Participation in the 104^th Session of the International Labour Conference

Mr. Lei Chan U, representative of employee organizations, Mr. Vong Kok Seng, representative of employer organizations of the Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs, and Ms. Tai Peng, Head of the Research and Information Technology Department of the Labour Affairs Bureau formed a delegation to attend, as consultants of the delegation of China, the 104th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland from 1^st to 13^th June 2015. The key issues of the conference are:

1. Small and medium-sized enterprises and decent and productive employment creation (general discussion)
2. Facilitating transition from the informal to the formal economy (Standard setting, second discussion)
3. A recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of social protection (labour protection), under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization

1. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and decent and productive employment creation

The report prepared by the International Labour Office as a basis for the general discussion contains up-to-date information on the important role played by SMEs in generating employment and economic growth, as well as key constraints faced by enterprises and their workers; it also reviews the effectiveness of support measures for the enterprise segment which, given its great diversity, requires differentiated analyses and policy responses. The report addresses the following issues: access to finance; entrepreneurship training; establishing an enabling environment for enterprises; formalization of enterprises, promoting SME productivity; improving working conditions; and value chain interventions. It summarizes both the available global evidence as well as the results of ILO intervention in each area. Finally, it provides an overview of the latest trends in SME policies.

2. Facilitating transition from the informal to the formal economy – Standard setting, double discussion)

The detailed report (The transition from the informal to the formal economy (ILC.104/V/1)) prepared by the International Labour Office includes the text of a proposed Recommendation, which is the focus of the Conference's discussion. In the Recommendation, it is recognized that the incidence of the informal economy in all its aspects is a major challenge for the rights of workers, including the fundamental principles and rights at work, and for social protection, decent working conditions, inclusive development and the rule of law, and has a negative impact on the fair competition in national and international markets. Therefore, the Committee suggested to take the form of a Recommendation to establish the objectives, scope and measures adopted, so as to facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy and to realize decent work for all. The Recommendation was adopted in the Conference.

3. A recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of social protection (labour protection), under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, 2008

Developing and enhancing measures of social protection (social security and labour protection) is one of the four strategic objectives set out in the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 97^th Session (2008). In giving effect to the follow-up to the Declaration, the first recurrent discussion on social protection (labour protection) took place at the 2015 session of the Conference. Through discussion in the conference, participants reviewed the evolving realities and needs of ILO member states as regards labour protection, as well as the related action taken by ILO member states and the ILO in the past years. Meanwhile, it was a timely occasion for assessing the relevance and effectiveness of such responses.

Therefore, the report prepared by the International Labour Office focuses on four central dimensions of labour protection: wage policies; working time arrangements; occupational safety and health; and maternity protection. These policy areas are at the heart of the ILO's founding and continue to be of central concern to ILO constituents. The report explains what labour protection is and positions it as an integral part of the Decent Work Agenda. It also examines trends across regions, and in diverse national contexts, in respect of wages, working time, occupational safety and health and maternity protection. It identifies central policy issues and new challenges, presenting examples of innovative policy approaches in selected countries. It then discusses the responses developed by the ILO over the past decades to support its member states and constituents to improve working conditions across the world, and puts forward suggestions regarding the strengthening of the ILO's capacity and work in this field.

The above is the summary of the 104^th Session of the International Labour Conference.

                                             Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs