ASEM moves to Bali with real steps

Ridwan Max Sijabat ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Brussels   |  Thu, 07/03/2008 10:38 AM  |  World

The first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) social partners forum concluded here on Tuesday with an agreement to follow up dialogue on labor issues with concrete steps in Bali this October.

Representing governments, trade unions and employers from 45 member countries, 200 high-profile delegates agreed to continue exploring the social aspects of globalization in the labor sector, in an effort to narrow disparities between Europe and Asia.

Delegates agreed on the importance of enhancing inter-regional, multilateral and bilateral cooperation to promote training and employability and improve social protection for workers, including immigrants.

Advocacy for specific projects of cooperation will take place during the next senior official and labor ministerial conference in Bali and the ASEM Summit in China, both scheduled for October, delegates said.

Belgium Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said in his closing address that in facing globalization, the European Union (EU) would need dialogue with Asia to settle common problems and ensure social justice and decent work conditions in the two regions.

"Protectionism is not the right answer in responding to the globalized economy and we have to give a global answer to the big question mark on social justice. We altogether have our moral responsibility and have to have joint consensus to create a fairer world, and we cannot turn a blind eye to the alarming unemployment and increasing poverty in the two regions," he said.

The head of the Unit for International Affairs and Enlargement of the EU's Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Jean-Paul Tricart, highlighted a number of cooperative projects on decent work issues to be explored during the Bali meeting.

He cited social security in the informal sector, integration of migrant workers in the labor market, vocational training for youth, occupational safety and health, corporate social responsibility and networking among member countries.

Chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (KSBSI), Reskon Silaban, said a pro-labor market economy model was important to allow member countries to ratify and implement ILO conventions and offer workers social security.

While Indonesia has ratified many International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, they have not been implemented, while most of its 109 million workforce are left unprotected and paid at or below the minimum wage, he said.

"At the upcoming Bali conference, Indonesia as host should take initiatives to enhance cooperation with member countries in Asia and Europe to provide ... education and training for youth."

Indonesia should promote such policies among ASEM members to help cope with "alarming unemployment and alleviate poverty", he said.

The Bali labor ministerial meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13-15, 2008, with its results to be brought to the ASEM Summit in Beijing in the same month.

The assistant to the general secretary of the ASEAN Trade Union Council, Ariel Castro, said ASEAN member countries would also ask ASEM member countries to ratify and comply with the ILO Convention on protection of migrant workers and their families, in order to help migrant workers integrate in the labor market.

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