The “Permanent Secretary” joined the 335th Governing Body meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, and gave a statement on the ILO stage about the Thai government’s support for workforce freedom and safety.
On March 28, 2019, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Jarin Chakkaphark and Thai Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva H.E. Mr. Sek Wannamethee as representatives of the Thai government, joined the 335th Governing Body meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The Thai government joined as a regular member and a coordinator for ASEAN. The ILO arranged the meeting from March 18-28, 2019, at its headquarters in Switzerland.
On this occasion, Mr. Jarin discussed with Mr. Tomoko Nishimoto, Director of the ILO Office in Asia and the Pacific Region, and assistant to the ILO Director on various issues as follows: 1) The preparation of the Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) in Thailand, 2019 – 2021, whereby Mr. Tomoko congratulated Thailand for successfully preparing the plan to promote valuable work in Thailand. The Permanent Secretary of Labour confirmed that all departments under the Ministry of Labour jointly implement the program. 2) Activity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (24 hour Global Tour) on April 11, 2019, throughout the world. Mr. Tomoko was grateful for Thailand’s participation and regretted not being able to attend. However, Mr. Graeme Buckley, Director of the International Labour Office For Thailand, Cambodia and Laos will attend the event. 3) The Singapore Conference on the Future of Work, between April 29-30, 2019, which will have 3 essential agendas, including the preparation of the ASEAN Ministerial Joint Statement on the future of the work, the meeting for officials for ASEAN + 6 + Mongolia and Timor-Leste, and tripartite discussions consisting of governments, employers and employees. The Permanent Secretary of Labour informed that Thailand has already received the invitation to attend the meeting, where there will be representatives from Thailand to participate. Additional information was provided that on April 11, Thailand will organize a discussion on the topic of “The Future of Work” following the live event, which Mr. Tomoko saw that it was excellent that Thailand will share the results from the meeting at the meeting in Singapore and to incorporate supporting data for ASEAN for further discussion at the 108th Annual General Meeting of the ILO.
In addition, Mr. Tomoko also asked the Thai government about the readiness to host the Asia-Pacific regional meeting scheduled in November 2020, whereby Thailand would like to know its obligations for further consideration.
On the same day, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Jarin Chakkaphark announced the joint statement of ASEAN, Australia and Japan on the follow-up of Myanmar following with the resolution of the ILO’s 102nd meeting in 2013, following the 335th GB meeting. Compliments were extended to the Myanmar government in promoting and protecting labour rights, especially the signing of the Decent Work Country Program between the Myanmar government and the International Labour Organization in September 2018. The Permanent Secretary asked that the ILO and other organizations under the United Nations provide assistance as needed to support the Decent Work Country Program in Myanmar to achieve sustainable development and is pleased with the certification of occupational health and safety by the Myanmar parliament supporting the Myanmar government to maintain labour reform efforts through discussions with the tripartite stage at the national level to eliminate forced labour, as well as promoting the rights and freedoms of workers.
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Division of Public Relations/
Information by Bureau of International Cooperation/
28 March 2019/
