Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Singapore Declaration
Mains level : Labour reform
CONTEXT: The 17th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) set ten-point priorities of national action under the Singapore Declaration.
Singapore Declaration
- It seeks to draw attention for the member countries to deal with the issue of dwindling wages of workers, inflation and unemployment.
- It was adopted by the delegates representing governments, employers and workers’ governments, employers and workers in the regions.
- Members agreed that social dialogue is essential to address labour market challenges and finding solutions in crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and economic uncertainty.
Key point priorities
- Ensure labour protection for all through the promotion of freedom of association
- Recognition of the right to collective bargaining, including for workers in vulnerable situations and workers in the informal economy, as enabling rights for decent work
- Closing gender gaps, increase women’s labour force participation, promote equal pay for work of equal value, balance work and responsibilities, and promoting women’s leadership.
- Develop and implement inclusive labour market programmes and policies that support life transitions and demographic shifts.
- Pursue collective and determined efforts to promote and accelerate a smooth and sustained transition from the informal to formal economy
- Strengthen governance frameworks and respect for freedom of association for migrant workers
- Strengthen the foundation for social and employment protection and resilience
- Expanding social protection to all workers, guaranteeing universal access to comprehensive, adequate and sustainable social protection for all