ASEM conference concludes in Bali

New Delhi, Oct 16 (ANI): The 2nd Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Labour and Employment Ministers' conference had emphasized the importance of ASEM process as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between European Union and Asia.

The two-day conference, which concluded in Bali, attended by 13 Ministers of Labour and Employment and officials from 35 Asian and European Member States held discussions under the title "More and Better Jobs - Strategic Cooperation and Partnership to Promote Decent Work and Global Labour Markets for Mutual Benefits".

The conference touched upon the compelling issues of labour and employment in Asia and Europe and underlined the necessity of strategic cooperation between Asia and Europe to promote decent work and global labour markets for the benefit of ASES partners. he participating ministers sought concrete efforts in strengthening the social dimension of globalisation and in promoting decent work for all.

Three separate working groups - Training and Employability, Labour Migration, and Social Protection were formed to discuss issues relating to the main theme.

The working group on social protection was chaired by India, which was represented by the Union Minister of Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes.

The working group in its recommendation said that the informal sector workers have to be covered in the net of social protection. It said that new legislation and imaginative schemes, sharing of best practices can help enhance social protection for the labour force in the world.

The social protection-working group also underlined that social protection and labour security are inseparable and should be viewed as an investment in the economy.

The group also noted that laws of the free market are not enough and therefore corporate social responsibility assumes a greater role and it needs to be strongly emphasized in the common vision for the social security.

The social protection group also recommended that the member countries should prepare country-specific social protection programmes to ensure that workers get respectable level of social protection, better health care and educational facilities that enhance their skills through training.

The two-day conference in its declaration resolved to promote decent work for all and reiterated its resolve to use ASEM dialogue and other appropriate channels to improve core labour standards, and also committed itself to take actions aimed at fighting against poverty and inequality in all countries irrespective of their level of income. (ANI)