Participation in the ILO's 17th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting

To keep abreast of the latest international developments in the field of labour and to enhance exchanges with other regions, Mr. Chan Un Tong, General Secretary, Mr. Wong Yeuk Lai Alan, representative of the employers’ organizations, and Ms. O Lai Heong, representative of the employees’ organizations of the Standing Committee, as advisory members of the delegation of China, attended the 17th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in Singapore between 6^th and 9^th December 2022.

In the Meeting, it discussed on how the International Labour Organization (ILO) could better support workers, enterprises and households in the region to adapt to the new challenges and opportunities in the world of work; how to enhance labour market flexibility; how to promote decent work in the region; and how to bring about positive environmental, economic and social impacts.

The discussions covered the four key thematic areas:
1. Integrated policy agenda for a human-centred recovery that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient;
2.Institutional framework to support transitions towards formality and decent work;
3.Strong foundations for social and employment protection and resilience;
4.Revitalizing productivity growth and skills for more and better jobs.

At the Meeting, delegates from the Asia-Pacific region presented, respectively from the perspectives of workers, employers and governments, their respective policies, measures, and dialogue and negotiation systems for workers and employers adopted with the aim of ensuring the effective functioning of the labour market after the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, the Meeting also endorsed the report titled “Renewed Social Justice for a Human-centred Recovery” published by ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, and the Singapore Statement which mainly reaffirms the tripartite commitment to, and the relevance of, the priorities agreed in the Bali Declaration to address the persistence of decent work deficits in the Asia and the Pacific and Arab States regions, on which insufficient progress was made. The report and the statement highlight the joint efforts to promote social justice and the fundamental principles and rights at work through effective social dialogue and tripartite cooperation to advance the achievement of full, productive and freely chosen employment, and decent work for all.

In addition, on 7^th December, the delegation of China addressed the Meeting with Mr. Yu Jiadong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, delivering a speech. The Vice Minister commended the ILO for its contribution in promoting decent work in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed support to the ILO to play a bigger role in helping the Asia-Pacific region along to realize human-centred recovery. He also pointed out that coping with the impact of the pandemic, promoting decent work, and realizing an inclusive, sustainable, resilient and human-centred recovery were the general wishes of workers as well as an important topic faced by governments and labour markets around the world; the Chinese government had always adhered to the people-centred development philosophy, developed whole-process people’s democracy, focused on protecting people’s livelihoods in economic development, fostered an environment for inclusive development, and moved steadfastly towards common prosperity. Lastly, he highlighted the Chinse government’s willingness to further strengthen exchanges with, deepen cooperation with and work together with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the ILO to tide over the difficulties and create a better future for the labour markets in the region together.

The above event has enabled the attendees to have a better understanding of the approaches taken by workers, employers and governments in the Asia-Pacific region according to the actual circumstances of their own countries, and of the outcomes achieved; such experiences will serve as reference in the formulation of Macao’s labour policies and measures in the future.

Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs