Participation in the 108^th Session of the International Labour Conference

The Macao delegation, consisting of Mr. Leng Sai Vai and Mr. Kou Chi Leong, representatives of the employers' organizations, Mr. Choi Kam Fu and Mr. Ian Man Chit, representatives of the employees' organizations of the Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs, Ms. Ng Wai Han, Deputy Director of the Labour Affairs Bureau, and Mr. Lai Kin Lon, Department Head of the Bureau, as advisory members of the delegation of China, attended the 108^th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland from 10^th to 21^st June 2019.

The key issues of the Conference were:
1. ILO Centenary outcome document
2. Violence and harassment in the world of work (standard-setting, second discussion)
3. Thematic debates and events connected to the Future of Work, including various Centenary Initiatives

1. ILO Centenary outcome document (Report IV of the ILC)
Considering that persistent poverty, inequalities and injustices, conflict and other humanitarian emergencies in many parts of the world still constitute a threat to the advances already made and to securing shared prosperity and decent work for all, the aims, purposes and principles set out in the ILO Constitution and the Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) were reaffirmed and it was underlined the importance of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) and the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008). All ILO tripartite constituents were called upon to reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the democratization of ILO's governance by ensuring a fair representation of all regions and the establishment of the principle of equality among member States.

2. Violence and harassment in the world of work (Provisional Record 7A of the ILC)
The Declaration of Philadelphia affirms that all human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex, have the right to pursue both their material wellbeing and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity. Violence and harassment in the world of work can constitute a human rights violation or abuse, affecting a person's psychological and physical health, dignity, and family and social environment and also the quality of public and private services, preventing, particularly women, from accessing, and remaining and advancing in the labour market. Therefore, it is essential an inclusive, integrated and gender-responsive approach to prevent violence and harassment in the world of work. In the end, the Conference adopted the Violence and Harassment Convention (2019) and the Violence and Harassment Recommendation (2019), urging member States to ratify the Convention, and inviting governments, in consultation with employer and worker organizations, to implement the Convention and its accompanying Recommendation, so as to shape a future of work based on dignity and respect, free from violence and harassment.

In addition, on 17^th June, the delegation of China addressed the Conference with Mr. Zhang Jinan, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, delivering a speech on "Joint Efforts for a Shared Future of Work". The Minister pointed out that the world is currently facing the biggest change of the last hundred years, and that in the presence of profound changes in the world of work, all member States must be united and supportive. We should take positive actions to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges, so as to jointly build a prosperous future of work.

The above is a summary of the 108^th Session of the International Labour Conference.

                                             Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs