productivity by promoting the expansion of productive capital that creates enterprises and jobs," he said, adding that spending in some countries focused too much on international trade rather than developing domestic markets.
"We cannot forget that empowering people with knowledge and skills is the single most important capital investment of any society."
In a report presented at the meeting of Asian leaders and labour advocates from 39 countries, Somavia examined developments since the 1997 regional financial crisis and the ILO's response to the changes.
"There has emerged a general recognition amongst policy-makers in Asian countries that economic progress alone does not result in balanced development," he said in the report. "Decent work can make the difference."
Somavia touched on plans for an ILO mission to travel to military-ruled Myanmar in late September to evaluate the country's progress on eliminating forced labour.
The ILO's governing body last November called on its members to review their ties with Myanmar over the issue, a move that threatened to increase the sanctions load that has already helped cripple the economy.
"In agreement with the authorities, a high-level team travels to Myanmar next month to make an objective assessment of the practical implementation and actual impact of various measures announced by the government in response to previous ILO action," he said.
The ILO head said that even in the "most extreme case" of Myanmar, the ILO has been able to work with the junta towards devising solutions to labour rights violation.
Myanmar has been under fire in the ILO since 1998, when an inquiry commission said it had significant direct testimony of the systematic and general use of forced labour, particularly involving ethnic minorities.
Somavia was joined by Ladawan Wongsriwong, deputy minister of Thailand's Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, at the opening of the meeting, which runs until August 31. |
