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GB.274/PFA/9/2
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Programme, Financial and Administrative Committee |
PFA |
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NINTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA
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PROGRAMME AND BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR 2000-01 | |
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VOLUME 2 |
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265. Field Programmes in the Arab States
265.1. The low-income Arab States suffer from widespread poverty, high rates of unemployment and low levels of social protection, accentuated by rapid population growth and the slow-down of their economies. The application of structural adjustment programmes in these countries has given rise to serious social and political tensions. In contrast, although higher-income countries have also had to face economic adjustment and reform, they have been able to maintain their high standards of living, mainly through their revenues from the export of oil and other natural resources. In all the countries in the region there is an urgent need to improve the technical capacities of labour administrations and the other agencies responsible for formulating labour policy so that they can address the issues of employment promotion, labour legislation and the protection of workers, including migrant workers, more effectively. Much work is still needed in the Region to achieve the wider ratification and observance of international labour standards. The reinforcement of democratic and representative organizations of workers and employers remains a vital element in balancing development with social justice.
265.2. In implementing policies and programmes, regional and national specificities will be carefully considered. Emphasis will continue to be placed on responding to the needs of constituents and establishing a close relationship with development partners, including donor institutions and regional and sub-regional organizations, and in particular, with the Arab Labour Organization (ALO) and the Executive Bureau, Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States. Priority will be given to assisting the countries and peoples directly concerned with the peace process, in particular, the autonomous territories of the West Bank and Gaza.
Promotion of fundamental principles
and rights at work
265.3. Problems and needs. The transition towards greater democracy and the respect of fundamental principles and rights at work needs to be consolidated in the countries of the region. The principles embedded in the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work are not properly observed in practice in most countries in the region. However, constituents acknowledge the relevance and importance of international labour standards for the protection of workers' rights and the achievement of social justice and progress. Greater advancement needs to be made in this direction. The fundamental ILO Conventions are still not widely ratified and are insufficiently applied in most countries in the region. The need to create a strong alliance of governments, employers' and workers' organizations for the progressive elimination of child labour is a pressing priority.
265.4. The objectives are that:
• the fundamental Conventions are well-known and widely ratified and applied in the region; and
• political commitment to the elimination of child labour is affirmed and demonstrated by constituents in the region.
265.5. Wider ratification and application of fundamental Conventions. The activities undertaken to help countries achieve steady progress towards legislation that is consistent with the basic Conventions and the fulfilment of their obligations under the ILO Constitution will include the dissemination of information, advocacy and the provision of technical assistance to Ministries of Labour and to employers' and workers' organizations. Based on these activities, the number of ratifications of the basic Conventions will increase and progress will be made in the revision of legislation.
265.6. Child labour. The assistance provided will focus on legal reform and the enforcement of relevant. Convention No. 138 will be promoted, as well as the new standards on the worst forms of child labour. Special emphasis will be placed on awareness-raising campaigns and capacity-building support in data collection and analysis on child labour. A regional tripartite meeting at the ministerial level will be convened which will provide an opportunity to design country and regional policies and strategies for the progressive elimination of child labour in the region.
Strategies and policies for more
and better jobs
265.7. Problems and needs. The persistence of unemployment and underemployment have resulted in widespread poverty and a widening gap between rich and poor in a number of countries in the region. The need for improved labour market information and sound employment strategies is therefore becoming more pressing. Policies and programmes are required to support the development of SMEs, develop better vocational training programmes, improve women's access to remunerative employment, and overcome the labour market problems of migrants and the disabled.
265.8. The objectives are that:
• constituents develop and implement sustainable employment and poverty reduction policies and ensure the access of women to more and better job opportunities;
• labour market policies and anti-discriminatory measures are designed and adopted which improve the employment situation and protection of migrant workers;
• training policy-makers and public and private training institutions formulate and implement training policies and programmes which provide the skills required by the labour market, including those needed in small and micro-enterprises and the formal and informal sectors;
• constituents, private sector and community-based associations and local NGOs provide financial and non-financial support services, establish incentives and policies and set up an institutional framework adapted to the needs of SMEs and capable of improving their productivity and competitiveness; and
• constituents design and implement comprehensive rehabilitation policies and programmes for the vocational training and employment of persons with disabilities, with emphasis on community-based rehabilitation (CBR) strategies.
265.9. Employment and poverty reduction. The design and implementation of policies and programmes to increase productive employment in the formal and informal sectors will be supported and manuals on employment generation and skills development will be prepared. Support will also be provided for the establishment and operation of national committees to promote the rights of women workers in several countries. Gender sensitization will be strengthened through the organization of awareness-raising seminars. In all these activities, the involvement of employers' and workers' organizations will be encouraged.
265.10. Migration for employment. Information will be compiled on flows of migrant workers and their impact on labour markets in both sending and receiving countries. The results of an evaluation of the discrimination suffered by migrant workers will be used for the design of national policies and legislative measures to improve their situation in the region. Dialogue will be promoted between sending and receiving countries with a view to finding solutions to the major problems encountered by migrants for employment.
265.11. Human resources and skill development. Technical assistance will concentrate on the design and implementation of balanced human resources and employment policies which give due attention to the needs of women, youth and workers in the informal sector. Assistance will be provided for the creation of a regional network of training specialists and the development of alternative schemes for the funding of training institutions and programmes. Emphasis will be placed on the involvement of employers' and workers' representatives at all stages of the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of training. Based on this guidance, new training programmes and human resources development policies, including training legislation, will be adopted in several countries.
265.12. Development of small and medium-sized enterprises. Assistance will be provided to governments, employers' and workers' organizations and local business development institutions for the design and implementation of enterprise development programmes using the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) and other relevant training packages. In all these activities, a priority aim will be to promote equal opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable groups, in selected sectors, including hotels and tourism.
265.13. Vocational rehabilitation services. The assistance provided will focus on the development of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes in several countries. Training materials will be prepared, a specialized library and database set up and pilot CBR projects carried out in several countries. A priority throughout this work will be to encourage constituents to ratify the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159). As a result of the guidance provided, the number of persons with disabilities benefiting from CBR vocational rehabilitation and training programmes will increase significantly.
Social protection
265.14. Problems and needs. In a number of countries in the region the rapid growth of hazardous industries, such as construction, oil, manufacturing and transport, has resulted in a steady increase of occupational accidents and diseases. Most of the labour administration systems in the region do not yet have the capacity to fulfil their basic functions in the field of labour inspection and the application of labour standards related to working and employment conditions. Action is needed to overcome the scarcity of qualified occupational safety and health personnel in Ministries of Labour, develop complete coverage of all industrial establishments by factory inspectors and revise outdated legislation. Social security systems also need to be expanded to cover migrant, agricultural and domestic workers, as well as workers in the informal sector.
265.15. The objectives are that:
• governments and employers' and workers' organizations adopt policies and programmes which significantly reduce occupational accidents and diseases and improve the working environment; and
• governments, in collaboration with employers' and workers' organizations, establish or improve social security schemes which meet national needs, provide better benefits and extend their coverage to categories of the population which are currently excluded.
265.16. New initiatives in occupational safety and health. With a view to identifying priority needs and proposing appropriate measures, a critical review will be carried out of the occupational safety and health situation in the region concerning hazardous occupations and national laws and practices. Safety and health personnel in governments and employers' and workers' organizations will receive advisory services and training. High-level national and regional workshops will be organized to raise awareness of decision-makers and senior officials of the need to reorganize the management and programmes of labour administrations and labour inspection services, and to improve their interventions in the area of working conditions. A regional occupational safety and health network will be developed and cooperation will be strengthened with the Occupational Health and Safety Institute of the Arab Labour Organization. Guidelines will be prepared for labour inspectorates on monitoring the implementation of legal provisions for health and safety prevention and protection at the workplace. It is expected that occupational safety and health legislation will be revised in a number of countries.
265.17. Reforming old social security systems. A model social security system which addresses the need to broaden the scope of social security schemes in the region will be developed. Training and advisory services will be provided on the legal, administrative and actuarial aspects of social security systems. Based on the guidance provided, social security systems will be established or remodelled in a number of countries.
Promotion of social dialogue
265.18. Problems and needs. Strong and independent organizations of employers and workers are essential for tripartite solid dialogue and the development of collective bargaining in the region.
265.19. The objectives are that:
• employers' and workers' organizations in the region are able to organize freely and participate effectively in social dialogue and defend the interests of their members; and
• employers' and workers' organizations are able to represent the interests of their members more effectively through more widespread participation in tripartite policy-making and advisory bodies.
265.20. Employers' organizations. The adoption by Arab employers' organizations of best practices and experience in such fields as labour relations, the promotion of equality of opportunity and non-discrimination, the elimination of child labour and participation in social dialogue will be promoted. Support will also be provided for the establishment in three employers' organizations of advisory units on social and economic issues, including productivity improvement, management training and enterprise development, and promotion of a policy and regulatory environment which removes obstacles to the growth of enterprises. With this support, employers' organizations in more countries in the region will be able to participate regularly and actively in tripartite consultations.
265.21. Workers' organizations. Stronger, more democratic and more representative trade union structures will be promoted through development of negotiating skills, workers' education capacities and gender awareness. Trade union structures and their capacity to participate effectively in tripartite mechanisms will be reviewed and guidance provided. Based on this, workers' organizations in several more countries will be able to participate regularly in tripartite consultation bodies and more women will become involved in trade union activities.
265.22. Special programme in support of the Palestinian Authority and employers' and workers' organizations. Support will be provided for the development of a labour administration system capable of fostering social dialogue and closer relationship with employers' and workers' organizations. ILO action in support of the Palestinian authority and employers' and workers' organizations in Gaza and the West Bank will also focus on capacity-building, the creation of income-generation opportunities and skills development. One priority in these activities will be to collaborate with local partners for the promotion of the tourism sector and cooperatives, which are expected to generate considerable employment and income. Emphasis will also be placed on strengthening vocational training capacities for the development of skills which match the requirements of small and micro-enterprises. Assistance will be provided for the identification and formulation of technical cooperation programmes to be funded from extra-budgetary sources.
Field structure
265.23. Regional technical programme. The Arab States Multidisciplinary Advisory Team is located in Beirut (Lebanon) and covers: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Palestinian autonomous territories in Gaza and the West Bank. It is estimated that the Beirut MDT will provide support to a programme of $8.3 million of extra-budgetary technical cooperation, principally in Gaza and the West Bank and the low-income countries in the region.
265.24. Regional relations, service and support. This structure provides administrative support for: the planning, coordination, implementation and follow-up of ILO activities in the region; the financial management of the regional programme; the monitoring of social and economic developments in the region; the maintenance of relations with regional institutions, and the dissemination of information on ILO activities. The ILO's Internet site for the region will be maintained and developed. A number of ILO publications will be translated into Arabic. Greater efforts will be made to brief and involve local partners, so that the ILO's work in the region receives more coverage in the national and regional media.
270. Field Programmes in Asia and the Pacific
270.1. The financial crisis of 1997 and 1998 has had a long-lasting impact on employment, poverty and social stability in Asia and the Pacific, especially in East and South-East Asia. Although not initially affected by the financial crisis, some countries in South Asia also have experienced increased social and economic difficulties. The transition countries still face serious labour market reform problems and need to give high priority to assisting displaced workers. The island economies of the Pacific, with their small organized sector and narrow production base, require strong external support and policy changes to foster economic growth.
270.2. Although there have been important improvements in workers' rights in the region, the ratification and effective application of the ILO's core Conventions have to be pursued more vigorously. An unfinished task is poverty alleviation and through job creation the elimination of child labour, the achievement of equality of opportunity and treatment for women workers and the protection of vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, also remain important goals throughout the region. Other emerging issues include the need for labour market flexibility with adequate social protection, for improved industrial relations and social dialogue and for the upgrading of skills to match technological advances. At the same time, it is necessary to redeploy the workers made redundant by industrial restructuring and improve the social protection of workers in particular in the informal sector.
270.3. Constituents in the region have indicated their priorities in their Country Objectives and at a number of important regional meetings, including the Twelfth Asian Regional Meeting (December 1997) which has provided valuable guidance for ILO actions in the region, the High-Level Tripartite Meeting on Social Responses to the Financial Crisis in East and South-East Asia (April 1998) and the Regional Meeting on Termination of Employment (which was a follow-up to the High-Level Meeting). These priorities are in accordance with the strategic objectives approved by the ILO Governing Body.
Promoting fundamental principles
and rights at work
270.4. Problems and needs. Although constituents in Asia and the Pacific have shown a wide commitment to fundamental principles and rights at work and an acknowledgement of the importance of international labour standards, the ratification of the related Conventions progresses relatively slowly. No country in the region has yet ratified all seven fundamental Conventions. The ratifications of other international labour standards has increased recently but the recorded number still lags behind other regions.
270.5. Child labour is a continuing problem throughout Asia. There are even indications that the numbers of working children have risen in the wake of the financial crisis. Several countries have been assisted by ILO-IPEC to implement national plans of action for the elimination of child labour, particularly in its worst forms. In addition to consolidating the political commitment and broad social alliances mobilized in these countries, the action plans that have been adopted need to be further developed and their coverage expanded to other countries. New activities are also required at the regional level.
270.6. The objectives are that:
• constituents develop a better understanding and improved observance of fundamental principles and rights at work, and ratify and apply more widely the ILO's basic Conventions; and
• the incidence of child labour is reduced, especially in its worse forms, and policies and programmes are designed and implemented to remove child workers from hazardous, dangerous and exploitative situations.
270.7. Fundamental principles and rights at work. Priority will be given to raising awareness at the national and regional levels of the importance of fundamental principles and rights at work for the achievement of social justice and economic progress. Emphasis will be placed on technical cooperation activities as a means to promote the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Through the assistance provided concerning international labour standards, more ratifications will be registered of the basic Conventions and other standards. Measures will be taken in several countries to formulate or revise labour legislation to improve compliance with the relevant standards. Training workshops and seminars will be organized for public officials, employers' and workers' organizations on the institutions and measures required for the effective application of these instruments, including proper reporting on their implementation.
270.8. Child labour. Special emphasis will be placed on the worst forms of child labour, including children in bonded labour, children working under hazardous conditions and in dangerous occupations, child prostitution, the trafficking of children across national borders and working children below the age of 12. The most valuable elements of successful ILO-IPEC interventions will be integrated into broader education and poverty reduction policies and programmes. Awareness-raising campaigns will be directed at the rural poor, small-scale employers and the urban informal sector. As a result of this assistance, rehabilitation and family support programmes will be set up and Convention No. 138 will be ratified by more countries and implemented more effectively through practical measures and legal reforms. There will be an overall reduction in the numbers of child workers in the worst forms of child labour.
Employment and human resources development
270.9. Problems and needs. Stronger capacity is needed in most of the countries of the region to design and implement active labour market policies which take into consideration long-term growth prospects, structural adjustment needs and the requirements of various sectors of the economy and population groups, including women, young people entering the labour market and persons with disabilities. Although the technical and vocational training systems in many countries have improved in recent years, there is still a need in many cases to adapt training to the rapidly changing requirements of enterprises. Assistance is also frequently requested for the development of small and micro-enterprises and cooperatives, the creation and expansion of programmes of employment-intensive public works and the promotion of self-employment in the rural and informal sectors.
270.10. A sustained effort is required to integrate gender concerns in employment policies and programmes with a view to improving the working conditions of women and ensuring equal access to employment, wages and vocational training. Constituents in the region have also shown increased concern to improve the employment opportunities of persons with disabilities and the treatment and protection of migrant workers.
270.11. The objectives are that:
• national policy-makers, in collaboration with the social partners, formulate and implement employment strategies and poverty reduction programmes adapted to the context of structural adjustment and globalization, including programmes for the development of micro- and small-enterprises and labour-intensive infrastructure programmes;
• constituents develop training policies and systems which enhance employability and productivity and increase equity and social integration;
• constituents design and implement policy and direct action to promote women's equal employment opportunities;
• policies and measures are formulated and implemented to improve the access of persons with disabilities to employment and training schemes; and
• coordinated programmes are developed to improve the protection of migrant workers in receiving countries and their successful reintegration upon their return to sending countries.
270.12. Employment policies and strategies. Assistance will be provided to governments and employers' and workers' organizations to help them analyse the labour market impact of economic reforms and structural adjustment measures. Further guidance will be provided in the form of country employment policy reviews and evaluations of poverty reduction programmes. Based on the technical support provided, national systems will be strengthened for the collection of labour market information and the compilation and analysis of indicators of employment and labour market trends. Closer cooperation will be sought with the Asian Development Bank and other financial institutions, on the development and use of employment and labour market indicators needed for the design of macroeconomic policies and economic restructuring programmes. Employment policies will be reviewed and greater dialogue and consultation will be promoted with the social partners on employment and labour market issues. In transition countries, emphasis will be placed on policies and measures for the redeployment of workers affected by the reform of public enterprises.
270.13. Human resources development. The assistance provided will place emphasis on the involvement of the social partners in the development and reform of training policies and programmes. Innovative links between enterprises and government-sponsored training systems will be developed. Public employment services, training institutions and employers' organizations will be provided with training to strengthen their capacity for the identification of emerging skills requirements and training needs. The technical support will provide a basis for the reform of training systems to adapt them to the skill needs of the labour market. Training systems, including community-based training programmes, will be developed for workers including those in informal sectors and for self-employment.
270.14. Labour-intensive programmes. New technical cooperation projects implemented at both the national and subregional levels will strengthen the capacity of constituents to design, implement and monitor labour-based infrastructure development programmes. Guidelines and best practice manuals will be developed and disseminated and a series of national and regional workshops organized to promote the use of employment-intensive criteria in the planning of public investments. As a result of the guidance provided, poverty alleviation packages will include labour-based infrastructure projects and the number of small and medium-sized contractors will increase in several countries.
270.15. Micro- and small enterprises. The technical assistance provided will serve as a basis for the adoption and/or revision of policies and legislation to promote an environment that is conducive to the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including cooperatives and micro-enterprises. Extra-budgetary technical cooperation projects for the development of enterprises will be implemented in collaboration with the International Small Enterprise Programme (ISEP). As a result of this assistance, support services for enterprises, including credit schemes and training programmes, will be established and strengthened. The guidance provided will be supplemented by a study of best practices in job creation through enterprise development, with emphasis on strengthening entrepreneurial skills and attitudes, particularly among women and vulnerable social groups.
270.16. Promoting women's employment. Assistance will be provided for the identification of discriminatory practices and institutional obstacles in national laws and systems which make it difficult for women to find employment. Based on this information technical cooperation programmes will be implemented under the International Programme on More and Better Jobs for Women as well as the regional programme on employment expansion for women to develop employment opportunities for women and set up institutions for the promotion of equal opportunities. Particular attention will be paid to strengthening the capacity of trade unions and employers' organizations to monitor progress in the elimination of gender-based discrimination in the labour market. Gender considerations will be integrated into labour market policies and programmes through tripartite dialogue.
270.17. Training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. With assistance from technical cooperation projects, programmes will be implemented in several countries to provide workers with disabilities with opportunities for self-employment and employment in micro-enterprises. Guidance on good practices will be strengthened through the dissemination of information in collaboration with the Global Applied Disability Research and Information Network for Employment and Training (GLADNET). Necessary measures, including national legislation will be promoted to improve compliance with the provisions of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159). The ILO will assist constituents to develop special programmes to promote the training and employment opportunities of persons with disabilities.
270.18. Migrant workers. Technical assistance will be promoted based on the guidelines adopted in 1997 by the Tripartite Meeting on Future ILO Activities in the Field of Migration. The collection of labour statistics on migrant workers will be improved and in-depth analyses will be carried out of their labour market situation, including discrimination issues and social protection schemes. Bilateral negotiations will be encouraged for the coordination of policies and programmes in sending and receiving countries. Technical support measures will be promoted to protect migrant workers, in accordance with the relevant international labour standards, and programmes will be set up to facilitate the reintegration of returning migrants, including retraining schemes and programmes for the development of entrepreneurship and self-employment.
Improving social protection
270.19. Problems and needs. Although covered fairly extensively by laws and regulations in many countries, working conditions and safety and health remain a serious problem throughout the region, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector. The relationship between better safety, health and environmental conditions and improved productivity and competitiveness is gaining increased attention in the region. Despite the recent economic downturn and the ongoing structural adjustment process in several countries, constituents continue to emphasize the need for ILO assistance to improve safety and health and the working environment in enterprises.
270.20. Social security institutions have only been introduced relatively recently in a number of countries in the region and in most cases offer only limited coverage. Greater attention must be given to the situation of workers in small enterprises and in the informal sector, including women and migrant workers, most of whom are not covered by any social security scheme. Priority also needs to be given to establishing and reforming health insurance, disability and unemployment schemes. Although these problems exist to a varying extent in almost all countries in the region, they are particularly acute in the least developed countries and transition countries.
270.21. The objectives are that:
• governments, in collaboration with the social partners, adopt programmes and measures to improve and extend the application of occupational safety and health standards; and
• constituents establish and reform social security systems to provide wider coverage and more comprehensive benefits.
270.22. Occupational safety and health and working conditions. Activities initiated in the previous biennium to develop occupational safety and health management systems, tripartite safety committees and information networks will be expanded. A new orientation will be the promotion of inter-ministerial cooperation for the design and implementation of occupational safety and health programmes and measures. The guidance provided to constituents will include a compendium of best practice for the prevention of occupational hazards. Support will also be provided to national research institutes, including universities and occupational safety and health information centres. This assistance will serve as a basis for the formulation or revision of legislation on working conditions, with emphasis on improving working conditions in SMEs and the informal and agricultural sectors. Technical cooperation programmes will be implemented as part of the ILO's global initiative for the prevention of silicosis. The measures and programmes adopted as a result of this guidance will lead to a significant reduction in occupational accidents and diseases. The use of ILO guidance and training materials in a growing number of SMEs will contribute to an improvement in their safety and health performance.
270.23. Social security. As a basis for the establishment and extension of social protection schemes, technical cooperation programmes will be carried out on the governance and management of social security institutions. Training will be provided to government officials, the social partners and managers of social security schemes, particularly on actuarial techniques, financial management and the design of new or extended schemes. In cooperation with the programme on Strategies and Tools against Social Exclusion and Poverty (STEP), a number of pilot programmes will be undertaken at the community level to develop and strengthen non-traditional local social security schemes operated by self-help organizations. Support will be offered for the involvement of the social partners in tripartite consultative bodies and social dialogue in this area. Through technical assistance, social security schemes will be introduced or extended in several countries and schemes will be established for informal sector workers.
Social dialogue
270.24. Problems and needs. The strengthening of social dialogue and tripartite mechanisms remain a high priority in the region and requires greater efforts to develop independent, strong and influential organizations of employers' and workers, overcome legal and practical restrictions on their functioning and prevent interference in their activities.
270.25. The objectives are that:
• employers' and workers' organizations develop an improved capacity to further the interest of their members, participate in social dialogue and play an active role in the promotion of labour standards; and
• national machinery for social dialogue and tripartite consultations on economic and social policy issues are fully operational in a majority of countries in the region.
270.26. Employers' organizations. Based on ILO advice, including training and technical cooperation activities, the capacity of employers' organizations will be strengthened to provide services and advice to their members, particularly on workplace relations, dispute settlement, collective bargaining, safety and health, the elimination of gender discrimination and child labour. Assistance will also be provided to develop their capacity to conduct training courses on productivity and business management and to upgrade their research and information services. Greater emphasis will be placed on involving employers' organizations in national policy dialogue and in consultations with other international organizations, including the international financial institutions, on issues relating to enterprise restructuring and structural adjustment.
270.27. Workers' organizations. In the assistance provided to workers' organizations, emphasis will be placed on the establishment and strengthening of independent workers' organizations and the improved representation of women in trade unions. As a result of the training and technical assistance supplied, the capacities of trade unions will be strengthened in such fields as the promotion of international labour standards, basic workers' rights, industrial relations and collective bargaining, occupational safety and health and the development of responses to the social and employment consequences of structural adjustment policies and situations of economic crisis. Training and information will be provided to help trade unions raise issues relating to working conditions in the informal sector, home work, contract labour, export processing zones and child labour more frequently in tripartite consultative bodies.
270.28. Machinery for social dialogue. The functioning and procedures of tripartite institutions will be reviewed in several countries. Appropriate measures to reform and improve the mechanisms will be promoted. Technical cooperation programmes including training courses will also be provided to labour administrations and other labour institutions to promote the establishment and development of machinery for peaceful settlement of labour dispute and the consultation of the social partners on issues such as: negotiations with international financial institutions, structural adjustment, training policies and poverty and employment policy.
Field structure
270.29. Regional technical programmes. Provision is made for three multidisciplinary advisory teams covering South Asia, East Asia and South-East Asia and the Pacific, namely:
• the East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team, which is located in Bangkok and covers Cambodia, China, the Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam;
• the South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team, located in Manila, which covers Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and the island countries of the South Pacific; and
• the South Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team, which is located in New Delhi and covers Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
270.30. It is estimated that $50 million of extra-budgetary technical cooperation expenditure will be delivered in the region in 2000-01.
270.31. Regional relations, service and support. The main functions are to ensure that: ILO activities in the region are properly planned, coordinated, implemented and followed up; the regional programme reflects the needs and priorities of ILO constituents; necessary financial, administrative, personnel and computer services operate efficiently and effectively and the public is well informed of ILO objectives and activities.
270.32. Network of Offices. Provision is made for offices in: Bangkok, Beijing, Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi, Suva and the branch office in Tokyo, as well as for the offices of senior technical adviser in Hanoi and Kathmandu.
280. Field Programmes in Europe and Central Asia
280.1. In the biennium 2000-01, all European countries will be confronted with the new challenges arising out of globalization, interdependence, increased competition and rapid technological progress. Their responses will need to be focused on improving economic efficiency and social cohesion, underpinned by the continued development of civil society. For the transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe the establishment of a social market economy and the development of greater macroeconomic stability, including the privatization of state assets, will remain key priorities. The first period of transition has recorded increased poverty level and broader disparities incomes, together with slow progress in economic restructuring and social integration.
280.2. Most Central European countries are seeking to become members of the European Union, which emphasizes social justice and social progress in its enlargement process. In the countries concerned, priority needs will be to bring national law and practice into conformity with the ILO's principles and standards to conform with social policy requirements of members of the European Union and the Council of Europe. In the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, the success achieved in strengthening their democracies will be crucial for the consolidation of political and social transition in the subregion.
280.3. In Western Europe, emphasis will be placed on promoting awareness and support for the ILO's work and maintaining policy dialogue and cooperation with constituents and development partners on labour issues in Europe. The ILO's relationship with the European Union will be reinforced, particularly through networking activities with constituents, and donor agencies. The ILO's activities in the region will be guided by the conclusions and recommendations of the European Regional Meeting to be held in the year 2000.
Fundamental principles and rights at work
280.4. Problems and needs. In a number of transition countries in the region, there is a need to further improve the observance of fundamental principles and rights at work. Indeed the ILO's Conventions concerning basic rights are still insufficiently ratified and implemented, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. In Western Europe, 15 countries have ratified all the seven fundamental Conventions, while in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, only nine countries have so far done so.
280.5. The objective is that:
• Constituents give effect in law and in practice to the fundamental principles and rights at work and that member States ratify and apply more effectively all the ILO's basic Conventions.
280.6. Fundamental Conventions. Technical cooperation activities will promote observance of fundamental principles and rights at work, including the ratification of the relevant basic instruments and their full application by member States. Emphasis will be placed on assisting member States to fulfil their reporting obligations to the supervisory bodies and in response to the reporting requirements of the follow-up on the Declaration. Assistance will also be provided for the revision of labour legislation, with special attention to the needs of countries which are in the process of accession to the European Union. In addition, and upon request, Conventions will continue to be translated into local and national languages. The expectation is that more Conventions will be ratified and their application in law and practice improved throughout the region.
Employment promotion
280.7. Problems and needs. The transition to a market economy has caused severe economic and social disruption in almost all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Determined action is required to overcome the persistently high rates of unemployment in these countries. The formulation and implementation of active labour market policies are of crucial importance to reconcile the required labour market adjustments with job security and to create the conditions for steady employment growth. The privatization process has not always produced the expected results in terms of longer term job creation. Although constituents in the region emphasize the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises, many countries in the region have not yet managed to create an environment which facilitates the growth of private enterprises and encourages entrepreneurship.
280.8. The objectives are that:
• Governments, in collaboration with the social partners, design and implement labour market policies and employment strategies for the reduction of unemployment; and
• an enabling business environment is created, in particular in transition countries, for small and medium-sized enterprise development, including productivity improvement and better job-creation opportunities.
280.9. Labour market policies and employment strategies. Support will be provided in particular to transition countries for the formulation of labour market reform policies. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the capacity of labour ministries and other concerned ministries, and employers' and workers' organizations, to implement economic and social strategies to reduce unemployment and social exclusion. Employment policy reviews will be conducted in a number of countries with the aim of developing policy recommendations to support the design of new employment policies and programmes. Information and guidelines based on successful experience and best practices will be disseminated. As a result of this assistance, constituents will be better equipped to formulate and adopt the necessary measures to stimulate the creation of jobs, particularly for women and young persons.
280.10. Enterprise development. Advisory services and cooperation projects will be provided for the establishment of a legal and institutional environment which is favourable to enterprise development, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Particular attention will be paid to the development of training systems to upgrade managerial and entrepreneurial skills, including the process of business registration, access to credit, management practices and productivity improvement. Support will also be provided to governments and employers' organizations for the analysis and identification of self-employment opportunities for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
Social protection
280.11. Problems and needs. The transition to a market economy has resulted in a rapid and drastic deterioration in working conditions in Central and Eastern European countries. Safety and health regulations are obsolete or are widely ignored. In many cases, major industrial hazards are inadequately controlled. Due to shrinking employment and rising poverty levels, the observance of certain basic rights is deteriorating, including the prohibition of child labour and the right to equality of opportunity and treatment.
280.12. Social security institutions, which provide comprehensive coverage for sickness, old age, unemployment and social exclusion, are critical to social progress, as well as to the success of democratization and the transition to market economy. Several countries in Europe continue to experience serious difficulties in reforming their social security schemes. These arise principally from their lack of previous experience of social security systems functioning under fully-fledged social insurance and market economy conditions, the inadequacy of the managerial tools available for the design of reforms, unfamiliarity with the principles of social budgeting and legal systems which are often obsolete or rudimentary.
280.13. The objectives are that:
• constituents formulate and implement policies and programmes on occupational safety and health and working conditions which are in accordance with the relevant international labour standards; and
• constituents design and introduce social security systems which provide comprehensive coverage and better benefits and which are financially balanced, sustainable and respect the principles and practice of sound governance.
280.14. Improved working conditions. For the activities undertaken to assist constituents improve working conditions, emphasis will be placed on establishing a satisfactory level of safety and health at the workplace, including in SMEs. Training materials will be developed and disseminated on preventive programmes and measures against hazardous conditions at the workplace and policy advice will be provided to Governments for the improved implementation of existing rules and policies on occupational safety and health. Support will be provided for the involvement of employers' and workers' organizations at all levels in the improvement of working conditions. The Office will encourage countries in the region to ratify and effectively apply international labour Conventions on working and employment conditions.
280.15. Reforming social security systems. Pilot studies and experiments will be conducted in selected countries to address key aspects of the design of social security schemes, including their scope, benefit levels, financial sustainability, legal framework, governance and management, as well as the rights of migrant workers. Based on the findings of this work, a model framework for social security systems will be developed which will address the constraints and needs of transition countries in the region. The framework will include tools for social budgeting and actuarial analysis and detailed staff training programmes. Special emphasis will be placed on adapting this framework to the conditions of the CIS countries and those which are seeking membership of the European Union. For other countries which have made greater progress in the field of legislative reform, notably in Central Europe, advisory services will be provided to strengthen the performance of social security schemes and improve their governance, particularly through the development of appropriate tripartite mechanisms.
Social dialogue
280.16. Problems and needs. Strong, independent and influential employers' and workers' organizations have a crucial role to play in the transition process. However, in Central and Eastern Europe, and particularly in the transition countries, employers' and workers' organizations are still undergoing a process of adaptation to their roles in a market economy. In many cases, the knowledge and professionalism of employers' and workers' organizations need upgrading to strengthen their performance in the tripartite structures which have by now been established in most transition countries. However, the strengthening of social dialogue requires greater efforts to develop a tripartite culture and improve the functioning of the relevant mechanisms in the policy-making processes.
280.17. The objectives are that:
• independent and stronger employers' and workers' organizations play an increasingly important role in the social and labour aspects of national development through a strengthened institutional framework; and
• constituents establish and strengthen tripartite mechanisms for consultation, negotiation and the settlement of conflicts.
280.18. Support for employers' and workers' organizations. The assistance provided to employers' organizations will include technical support for the development of strategic concepts and the implementation of viable medium-term plans, as well as capacity-building activities for their professional staff so that they can play an effective role in tripartite bodies. Training, information materials, study tours and fellowships will be organized for workers' representatives to improve their competence in such areas as economics, labour law and industrial relations. Assistance and advice will be provided for the restructuring and modernization of trade union training to support the development of a broad network of qualified trade union leaders at all levels. ILO support to employers' and workers' organizations will also focus on building an institutional framework through which they can address the issues arising in the newly established market economies and build a new partnership between the State and the social partners.
280.19. Machinery for social dialogue. The activities undertaken at the country and subregional levels to support the development of tripartite mechanisms will include the provision of technical advisory services, the dissemination of information and best practices, the holding of training seminars and the organization of study tours. Special attention will be paid in this respect to developing public awareness of the need for sustainable social and economic change in the countries in transition. Guidelines will be prepared on establishing appropriate tripartite and bipartite mechanisms, including practical approaches to social dialogue and the settlement of labour conflicts.
Field structure
280.20. Regional technical programmes. Provision is made for technical assistance to constituents in the region, through the two multidisciplinary advisory teams covering Central and Eastern Europe and the Central Asian countries, namely:
• the Central and Eastern European Multidisciplinary Advisory Team, which is located in Budapest and covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine and Yugoslavia; and
• the Eastern European and Central Asian Multidisciplinary Advisory Team, located in Moscow, which covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
280.21. It is expected that some $13.6 million of extra-budgetary technical cooperation programmes will be implemented during the biennium 2000-01.
280.22. Regional relations, services and support. This programme provides support for the planning, coordination and implementation of ILO activities in the region and maintains relations with other institutions, particularly the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
280.23. Network of offices. Branch Offices in Europe are involved in fund-raising and promoting the multi-bilateral technical cooperation programme. They maintain and develop relations with national and international institutions and organizations, and particularly employers' and workers' organizations. Provision is made for the Liaison Office in Brussels and the six branch offices in Ankara, Bonn, London, Madrid, Paris and Rome. Provision is also made for the services of full-time and part-time national correspondents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and in other CIS countries.