The ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme provides technical cooperation projects as a Regional Programme since 1974.

Developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region need support for appropriate strategies to address labour issues. In times of economic turmoil, massive underemployment and wage shrinkage increase the demand for improved employment opportunities, and in times of a stable economy, these countries need to continue to develop skills training.

The Government of Japan, acknowledging the difficulties faced by developing countries in the region, worked with ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Bangkok to establish the ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme in 1974. This regional programme combines the technical expertise of the ILO, with financial support from the Government of Japan. The ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme covers Asia and the Pacific countries in promoting Decent Work in the region through the projects at community level, national level and regional level.

Thematic priorities

The Government of Japan have been supporting ILO’s decent work country programmes and regional priorities with ILO’s expertise on labour, especially in focus to social dialogues, social protection and collaboration with ASEAN and UN organizations.

Currently, the Government of Japan provides support following projects:

• Promoting and Building Social Protection and Employment Services for Vulnerable Groups (MAPS) (1 January 2014 - 31 December 2015)
• Greener Business Asia (Philippines and Thailand) (1 June 2009 – 31 December 2014)
• Occupational Safety and Health in Hazardous Work in Southeast Asia (Cambodia and Viet Nam) (1 June 2012 – 31 December 2014)
• ASEAN-ILO/Japan Industrial Relations Project (28 October 2008 – 31 December 2014)
• Way Out of Informality: Facilitating Formalization of the Informal Economy in South Asia (1 June 2012 – 31 December 2016)
• Japan Earthquake Project: Disseminating Lessons from Employment and Labour Measures for the Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake (1 August 2012 – 31 March 2014)

Institutional framework

The ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme, under the overall guidance of the Regional Director in ILO-ROAP, works in close collaboration with specialists in ILO Decent Work Teams and ILO Country Offices in the target countries in the region. The ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme Desk comprising Chief Technical Adviser,, Programme Officer, Programme Assistant, is responsible for ensuring the smooth delivery of the projects to the beneficiaries in the region as well as the management of CTA and other staff in the projects in ILO-ROAP, Decent Work Teams and Country Offices.

An Annual Review Meeting is normally organised yearly, as a mechanism for the Government of Japan and the ILO to share experiences and lessons learned, report the progress of continuing activities and agree upon the forthcoming year’s work plan.

Achievements

Over 37 years, the ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme has significantly contributed to the improvement of labour administration, labour standards and employment in the region by various projects including capacity building, regional and national seminars, network building, training, research and personnel contribution of Japanese technical officers. Examples of current achievements are for instance:

• Promoting and Building Unemployment Insurance and Employment Services in ASEAN (31 December 2010 – 31 December 2013)
• Effective Implementation of National OSH Programme for Improving Safety and Health at the Workplace in Viet Nam (Vietnam, in collaboration with WHO) (1 January 2009-1 December 2011)
• Promotion of Decent Work for Young Women and Men Through Enhancement of Employment Possibilities in Sri Lanka (1 January 2007-31 December 2010) has contributed the alleviation of unemployment and underemployment among rural people through vocational training, entrepreneurship training, improved employment services and curriculum to teach wide range of skills.
• Managing Cross-border Movement of Labour in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand 1 January 2005-31 December 2010) has contributed to improve working conditions for migrant workers for equal right by expanding knowledge base on labour migration, advocacy for sound labour migration policies, capacity building for good governance and entrepreneurship development with the full cooperation of related governments as well as workers’ and employers’ organizations.
• Expansion of Employment Opportunities for Women, Cambodia and Vietnam (EEOW project): has contributed to national efforts in alleviating poverty and promoting gender equality in the world of work through socio-economic empowerment of women.
• Launch Labour Law Network Project: has been contributing to the growth of labour law scholarship in Asia through various seminars amongst the labour law scholars and practitioners, researches on labour-law related topics in the region, and the establishment of the Asian Society of Labour Law in November 2008.

For further information please contact:

ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme
Fax: +662 288 1023
Email