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Joint Communique of The Eighth ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting
Kuala Lumpur, 17-18 September 1990
1.
The Eighth ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting
(8th ALMM) was held in Kuala Lumpur from 17-18 September 1990.
2. The Minister expressed satisfaction over the implementation of the
recommendations of the Seventh ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting held
in Bali 13-14 October 1988. The Ministers noted the successful implementation
of the ASEAN Programme on Industrial Relations and Labour Studies/ASEAN
Labour Information Network (APIRLAS/ALINE) and thanked the UNDP for
its financial assistance. The Ministers also expressed the hope
that the UNDP would continue to provide further financial support for
other labour-related projects under its 5th Inter-country Programme
(ICP) beginning in 1992, in particular the setting up of an ASEAN Training
and Information Centre for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment
(PIACT) and the ASEAN Project
on Self Employment and the Development of the Informal Sector.
3. On the effects of protectionism on employment, the Ministers expressed
their concern on the increasing attempts by certain developed countries
to deny some member states of the International Labour Organisation
(ILO) trade privileges under GATT-negotiated agreements on the ground
that they allegedly fail to comply with ILO standards. ASEAN member
countries would continue to resist any attempts to link international
trade with the compliance of ILO standards and the observance of workers'
rights.
4. The Ministers noted the financial and manpower constraints faced
by developing countries in participating effectively at the annual International
Labour Conference (ILC). The Ministers therefore urged the ILO to reduce
the duration and agenda items of the ILC. They also urged the ILO to
strengthen the collective bargaining position of developing countries
vis-à-vis the developed countries. On standards application,
the Ministers called upon the ILO to be more flexible and less legalistic
in its supervisory role in respect of compliance with ratified ILO conventions.
Instead of setting new standards, the ILO should focus its resources
on making existing standards more applicable to developing countries
and to place more emphasis on employment promotion, training and skills
development.
5.
The Ministers also noted the need for wage reforms in ASEAN member countries
and the need for them to strengthen their human resources development
capabilities. In this regard, technical assistance will be sought from
the ILO and other appropriate bodies.
6.
The Ministers expressed grave concern for workers stranded in the Iraq-Kuwait
crisis. They called on the international community of nations, the
ILO and other international agencies to help in the repatriation of
workers especially those from ASEAN out of Iraq and Kuwait as soon as
possible and to help the returning workers find re-employment in their
countries. In this regard, the Ministers also unanimously agreed to
send an immediate message to the Director General of ILO to urge him
to give his urgent attention to this matter.
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