Participation in the 106th Session of the International Labour Conference

The Macao delegation, consisting of Mr. Choi Kam Fu, representative of the employees organizations, Mr. Wang Sai Man, representative of the employers organizations in the Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs, and Ms. Ng Wai Han, Deputy Director of the Labour Affairs Bureau, attended the 106th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5th to 16th June 2017. The Macao delegation was part of the delegation of China as advisory member.

The key issues of the conference were:
1.Labour migration (general discussion)
2.Employment and decent work for peace and resilience: Revision of the Employment (Transition from War to Peace) Recommendation, 1944 (No. 71) (Standard setting, second discussion)
3.A recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of fundamental principles and rights at work, under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, 2008
4.Abrogation of Conventions Nos 4, 15, 28, 41, 60 and 67

1. Addressing governance challenges in a changing labour migration landscape (Report IV of the International Labour Office)

This report aims to contribute to an informed and balanced discussion of the issues surrounding migration and work, and examines the role of the ILO and its constituents in attaining a fair and effective governance of labour migration. The report contains:
(1) an overview of the main global and regional trends relating to labour migration;
(2) the key challenges for labour migration governance, emphasising the linkages between reducing decent work deficits and labour migration costs, creating strong and functional labour market institutions and active labour market policies, and strengthening international cooperation;
(3) the bilateral agreements relating to labour migration;
(4) a review on the challenges in facilitating labour migration and mobility at the sub-regional and regional levels; and
(5) a discussion on the fair recruitment of migrant workers, with particular reference to the ILO general principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment.

2. Fundamental principles and rights at work: from challenges to opportunities (Report VI of the International Labour Office)

The Conference reviewed the trends in the realization of the four categories of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) and the results of ILO action, so that the Conference can guide the future work of the Office and ILO constituents and, thereby, also guide the Governing Body to adopt a plan of action on the strategic objective of FPRW.

Also, during the Conference, the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC, Mr. You Jun, delivered a speech on active promotion of green jobs, pointing out that employment is the root of people’s wellbeing and the green job is the direction of employment development. China will seriously follow the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, considering the promotion of green jobs as an important factor to advance the economic, social and environmental development, so that the outcomes of such development will offer fairer benefits to all the people.

The above is a summary of the 106th Session of the International Labour Conference.

                                             Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs