1. Decent Work for All ASIAN DECENT WORK DECADE 2006-2015
Employment Policy in Asia – selected experiences and their relevance for Cambodia
Sukti Dasgupta
Senior Employment Specialist
ILO, Bangkok
Decent Work for All ASIAN DECENT WORK DECADE

2. What motivated the Employment Policy/Strategy
In 80s, 90s and early part of 2000 , strong assumption that Growth will lead to Employment generation and Poverty reduction
But reality somewhat different
Growth has not created enough employment opportunities – In China , unprecedented growth rates leave a employment gap of Millions of jobs
Employment elasticity of growth has fallen
Youth unemployment rates especially high – leading to social tension in some countries
Poverty rates have fallen, but in some countries at a slow pace. Inequality, has increased significantly
Most new jobs being created in the informal segments – where decent work deficits high
The ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific launched the Labour and Social Trends report series in The LST reports present and analyze recent trends in employment and social conditions in the Asia region and draw attention to key policy challenges posed by these trends.
The publications are data-driven, with a focus on analyzing the latest demographic, labour market and economic developments and highlighting their policy implications in a clear and approachable manner. A detailed statistical annex is provided in each report with gender-disaggregated indicators that are internationally comparable.
The reports are intended as a practical information source for policymakers, researchers and organizations working in the economic and social policy area. But also, past reports have received wide national and international media coverage which helps to raise awareness of the policy concerns.

3. A shift in focus on Employment
Employment re emerged as a major political issue
Increasing acceptance for
Employment Growth diagnosis/ analysis Pro active employment policies not only welfare oriented
Employment to be targetted along with economic growth

4. Different contexts and issues, but similar objective
Cambodia
China
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Mongolia
Nepal
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Vietnam
Strategies, endorsed or to be endorsed by govt at highest level, to enhance the employment content of growth, with special focus on vulnerable groups
Now, finally, I would like to make make a few suggestions regarding the structure of the LST report that will be developed here in Cambodia. These guidelines follow what has been carried out in the other countries such as Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
After the preface and executive summary, the report would include a chapter on economic, labour market and social developments. Using existing data sources, this chapter examines trends in demographics, the labour market, and the macro-economy and draws attention to their policy implications.
This chapter focuses on national trends and highlights recent policy and institutional reforms with respect to labour markets, social protection and social dialogue. However, relevant and reliable sub-national data can also be included. In addition, presentation of regional data and trends, such as for the other ASEAN countries, may be useful to give context to the trends in Cambodia.
The second chapter of the report would highlight the 5 or 6 most critical labour market challenges that Cambodia is facing.
The final part of the Cambodia report will be a conclusion that highlights the most critical policies areas and provide tangible and specific recommendations that can help inform policymakers in the area of labour and social issues.
In addition, the report will include a statistical annex which compiles the key economic, demographic and labour market indicators.

5. Employment Policy – Integrated Approach
Macroeconomic Policy
Social Protection Policy
Sectoral Policy
Enterprise Development Policy
Informal Economy Policy
Industrial relations Policy
Gender Policy
Policy for Youth and Other Targeted Groups
Wage Policy
Environment policy
Education & Skill Development Policy
LED
Migration Policy

6. Employment Policy Development and Process
Employment Targets
Request from Government for support
Setting up of interministerial committee, led by Labour
In country research and analysis
Tripartite consultation to identify broad policy areas
National Dev Plan
National Budget
Investment Plan
Dialogue and Capacity building of government workers and employers
Advocacy and Tripartite validation
Monitoring Mechanism
Policy endorsed by Government
National Employment Action Plan
ILO support strategy, 2 to 4 years

7. Selected examples of Employment Policy in Asia - process and content

8. China – unprecedented growth since 1990, but still an employment challenge
Largest labour force in the world
Between 78 and 90, employment not a major issue – SOEs doing well, inequality low.
Since 1990s - sustained GDP growth of 9– 13 percent
But a jobs deficit - 24 million new entrants to labour force each year, plus current unemployed – leads to challenge of creating 14 million new urban jobs each year.
Inequality a major concern…

9. The Active Employment Policy
In 2002, government passed the Active Employment Policy , mainly aimed at reemployment of laid of workers from SOEs.
Reorient macroeconomic policies towards economic growth
Support policies for reemployment of laid off
Match labour demand with supply
Establish unemployment early warning systems
Social security polices for basic livelihood
Final outcome based on consultations- State Council established inter ministry joint meeting system, active TU participation, and participation of communist youth and women’s federation.

10. From AEP to EPL In 2007, Employment Promotion Law passed.
Enriched the framework of the AEP
Improved the target range and policy content
Contains two policy areas – employment promotion for reemployment and new graduates, and employment protection
Explicitly includes macro policy, skills, enterprise development, social security and protection of migrant workers, ethnic minorities, disabled persons, and anti discrimination legislation.

11. INDIA - Major Policy initiatives
The National Employment Policy – policy with Cabinet, likely to be passed, after discussions.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, passed in 2005, implemented since a rights based approach. So far provided employment to about 40 million households in rural areas
National Skills policy passed in mid 2008
Unorganised sector social security Bill passed in Dec details of implementation still being worked out.
To-date, four volumes of the regional LST reports have been released beginning in In 2007 a sub-regional focus was taken to look at the challenges and opportunities of enhanced integration among the ASEAN Member Countries. Last year in 2008, the primary theme of the report was productivity and competitiveness for growth and decent work in the ASEAN region.

12. The draft Employment Policy India
Addressing issues on two fronts
Accelerating growth of formal employment
Improving the quality and productivity of jobs in the informal segment

13. INDIA - Monitoring and Implementation
Policy development guided by Interministerial Commitee
Policy to be supported by periodic Action Plan, mainstreamed into Government’s 5 year plans.
Institutional framework: set up a suitably empowered machinery to coordinate and monitor
Monitoring mechanisms
Carry out employment impact analysis
for overall output growth
For projects and programmes
Develop check-list for different ministries on the impact of policies and programmes on employment

14. VIETNAM Employment Strategy 2011-2020 – to be endorsed by parliament in Dec 2011
Gender Mainstreaming
The Global context
Steering Committee
MOLISA
MPI
MOF
Policy Integration and Coherence
Vietnam Employment Strategies
Employment and Growth, future projections
Employment Law
Ratification of ILO Convention no. 122
Informal Economy
Rural Development
Investment, Trade and Enterprise Development
Human Resource and Skill Development
Labour Market Information Systems
Migration for Employment
Industrial Relations
Consultation with Social Partners
Employment and Social Protection

15. On going process in Mongolia- policy to be endorsed end 2011
2011 declared by Government as ‘Year of Employment Promotion’ – high level committee set up headed by Prime Minister.
Tripartite consultations on what needs to be done for employment generation carried out at provincial level, feeding into national level workshop in 2010.
Consultation led to ILO support on concept note for ES, identifying growing sectors and mapping of skills
Tripartite Consultation to identify priorities taken place and draft ES now being discussed
Mongolian economy very dependent on Mining sector – which growing fast because of copper and gold discovery, but growth not creating employment. The objective of current ES is to create productive employment through broad based growth.

16. On going process in Sri Lanka
Steering Committee (interministerial) set up.
Research undertaken on several thematic areas to increase employment growth including
Macroeconomic policy
Sectoral policy
Informal economy
Skill development
Policy to be endorsed by next year

17. Important common elements in different countries developing ES under different government systems- relevance for KH
Countries mostly ratified ILO Convention 122 (1964) which signals the government’s commitment towards full productive and freely chosen employment, like Cambodia.
Many labour market challenges - Growth did not lead to good quality employment generation
Employment Policy development guided by ILO C. 122 and Global Employment Agenda – focus on not only employment quantity but also labour standards and quality
Coordination between many different ministries while being led by Labour Ministry, and strong involvement of tripartite constituents, and political commitment from highest level and grass roots involvement
Good research the basis. Labour Market information critical to policy development.
Employment Policy development complementary to other policy developments (ex from China and India) – In Cambodia SP Strategy relevant for EP development.

18. Finally – what we learn from other countries in Asia….
Process of Employment Strategy development as important as content
Need for appropriate institutions and capacity building of government and social partners.
In Cambodia already had capacity building workshops for Trade Unions, and government.
Important to remember - policy will have value addition only if full participation of stakeholders and political willingness present.

19. Thank you for more information please contact dasgupta@ilo.org
ASIAN DECENT WORK DECADE
Decent Work for All
Thank you for more information please contact