Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Press Release (This is provisional translation. Please refer to the original text written in Japanese.)
October 21, 2011
International Affairs division
Minister’s secretariat
03(5253)1111 (representative)
03(3595)2404 (direct)

A Special Session, "Natural Disaster Response with a Central Focus on Employment Policy," will be held during the 15th ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting on December 5th in Kyoto

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will hold a Special Session on “Natural Disaster Response with a Central Focus on Employment Policy” on Monday, December 5th at the Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto) (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city). Ms. Yoko Komiyama, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Mr. Juan Somovia, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) are scheduled to attend the Special Session.

The Government of Japan will host the Special Session. The session is held in response to the recent Great East Japan Earthquake, for countries in Asia and the Pacific region prone to natural disasters to share their experiences on employment matters in disaster-hit areas, and to utilize them in the future employment policies in their countries.

*The ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting is held at the same venue as the Special Session, from Sunday, December 4th to Wednesday, December 7th, on the theme of the "Building a Sustainable Future with Decent Work."

The Special Session as well as the Regional Meeting is open to the general public (prior registration is required).

1. The Special Session hosted by Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare

(1) Purpose

In Asia and the Pacific Region 40% of natural disasters in the world and 82% of resulting casualties are said to have taken place. At the Special Session, Japan, the ILO, and the governments, employers, and workers of member States will share their experiences and put together lessons learned regarding the employment policies implemented at the time of natural disasters. The Meeting is intended to raise awareness among countries in the region about the post-natural disaster employment policies and improve their capabilities to respond to the employment crises triggered by natural disasters.

(2) Overview

Dates: Monday, December 5th, from 18:00 to 20:00
Venue: Room B-1, ICC Kyoto
Theme: Natural Disaster Response with a Central Focus on Employment Policy
Scheduled participants: Ms. Yoko Komiyama, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Mr. Juan Somovia, ILO Director-General, and Ms. Sachiko Yamamoto, Regional Director, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
Panelists: Delegates from the ILO and the Governments, employers, and workers of member States
Programme:
1) Keynote speech on the employment policies in the affected areas of the Great East Japan Earthquake (presented by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
2) Introduction of employment measures taken at the time of natural disasters (presented by the delegates of ILO and the Governments, workers, and employers of member States)
3) Discussion with the floor
4) Compilation of lessons learned

2. The ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting

(1) Purpose

The ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting is generally held once in every 4 years. It is attended by the delegates of the Governments, workers, and employers in 44 member States in Asia and the Pacific region. The Meeting widely discusses the challenges of realizing decent work across the region, in relation to the ILO activities, and decide the direction of the ILO activities in the next 4 years.

(2) Overview

Dates: From Sunday, December 4th to Wednesday, December 7th 2011
Venue: ICC Kyoto
Theme: Building a sustainable future with decent work
Thematic panels:
1) Coordinated macroeconomic, employment and social protection policies
2) Productive employment, sustainable enterprises and skills development
3) Rights at work and social dialogue

*In the Opening Session on December 4th, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will deliver a keynote statement.

3. Public attendance and reports by the press

To attend the ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting, you must register at the special website set up for this Meeting. The deadline for registration is Friday, November 25th.
For the press who wish to cover the Regional Meeting, please make an inquiry to the ILO Office in Japan (please note that some meetings are closed to the public or the press).

* http://www.congre.co.jp/ilo-aprm/ja/index.html

* The ILO Office in Japan
【Telephone】03 (5467) 2701 (main)
【E-mail】ilo-tokyo@ilotokyo.jp

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