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17th Meeting


The Seventeenth ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting
8-9 May 2003, Mataram, Indonesia


1. The Seventeenth ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting was convened from 8 to 9 May 2003 in Mataram, Lombok, Indonesia, preceded by the 2nd Senior Labour Officials Meeting held from 5 to 6 May 2003.


2. The Meeting was officially opened by Her Excellency Megawati Soekarnoputri, President of the Republic of Indonesia. In her Keynote Speech, H.E. Megawati Sukarnoputri noted that the 17th ALMM was timely in view of the current regional situation. H.E. Megawati Soekarnoputri reminded the Meeting of the challenges ASEAN countries had faced and addressed over the past five years, in particular the 1997-98 financial and economic crisis which had caused decrease in foreign investment, job opportunities, and losses of income sources for workers.

4. H.E. Megawati Soekarnoputri urged the ASEAN Labour Ministers to closely observe and overcome the issues of employment in the region, in the firm belief that more integrated and harmonious regional strategies and policies would assist ASEAN countries overcome the present challenges

6. His Excellency Jacob Nuwa Wea, Minister for Manpower and Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia and His Excellency Dato Adanan Dato Md. Yusuf, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of Brunei Darussalam were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Meeting, respectively.

7. As host of the 17th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting, H.E. Jacob Nuwa Wea extended a warm welcome to the Ministers and their delegations. H.E. Jacob Nuwa Wea observed that the discussions of the 17th ALMM would serve not only as an inspiration for the ASEAN Labour Ministers to seek a better manner to increase human resource development, but also assist in further strengthening the foundation of ASEAN labour cooperation. Observing that labour and human resource development have been the most dynamic issues in the ASEAN region, H.E. Jacob Nuwa Wea informed of the numerous challenges faced by Indonesia to addressing labour and human resources development concerns. Several events at the international and regional level had added to this challenge, in particular the effect of the SARS outbreak.


Addressing the Challenge of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
9. ASEAN Labour Ministers pledged to follow up on the employment-related measures recommended by the ASEAN Leaders at the Special ASEAN Leaders Meeting on SARS on 29 April 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Ministers strongly supported joint action at all levels and across all relevant sectors to counter SARS.

10. The Ministers recognised the value of exchanging experiences and information in controlling and containing the spread of SARS among Member Countries. The Ministers also acknowledged that the comprehensive and stringent measures taken by affected ASEAN members are necessary to prevent the further spread of SARS to minimise the human toll and economic fallout. The Ministers noted with concern the adverse impact that SARS had already caused in the region's labour and employment situation.

11. The Ministers agreed to task the Senior Officials to convene soonest a Special Meeting on SARS, to discuss the impact of SARS on labour, employment, human resources and occupational safety and health, share experience and best practices in managing the SARS outbreak, and discuss the role to be played by the social partners in helping to ease the SARS impact on retrenchments, unemployment, and workers protection. This Special Meeting should inform the Ministerial-level Task Force and the various national focal points on SARS set up by the ASEAN Leaders on the need for the Special Meeting and to coordinate the appropriate follow-up actions. The Ministers requested the Philippine Government to consider hosting this Special Meeting. The Ministers agreed to invite China, Japan and the ROK to a Special ASEAN+3 Senior Labour Officials Meeting on SARS.

12. The Ministers requested the ILO, which participated in an exchange of views during the 2nd Senior Labour Officials Meeting, to assist the Senior Labour Officials prepare for their special meeting on SARS. Similar requests would also be made to other relevant agencies such as the WHO and the ADB.

Progress of ASEAN Labour Cooperation

13. ASEAN Labour Ministers noted with interest the convening of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Development Cooperation Forum in August 2002 and expressed satisfaction at the positive response received from ASEAN's Dialogue Partners and international agencies to support the priority projects on labour and employment.

14. The Ministers noted with satisfaction the steady progress made in the implementation of ongoing ASEAN labour projects, and commended the spirit of self-reliance among ASEAN countries that had facilitated the initiation and implementation of several priority projects on labour. The Ministers also acknowledged with appreciation the contribution and support of ASEAN's Dialogue Partners and looked forward to more joint initiatives to address labour and employment issues.

17. The Ministers were pleased to note the progress of the ASEAN Programme on Industrial Relations which had commenced implementation in June 2002, with support from Japan. The Ministers noted that the project would initially focus on strengthening the framework for industrial relations and labour management, wages and productivity, and the impact of technological change on industrial relations.

18. The Ministers were also encouraged to note that ASEAN's Dialogue Partners such as Australia, the People's Republic of China, the EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the UNDP, had joined hands with ASEAN to pursue ASEAN's priorities on labour, particularly addressing emerging concerns such as promoting mutual skills recognition, expanding pension insurance coverage, strengthening social protection and social dialogue, and the impact of closer ASEAN economic integration on HRD planning and labour market monitoring.

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