The Global Jobs Pactand Quality Public Services

Where are we going with the Global Jobs Pact?

Shigeru Wada, Senior Specialist in Workers Activities, ILO Bangkok

The Global Economic Crisis

• Started from the final months of 2008• Economies of most countries went into the

most serious global recession since the Great Depression

• World production contracted 2.2 % in 2009• Increase of unemployment worldwide by 34

million, from 2007 to the end of 2009

Economic Crisis in Asia

• Less damaged compared with other regions• Impressive growth in China, India, Indonesia

and some other populous countriesbut

• Increased competition in world trade• Far from achieving Decent Work or MDG• More industrial disputes especially over low

wages

Wave of Industrial Actions in Asia

• In 2009 – 2010 saw serious and wide-spread strikes in many countries in Asia including

• Bangladesh• Burma• Cambodia• China…………

Bangladesh• Garment workers demanded minimum wage

increase from 1662 taka ($25) to 5000 taka ($73)

• Strike developed social unrest, following massive dismissal and arrest of the workers

Burma• In February 2010

desperate workers in industrial zones in Rangoon went on strike demanding wage increase from average 3000 Kyat ($30)

• Government rejected an application to form a trade union

Cambodia• Garment workers were not satisfied with the

minimum wage increase from $50 to $61 but demanded $90

• Prime Minister intervened but …..

China• Garment workers in Hainan

protested against the end-year bonus cut (700 yuan=$102) in 2009, their average wage is 500-600 yuan ($73-88)

• Honda strike ignited China’s summer of workers protest

Global Jobs Pact

• Adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 2009

• Addressing the social and employment impact of the international financial and economic crisis

• Commitment of Government, Employers and Workers

• Supported by G8, UN ESC and G20 in 2009

Global Jobs Pact

Workers Group emphasized in the debate• Not re-creating the same free market

economy and globalization which led to the crisis

• In the past decade:• Increase in atypical forms of work and

unprotected and precarious jobs• Deregulation and privatization• A race to the bottom offering cheap labour

Global Jobs Pact

• Policy measures to ease the impact of the crisis and accelerate recovery in employment

– Generating employment– Extending social protection– Respecting labour standards– Promoting social dialogue– Shaping fair globalisation

Global Jobs Pact

3. The world must do better.4. There is a need for coordinated global policy options in order to strengthen national and international efforts centred around jobs, sustainable enterprises, quality public services, protecting people whilst safeguarding rights and promoting voice and participation5. This will contribute to economic revitalization, fair globalisation, prosperity and social justice.

Global Jobs Pact6. The world should look different after the crisis7. Our response should contribute to a fair globalization, a greener economy and development that more effectively creates jobs and sustainable enterprises, respects workers’ rights, promotes gender equality, protects vulnerable people, assists countries in the provision of quality public services and enables countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals

Global Jobs Pact

In short• Responding to both the people’s agenda and

the needs of the real economy• Promoting jobs and protecting people

(promoting Job-centred Policies and Decent Work)

• Quality Public Services are one of the key policies

Global Jobs Pact

Please go to ILO Website and see

RECOVERING FROM THE CRISIS

A GLOBAL JOBS PACT

Global Jobs Pact

• In Asia and the Pacific, the ILO is helping as pilot projects• Indonesian Jobs Pact• Mongolian Jobs Pact

• Other member countries are encouraged to develop their own Jobs Pact through social dialogue

Indonesian Jobs Pact• Agreed to develop IJP in February 2010• 4 Confederations worked together presenting

One Voice in the drafting process• Technical assistance provided by the ILO• Signed by the Government, APINDO and Trade

Unions in April 2011• Indonesian President addressed at 2011 ILC• Expected to be implemented and further

developed through tripartite consultations

Decent Work for All• Progress in Asia will be the key for the success

of the global campaign• Out of poverty: Decent Jobs and Wages• Social Protection Floor• Freedom of Association is particularly weak in

Asia: China, India, Thailand, Vietnam …not ratified the ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98

• 2006-2015: Asian Decent Work Decade• 15th ILO Asia Pacific Regional Meeting