ILO renews pledge to promote decent work
The International Labour Organisation yesterday adopted the Bali Declaration, renewing its pledge to promote decent work for inclusive growth in the Asia Pacific region.
The ILO adopted the declaration at the end of the 16th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting or APRM held in Bali on December 6-9.
Ministers, trade union leaders and senior government officials from the region attended the meeting in Indonesia to discuss the issues relating to labour issues and decent work and migration.
In the declaration, the ILO said the APRM Bali declaration prioritises national policy and action governments.
Employers and workers in the region agree that action to promote decent work fosters inclusive growth and social justice, stimulates economic dynamism and innovation, and drives sustainable development.
In its 23 point declaration, the ILO said strengthening labour market institutions that enable the realisation of decent work for all is the key to addressing the challenges faced by constituents.
The ILO said leaders of this region will work for realising fundamental principles and rights at work and increasing the ratification rate as well as the application of fundamental labour standards, particularly the freedom of association.
The declaration also called for the elimination of non-standard forms of employment that do not respect fundamental principles and rights at work, and are not in accordance with elements of the decent work agenda.
The declaration looks for measures facilitating the transition of workers from the informal to the formal economy, particularly the extension of labour market institutions to rural areas.
The declaration asks leaders for properly responding to the impact of technological innovation on employers and workers, accelerating action to eliminate child labour and forced labour.
The ILO urged the leaders of this region to respond to the reversing widening inequalities and the incidence of low paid work by investing in collective bargaining as a wage fixing mechanism, building on a minimum wage floor through social dialogue and for sharing of productivity increases.
The region is one of vast diversity and dynamism. It has made remarkable economic progress, but growth is slowing down, according to the ILO.
While not evenly spread, incomes have increased on average. Labour productivity has also increased. The incidence of extreme poverty declined and social protection coverage was expanded.
However, many challenges remain. Millions of workers still live in extreme poverty and more than 1 billion are in vulnerable employment.
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