Robust growth in trade, investment and output have failed to keep pace with the growth of the labour force and tackle rising unemployment in Asia and the Pacific, writes ILO news Tuesday.
An estimated 250 million more workers are expected to be looking for jobs over the next decade, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The report, “Realizing Decent Work in Asia” says the region has made remarkable headway economically and now occupies a “premier position in the global economy.”
However, while many countries in the region have made huge strides in reducing poverty, over 1 billion “working poor” are living under the US$2 per person, per day poverty line, including more than 330 million living in extreme poverty of less than US$1 a day. What’s more, unemployment rates have increased over those prevailing five to seven years ago in much of the region.
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the jobs deficit is its impact on young people. In 2005, Asia had over 48 per cent, or 41.6 million, of the world’s young people without work. The risk of being unemployed for young people is at least three times higher than that of adults.
The current ILO Regional Meeting in Busan, Korea, is to discuss new strategies for creating productive employment, decent work and reducing poverty in the region.
Government, employer and worker delegates from 40 ILO member States in the region will discuss diverse challenges, including competitiveness, productivity and decent jobs in a globalizing context; decent jobs for young people; managing labour migration; labour market governance for realizing decent work in Asia; and extending social protection to the informal economy. The discussions will take up standards and fundamental principles and rights at work, gender equality and social dialogue as cross-cutting themes.
Kilde: www.ilo.org
