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SPEECH By Mr. JOSE MUCIO MONTEIRO During the Plenary Assembly of the UN Economic and Social Council (New York – July 2, 2008) 
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It is a good thing that the theme adopted for the 2008 report to the high-level segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council be devoted to the implementation of internationally approved objectives and commitments concerning sustainable development.
Sustainable development is a concept which appeared on the international scene barely twenty or so years ago. An initial definition of it was given by the United Nations General Assembly in late 1987: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. It is this attention devoted to generations to come which led to a growing awareness of the need to protect the environment and natural resources. It is clear that this awareness has become a broadly established part of public opinion in a number of regions in the world. But the concept of sustainable development is not limited to protecting the environment. It also includes preserving a social balance, the ability to master and regulate how current generations live together, and bringing together both men and women based on a joint project. Working from that, the three pillars of sustainable development are economic growth, social development and protecting the environment.
These three pillars are inseparable. In-depth reflection concerning sustainable development therefore involves reflecting about the interdependencies between these three dimensions.
Economic growth involves the implementation of development strategies that, above and beyond macro-economic policies, integrate three domains: sustainable agricultural development in the face of the threats of desertification and soil degradation which respects biodiversity and the management of natural resources; industrial development, with appropriate use of energy as well as strict management of pollution; and, lastly, the development of economic infrastructures relating to transport, telecommunications and energy.
Social development involves having macro-economic policies integrating the need for equity and social integration and means that a priority effort must be made regarding fighting poverty, acting in the same spirit which inspired the definition of the millennium goals.
Lastly, protecting the environment, which includes the by now familiar issues of protecting the atmosphere, the campaign against climate change, the struggle against desertification, management of natural disasters, and protecting biodiversity, must also be expressed in the macro-economic policies of various countries.
However, the main original feature of the approach adopted by the United Nations is that these three dimensions of sustainable development form part of a real global partnership for development which is sought under the framework of internationally-approved commitments. As soon as there is linkage between the economic, social and environmental dimensions, there will also be a link between the apparently separate objectives of growth, income redistribution, respect for human rights and international labour standards, access to education and training, access to physical and technological infrastructures and financial services, respect for the diversity of cultures, and safeguarding a sustainable environment.
At the heart of the objectives adopted within the framework of the United Nations is the Millennium Declaration adopted in September 2000, in which 189 States committed themselves to a series of eight objectives for fighting poverty which are measurable and are accompanied by specific calendars for the period between now and 2015. What is mainly involved is eradicating famine and extreme poverty, the generalized provision of primary education, promoting equality between men and women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, fighting AIDS, malaria and other pandemics, ensuring environmental sustainability and, to this end, developing a global partnership for development.
To date, unfortunately, the assessment of the implementation of these objectives has been alarming. Even though a few signs of improvement have been observed in the field of fighting poverty, access to drinking water and education, over a billion people still live in a state of total destitution and the situation is even worsening in certain regions of Africa and Asia. Eleven million children die every year for want of access to healthcare. One in four people are still drinking dirty water, nearly 120 million children have no access to primary school, and nearly 600 million women are illiterate. This shows the urgent need to take action.
In this respect, the latest development aid figures for 2007 published in April 2008 by the OECD provided a particularly worrying diagnosis. The development aid figures for 2007 are a very long way off the objectives set. The countries that are the biggest aid donors, including member States of the European Union, the United States, Canada and Japan, have not managed to live up to their financial commitments. The current level of public development aid, which is less than 0.25% of GDP (0.38% for European Union countries) still remains well below the objective of 0.7% of GDP agreed to long ago for rich countries, and which was restated at the Monterrey conference in 2002. Consequently, there is an urgent need to mobilize new financial resources if we wish to avoid seeing the millennium goals for 2015 becoming just a pious wish.
The AICESIS, which I have been the President of for some months now, and which brings together sixty or so Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions from all over the world, has devoted several of its recent works to ways of improving the situation in these fields. In 2007, the working theme adopted in Beijing related specifically to ways of intensifying international co-operation and promoting shared development with a view to building a more harmonious world. In 2008 and 2009, the works organized under the Brazilian Presidency will, more specifically, relate to equitable development and environmental responsibility. But, more generally speaking, the AICESIS has assigned itself the mission of promoting millennium objectives in relation to all the actors of civil society, particularly in the education and training sectors, and among educational leaders and trainers in non-governmental organizations.
With a view to this, we hold that all countries, including the most developed ones, are jointly concerned by the need to protect the global public assets that are health, education, sustainable development and security in international relations, which are threatened for everyone by major economic and social imbalances. The increasing gap between rich and poor countries adversely affects not just the poor countries, but all countries. Thus, increased illegal migration flows towards rich countries are a consequence of extreme poverty and of a lack of opportunities for a large part of the world’s population, especially in Africa. Conflicts, insecurity and epidemics certainly affect poor countries, but they have a boomerang effect on rich countries. This is the ransom involved in a globalized world.
Over the last few years, there has been an increasing number of declarations and initiatives in favour of a strong commitment by the international community. Just to mention a few examples, there was the international conference on development held in Monterrey in March 2002 to work towards a real partnership between rich and poor countries, the New York declaration of September 2004 concerning innovative sources of development financing, and the Geneva declaration of 2004 concerning the fight against hunger and poverty. The time has now come to go from a formal consensus to making concrete improvements and to transform the commitments reiterated at various international meetings (but which largely remain incantations) into acts.
Firstly, this involves acting on the international community’s moral obligation to provide itself with the actual means of achieving the objective of 0.7% of GDP. But as it is necessary to be realistic and be aware of the fact that efforts towards this will be difficult to take, it must be stated straight away that other complementary resources fully devoted to dealing with major poverty should also be established.
The AICESIS has supported, and continues to actively support, the ideas that have been developed over the last few years with a view to establishing additional aid alongside public development aid in the form of innovative financing that is durable in terms of its volume and payment of it, and which would show particular solidarity towards those populations that are hardest hit by extreme poverty. This is the case with two proposals which have already started to be implemented. What is involved is firstly a tax on air tickets established in July 2006 at France’s instigation, and which is starting to bring in considerable resources, and secondly the International Finance Facility (IFF), a British initiative based on providing guaranteed loans under commitments by donor countries which span several years. In both cases, it is desirable for the number of participating countries to increase rapidly.
Other ideas were raised which are worth studying, such as the plan to create a global lottery by the World Food Programme, the profits from which would go to international aid, or even more complex ideas, such as taxing financial transactions or arms sales.
Above and beyond increasing the amount of aid, faced with the great poverty which continues to be rife in various places around the world, it is necessary for the international community to mobilize itself in order to increase the consistency and efficiency of its interventions. During the initial stage, and faced with a situation of urgency, we need to take strong action quickly, giving priority to three fields: public health, education, and fighting hunger.
The need to fight hunger is even more pressing given the recent prices rises for agricultural raw materials, the consequences of which primarily affect the poorest countries: over one billion people in Africa, Latin America and South Asia suffer from acute malnutrition. They can scarcely get even one or two meals providing an intake of several hundred calories a day. Establishing food security undoubtedly entails the resurrection of traditional food production in developing countries and supporting small-scale family agriculture. In the health sector, the two priorities are the battle against major pandemics and the fight against maternal and child mortality. As for education, it is a major issue, because only access to education enables discrimination and inequalities to be reduced, particularly those that impact on women.
We can see that turning back poverty is firstly based on a regular increase in the amount of aid provided by donors and greater effectiveness in terms of their interventions. But it also depends on progress made in the way that the countries receiving this aid integrate it into their development strategies.
To help beneficiary countries fully appropriate their development, a contractual relationship should be built by drawing up partnership contracts between donor countries and beneficiary countries, with the objectives to be achieved, the avenues to take, and the methods for monitoring their execution and assessing their results being defined by common agreement and based on shared assessments.
The leaders of civil society represented in the institutions constituting the AICESIS are certainly aware of the difficulties posing obstacles to the good governance of States, in light of the handicaps which a good many developing countries are confronted with: institutional instability, which is sometimes aggravated by the existence of internal or cross-border conflicts, the weak capabilities of administrative authorities, and the dangers of corruption which bleeds off major parts of the GDP of certain States. Nevertheless, the promotion of good governance is crucial for the countries concerned, particularly the poorest ones. This means that there must be an honest State with a technically competent administration, financial procedures ensuring transparency in terms of the allocation and use of funds, public services that make progress in terms of quality, and solid legal institutions. It has in fact been proven that countries which have improved their governance experience greater economic growth and achieve more encouraging results in terms of reducing poverty.
With a view to this, joint bipartite assessment of the impact of the programmes conducted is of major importance because it enables lessons to be drawn, good practices to be compared in relation to the concerted actions taken, and because, in legitimising aid, it contributes to reinforcing trust and the feeling of a greater sense of mutual responsibility. Acceptance by the civil societies of developed countries of the financial transfers required is subject to the precondition of the transparency of the actions taken, and the visibility of the results, and only these are likely to convince them of the validity of the sums allocated to the aid.
But above and beyond the good governance of States, for a long time now, the AICESIS has held that it is largely based on the involvement and initiatives of their civil societies that the development of poor countries may find effective support. When civil societies are organized and have achieved a certain degree of independence in relation to political powers that are often imperfect, they constitute an effective lever for achieving the objectives of good governance and improving avenues for development. Indeed, they enable the input of contributions from bodies as diverse as professional and trade union organizations, associations (where women play an increasingly more substantial role), and NGOs, which are often very active. They thus act as the catalyst for involving actors out in the field, reinforcing local democratic debate, and better control of powers when faced with the temptations of waste and corruption.
In this respect, special attention must be devoted to the role of enterprises which, through the foundations that they have created, may lead to specific projects, particularly in the areas of training or health. In light of the role that they play in globalization, the responsibility of enterprises should not be underestimated. A certain number of them recently opted to adopt ethical and socially responsible behaviour which may act in support of the sustainable development approach: it is essential for an increasing number of enterprises to adopt this orientation and persevere with it.
This shows just how worthwhile the work of reflecting and making proposals carried out by the AICESIS is; this association represents organizations from civil society, enterprises, trade unions, associations, and NGOs from the North and the South in terms of all their diversity and specific features. The AICESIS offers an incomparable framework for jointly debating questions relating to sustainable development so that a better understanding of the solutions recommended may be achieved. By outlining a few of the most important elements in the joint reflection we have undertaken, it is this message of lucidity, determination and hope that I wanted to present today to this high-level session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council on behalf of the AICESIS and the civil society it represents.
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SPEECH By Mr. JOSE MUCIO MONTEIRO During the ILO General Labor Conference
(Geneva – June 9, 2008)
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Mr President, Mr Director-General,
Co-operation between the International Labour Organization and the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions is beginning to mature as, among other things, it involves two institutions which are based on broad, unrestricted social dialogue. The proof being, once again, the recent report from the Director General, which places freedom of association and the right to collective organisation and bargaining at the heart of any economic and social progress, something our institutions, the members of the AICESIS, are also seeking to promote.
I am extremely pleased to hear the news that the conference has included on its agenda the topic of “promoting rural employment in order to reduce poverty”, a question that affects the whole of modern society. A policy which observes international labour standards and respects the environment will bring about the possibility of developing quality employment within the context of promoting decent work.
We are convinced that nations must develop policies oriented towards professional certification and qualifications for their economies, thus facilitating an increase in qualified, employed and highly-productive labour. On behalf of the Councils, we support the efforts that the ILO may undertake to get us out of the current vicious circle involving low qualifications, a low level of productivity, informal labour and recurring poverty, and into a virtuous circle of quality, productive and formal employment, with better incomes and social protection for workers and their families.
This reflection ties in with the debate on the Millennium Development Goals, with special attention being devoted to rural populations, which are the ones that are most vulnerable and most affected by world poverty. Rural areas are on the margins of social progress and economic conditions destroy the bases of traditional systems of exchange and solidarity. Worldwide, the evil of poverty is linked to the fact that no attention has been paid to the tragedy which is affecting the rural sector due to being excluded from development.
The stabilization of rural populations has become the major challenge for preserving economic and social balances. There are various dimensions to the issue of employment in the rural sector.Stated succinctly, this sector displays three major features: 1) A situation of overpopulation associated with tiny incomes and with a high level of underemployment; 2) A capital-based agriculture characterized by use of labour which is becoming increasingly scarce or by the process of mechanization; 3) An agriculture in transition, of a dualistic nature, which combines the two previous situations, yet has reached its saturation threshold in relation to the capacity to create jobs.
The issue of employment features political, social, ecological, technical, instrumental and human dimensions. Within this context, the values advocated by the ILO, as well as its actions, lie at the heart of this strategy, which the AICESIS is allied with. For example, we consider the issue of decent employment to be one of the keys for sustainable, equitable development.
I would like to remind you that the theme proposed for the period of the Brazilian Presidency of the AICESIS is “Equitable Development and Environmental Responsibility”, with a focus on energy and its relations with development and the environment. The issue of renewable energy sources, with a focus on biofuels, highlights aspects relevant to all poor people. Experts defend the position that biofuels should be maintained as examples of clean energy sources. Otherwise, the developing world could lose a major opportunity for reducing the gap between rich and poor countries, through exposure to technological innovations, the expansion of trade and the creation of “green” jobs. Furthermore, bio-fuels may be an effective way of extending the benefits of globalisation to the vast majority of the world’s poorest people and, at the same time, providing an appropriate response to the challenge of global warming, in the absence of which the private sector, which controls these technologies, will not invest in insolvent markets. However, this is quite a controversial issue and it is worthy of in-depth reflection by all parties. One example is the issue of rising food prices and global inflation, which is a worrying matter, although it may also be attributed to rising family incomes in countries like China, India and Brazil, increasing the demand for foodstuffs, and not just to the increase in the production of biofuels.
The Millennium Development Goals attribute great importance to reducing poverty in the rural sector through the reduction of the proportion of people who suffer from extreme poverty and hunger by half by 2015. The Economic and Social Councils are in agreement on this issue and are joining forces with the United Nations in its fight and its insistence on demanding the application of the Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, which outlines methods for transferring knowledge in terms of ecology to developing countries. The Round Table meetings held in Paris, Algeria, Brasilia and Beijing concerning the MDGs reiterated the Councils’ commitment in favour of the campaign against poverty, side by side with the United Nations.
It is fundamental to work towards new paradigms. The new vision of the development of employment in the rural sector must bring new perspectives in order to increase employment opportunities. Rural areas could become future territories and, should the issues of winning back land be resolved, a source of wealth and an area for innovation.
Generally speaking, opportunities for generating employment in the rural sector are a long way from being implemented. This issue could be resolved by: 1) Recovering territorial dynamics in terms of generating employment; 2) Promoting synergies between individual, family and collective strategies; 3) Making State assistance available; and 4) Building an active partnership network for the benefit of the rural sector.
In the case of emerging countries, it would be worthwhile favouring rural investment in complementary activities which enable excess workers to apply under favourable conditions in their own regions.
At instrumental level, applying better management of the labour market is advisable, with the aim of getting back to the ILO’s concept, which involves numerous initiatives to be developed in the rural sector, such as the renovation of employment policies in the field; investment in enterprise creation, and support for the establishment of new lines of business.
These are some of the strategic and innovative challenges which will enable the shortcomings and limits of market regulation mechanisms to be reduced. The advent of multiple job-holding, “green” jobs, and an innovative, autonomous rurality, constitute the basis for eco-development based on an environment involving solidarity, as advocated by the partner organizations represented by the ILO and the FAO.
To conclude, the issue of rural employment concerns both the national and international communities. It is clear that achieving the MDGs involves a rehabilitation of the rural sector.
The Social and Economic Councils have mobilized to combat unemployment under the guidance of the International Labour Organization and, in particular, to develop social dialogue. Many thanks.
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Report on the first year of Brazilian presidency
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Main activities undertaken
Brazil assumed AICESIS’s presidency at the Association’s Tenth International Encounter held in Beijing in June 2007. Several activities undertaken since have contributed to AICESIS’s strengthening. During the Beijing Assembly, the Brazilian representative, then-Minister Walfrido dos Mares Guia, reaffirmed his commitment to the Association’s strengthening and outlined the Work Theme for 2007-2009. On the occasion, Minister Mares Guia stressed the importance of dialogue with civil society and of its participation for ensuring the interaction between the social and the economic sectors, growth and income distribution, and respect for the diversity of cultures and values and environmental sustainability.
AICESIS is a partner in the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals-MDGs and as such has played a major role in mobilizing high-level political support for the Regional MDG Round-Tables, as well as encouraging all the initiatives aimed at achieving those goals in its member countries. In November 2007, during the first semester of Brazilian presidency, a ceremony was held for the awarding of the First Millennium Development Goals International Prize, in partnership with ECOSOC, which was attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Brazilian experience in rewarding institutions that stand out in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals inspired this international award.
AICESIS Bylaws make it incumbent upon the presiding country to offer to host the first ordinary meeting of the Association’s Administrative Council and to propose a theme. Under the Brazilian presidency, the AICESIS Administrative Council held its first ordinary meeting in Brasilia, DF and in Lençóis, Bahia, November 5-6, 2007. The main theme chosen for discussion by the Association in 2007-2009 was “Development with Equity and Environmental Responsibility.” A Reporting Commission was appointed and entrusted with the systematization of the discussions and the preparation of the final report on the Association’s Work Theme for 2007-2009. The following Councils or Similar Institutions form part of the Reporting Commission: CDES ( Brazil); CNEL ( Italy); CES ( China); UCESA (Africa); CNES ( Algeria); and CESE ( European Union). In 2009, the Reporting Commission, headed by Mr. Artur Henrique, President of the Unified Workers Central-CUT and a CDES member, will present the final document with conclusions and recommendations pertaining to the theme. During the Lençóis session, the participants visited a biofuel production unit, where they became better familiarized with the social, economic, and technological impacts of Brazil’s option for biofuels.
The start-up event for the work of the Reporting Commission was the International Round-Table on Energy for Development with Equity and Environmental Responsibility held in Rio de Janeiro, February 26-27, 2008. The following delegations participated in this round-table: Algeria, China, European Union, France, Guinea-Conakry, Italy, Spain, and Russia. On November 28, still in Rio de Janeiro, the delegations met as a Working Group to discuss AICESIS’s main working theme – “Development with Equity and Environmental Responsibility” – and, with AICESIS Secretary-General Bertrand Duruflé’s collaboration, prepared a document on the Association’s work theme. The document was distributed to the members, and the following countries submitted their contributions to the debate: China, France, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Spain, and The Netherlands. Their contributions were organized for discussion at the Reporting Commission’s next meeting.
On April 16, 17, and 17, 2008, in Lima, Peru, the European Council held the Fifth Organized Civil Society Encounter – Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union. The Brazilian Economic and Social Development Council was represented at that encounter by some of its members and its Executive Secretary and AICESIS President, Minister José Múcio. On that occasion, Minister Múcio met with Peru’s National Council on Labor and Employment Promotion, pursuant to the initiative of promoting new Councils and Similar Institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the admission of new members from the region to the International Association of Economic and Social Councils-AICESIS. Representatives of Chile, Italy, and the European Union’s CESE also participated in the encounter.
As part of the efforts to promote the dialogue between governments and civil society, a meeting of the Portuguese-Speaking African Countries-PALOP was held in Brasilia, April 24, 2008. Delegations from Angola, Mozambique, and São Tome and Principe attended the meeting, at which they were introduced to the work of CDE, to AICESIS, and to their members’ participation in international forums devoted to the discussion of relevant issues, at which AICESIS presents civil society’s position.
AICESIS was represented by Secretary-General Bertrand Duruflé at the Ninety-seventh International Labor Conference. On that occasion, important issues were addressed, such as promotion of rural employment to reduce poverty, and qualifications required for increased productivity, employment growth, and development. The meeting discussed key issues faced by rural workers in terms of rights, employment, social protection, and social dialogue. In respect of decent work prospects, discussion focused on ways whereby countries could enhance their economies’ capabilities to increase both the quantity produced and the work’s productivity. The Conference addressed the challenges facing the countries at different development levels and their political options in search of relevant lessons for less developed, developing, and developed countries. Mr. Bertrand Duruflé spoke at ILO’s plenary session in his capacity as AICESIS Secretary-General, stressing the issue of rural work in particular. In addition, the AICESIS Secretary-General and ILO’s General Director met to discuss mechanisms for institutionalizing relations between their two entities, among other issues, including presentation of the main issues discussed at AICESIS. Also during the Ninety-seventh International Labor Conference, a round-table was organized for presentation of Bahia’s Decent Work agenda
AICESIS’s Brazilian presidency attaches great importance to the consolidation and institutionalization of relations between the Association and multilateral organizations such as ILO and UNECOSOC. These organizations play a major role in the international discussions of social and economic issues of interest to the Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions that are AICESIS members. Brazil understands that AICESIS should play a key role in bringing civil society positions into multilateral and worldwide discussions, in view of the fact that currently the main multilateral bodies of the UN system represent only the views of governments.
Activities envisaged for the Brazilian presidency’s second year
Several AICESIS events are already scheduled forthe Brazilian presidency’s second year. The Association’s General Assembly is scheduled for June 12- 13 in Rome; also on that occasion the Administrative Council will meet and as well as the Working Group on AICESIS’s main theme. In July, AICESIS’s President will speak at ECOSOC’s meeting in New York. During his New York stay, he will meet with the IMF General Manager to discuss the interaction between the two institutions.
In the second semester of this year, the Administrative Council is to meet in Monaco, at which time the Working Group on AICESIS main theme will also meet. In addition, the Brazilian presidency has already begun preparations for the next AICESIS International Encounter scheduled for July 6- 10 in Rio de Janeiro, at which time AICESIS’s presidency will be transferred to another member.
Brazilian assessment of the first year of Brazilian AICESIS presidency
As an international association that gathers about sixty institutions from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, AICESIS allows the interaction of economic and social councils and similar institutions and contributes to the international discussion agenda of organized civil society that participates in these institutions. AICESIS plays a fundamental role in promoting a dialogue and exchange among its members and, on a larger scale, a dialogue among economic and social partners worldwide. The Association intends to encourage the establishment of CES in the countries where they do not exist yet and to contribute through the exchange of works and the organization of encounters to the prosperity and economic development of peoples, as well as to the building of democratic civil societies, consistently with mutual respect and respect for peace, as well as with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the principles and fundamental rights to work, unanimously approved by ILO members.
During this first year of Brazilian presidency, AICESIS discussed an issue of crucial importance on the international agenda. The promotion of development with equity and environmental responsibility is a great challenge to all countries, particularly to developing countries. From this perspective, the energy issue was considered as being central for ensuring social and economic development accompanied by environmental sustainability. The discussion of this theme has been extremely profitable, as it has taken into account the specificities of each country and the solutions proposed by each one of them for the energetic issue and global warming. Brazilian spoke of its experience in the production of biofuels and of clean, renewable energy as an alternative for ensuring energy security and environmental sustainability. It is worth stressing that the choice of a theme for debate by AICESIS in 2007-2009 was very appropriate and timely and reflects international society’s current concerns, which are being intensely debated at multilateral governmental forums, such as FAO. The current crisis of international food prices has raised doubts about the relation between energy and food security and biofuels production. The dialogue within civil society is important for clarifying and analyzing these questions. As a biofuel producer that has a strong food security policy, Brazil is in a position to contribute to this debate.
To Brazil, occupying the presidency of an institution such as AICESIS, which congregates representatives of organized civil society of different countries, has been very important for the consolidation of a democratic dialogue between the government and civil society, with the help of the Council on Economic and Social Development, as well as for the inclusion of issues considered of interest to all peoples into the international debate. Our country’s objective is to go on contributing to the promotion of institutional channels for democratic dialogue and for inclusion of civil society positions on the international agenda.
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Summary of decisions Taken by the board of IAESCSI
(5 - 6 November 2007) BRASILIA AND LENÇOIS (BRAZIL)
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Participants :
The Presidents or representatives of the Presidents of the Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions of : Algeria – Brazil – Cameroon – China – France – Hungary – Italy – Mali – Mauritius – the Netherlands – Portugal – Europe (EESC) – UCESA
Apologies were received from Senegal.
(a list of names is appended)
There is also appended a brief report of the first Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Awards.
The President obtained approval for the agenda and a point by point report is given below of the decisions made.
The AICESIS strategy with regard to the MDGs
A report on her activities and the new MDG website was given by Ms Hanifa Mezoui, Head of the NGOs Section at the Headquarters of the United Nations ECOSOC, who had been seconded for several months to the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Geneva, in order to concentrate on work that she was doing, together with some NGOs, and universities and with the support of AICESIS. The MDG website was hosted by AICESIS and would facilitate numerous exchanges of experiences and the distribution of supporting documents for trainers' training programmes, role of the “Centres of Excellence”.
Several Councils, which had not received or were not aware of the information concerning the relations between AICESIS and Ms Mezoui, requested to be given more detailed supporting papers on the subject to enable them to express an opinion on the scheme, and if appropriate, support it in full knowledge of the facts.
Ms Mezoui and the Secretary-General would therefore prepare, for the board meeting in Rome, a working paper which would provide a clear response to the following questions:
- How is AICESIS involved in the Millennium Goals and what strategy was adopted following the four Round Tables?
- Does AICESIS supervise the Millennium Goals website? What advantage does this site bring for AICESIS' work and public profile?
- The International Millennium Awards were a success due to the active participation of the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Mr Inacio Lula da Silva. How often
- should they be presented in the future, if it is decided to continue with them, and how many awards should be presented?
- Could the Selection Committee be improved?
On each one of these points, the Secretary-General would submit the necessary information and ask the Board to adopt a decision.
Preparations for the General Assembly in Rome
All the Councils wanted as much time as possible to be devoted to discussions and debates between AICESIS members by keeping the formal proceedings to the strict minimum.
All AICESIS members would be asked to arrive in Rome by 11 June 2008 in order to take advantage of two full days.
The programme would probably include:
- A half day devoted to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of CNEL
- A half day to the Board
- A day and a half to the General Assembly
- A quarter of a day to the international working group responsible for preparing the main topic for 2009.
The Secretary-General would submit proposals on the subject to the President after meeting senior officials of CNEL in Rome in January 2008.
Replacement of the Secretary-General
Everyone had received the application of Mr Patrick Venturini, the EESC Secretary-General.
Everyone had been able to check that the application matched the profile decided on by the Board in Madrid in 2006.
After a long discussion on the finalisation of the best possible procedure for recruiting for this post, the following was decided on:
The Councils could put forward a name for consideration by 1 March 2008. Proposals should be submitted to the President and Secretary-General. The President would then forward the applications to all the members of the Board by 1 March 2008, with his comments on their suitability.
Applications which matched the post profile, i.e.:
- Senior management experience within a an Economic and Social Council or a Similar Institution
- Expertise and experience in the field of international relations
- To know at least 2 languages of communication, 3 if possible
- To be available to travel around the world
- Application supported by an AICESIS member Council.
The applications would then be forwarded once again to everybody with the papers for the Board meeting in Rome.
The Rome Board meeting would appoint the candidate with the broadest overall support. The appointment would be effective from 1 January 2009.
The current and new Secretaries-General would then be able to work together until the 11th International Meeting in Brazil.
Statutes and Rules of Procedure
After a very intensive discussion on the case for, or against setting up, a Committee to revise the AICESIS statutes and rules of procedure to match AICESIS' new objectives, a very large majority came out in favour of:
- Concluding that there was nothing in, or missing from, the statutes likely to prevent the International Association from operating normally
- Concluding that the statutes had been very carefully drawn up, with the involvement of all members and had achieved complete consensus at the General Assembly held in Seoul in September 2006.
Under those circumstances, a reform of the statutes was not really a priority. However, the President would be pleased to receive any suggestions for amendments to the rules of procedure, which required improvements in the drafting to make them more complete and more consistent.
The improvements could be proposed to the Board meeting in Rome.
The growth of AICESIS
The Secretary-General reported on three new applications from Councils which would be invited to Rome:
- The Economic and Social Council of the Dominican Republic
- The Economic and Social Council of Ukraine
- The Economic and Social Council of Chad.
China reported on the work done in Asia, in respect of Laos (at present an associate member), Vietnam, the Philippines, and by the Economic and Social Council of Thailand in relation to the ASEAN countries.
Brazil reported on the numerous opportunities for setting up new Councils in Latin America.
Algeria and Mali referred to the work of UCESA.
In Europe, all the Councils were paying close attention to Eastern Europe.
It was finally agreed that UCESA, China and the EESC would seek, in their respective geographical areas, the assistance of all the Councils in supporting initiatives aimed at the establishment of new Councils.
The President reported on the contacts that Brazil intended to initiate towards Mercosur and the Andean countries.
Portugal would willingly support Brazil's efforts so as to ensure that the entire Portuguese-speaking world was being carefully monitored in that respect.
Anyone could help AICESIS with its "missionary work", as long as the President and Secretary-General were kept informed of any ongoing initiatives.
Choice of working topic for 2007-2009
The President had circulated a text (appended) on "Development with equity and environmental responsibility".
The very detailed text gave consideration to the relationship that existed between renewable energy – reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thus protection of the environment – and sustainable development.
In other words, if current climate change was to stand a chance of being brought under control, and in order not to penalise the weakest even more, there had to be a profound change in the behaviour of states and civil societies, because the two were inextricably linked. The change would have to be based on, among other things, the concepts of sustainable development and equity and it would inevitably involve a new energy policy with much greater room for renewable energies.
A visit to the biodiesel plant at Lençois, intended to provide a better understanding of the issues involved and of possible solutions, brought the Board up to speed on the current debate and the action being taken in Brazil.
Having taken note of the text, the priorities of which were perhaps not adequately summarised in the current title, the Board decided:
- to ask Brazil to appoint a rapporteur
- to appoint at least six Councils as coordinators, which would be responsible for putting together everyone' s notes and drafts and highlighting the priorities of the different groups or areas
With both UCESA and Europe holding meetings for their respective regions before the end of November, the coordinators would be appointed at those meetings and their names forwarded immediately to the President and Secretary-General
- to forward the current working document to all AICESIS members, with useful information regarding the working timetable, the rapporteur's contact details, the names of the coordinating Councils.
The Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General would have to draw up the letter very quickly, which would be signed by the President and sent out by the Secretary-General, at the beginning of December at the latest.
The text of the letter would include a detailed working timetable.
An initial meeting of the entire working group would take place on the occasion of the General Assembly in Rome in June 2008.
AICESIS, ECOSOC and the ILO
ECOSOC and the ILO wanted the President of AICESIS to speak on behalf of the International Association in connection with the annual themes of those two international organisations.
ECOSOC's theme would probably be – it was not finally decided – "Public health and development" and it would be discussed at the Plenary Assembly in New York in July 2008.
The ILO's 2008 theme was "Job creation in rural areas" and it would be discussed at the International Labour Conference in Geneva at the end of May/beginning of June.
The President said that he would attend the meetings in New York and Geneva in person. The Secretary-General would have to find a rapporteur for both of the themes, who would draw up a text that would be sent to all AICESIS members. Having gathered together all the comments, the rapporteur and the Secretary-General would suggest to the President the main points of his addresses.
Working arrangements of AICESIS
The Board looked into the working arrangements of AICESIS and several options were considered to increase a budget that was far too low to meet the organisation's objectives.
The main options identified, which would be looked at again in Rome, were:
- an increase in contributions
- seeking support from organisations representing employers, the trade unions and the associations
- seeking financial support from major foundations or international organisations such as the UNDP.
The Board asked all those present to submit ideas and points for discussion.
At the end of the meeting, the Secretary-General requested authorisation, which was granted, to increase the flat-rate reimbursement per kilometre for travel by car on official AICESIS business from EUR 0.40 to EUR 0.50. The rate of EUR 0.40 had been set by the Board in Algiers in 2003.
Done at Lençois
6 November 2007
The President The Secretary- General
Mr Walfrido Dos Mares Guia Mr Bertrand Duruflé
LIST OF participants
| Country |
Names |
Position |
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Algéria |
M. Atman Sahnoun
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Member of Council |
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Brazil |
Mr Walfrido dos Mares Guia
Ms Esther Bemerguy
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President of the CDES and of AICESIS
Deputy Secretary-General of AICESIS |
| Cameroon |
Mr. Luc Ayang
Mr. Dieudonné Biboum Nyemb |
President
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China |
Mr. LI Xueming
Mr WANG Shenghong
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Deputy Secretary-General of AICESIS
Secretary-General |
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Europe |
Mr et Mme Dimitris Dimitriadis
Mr Patrick Venturini
Mr Dimitris Chatzigiannis
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President
Secretary-General |
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France |
Mr Bertrand Duruflé
Mr Raphaël Hadas-Lebel,
Mr Roger Briesch
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Secretary-General of AICESIS |
| Hungary |
Mr Tamas Halm |
Secretary- General |
| Italy |
Mr et Mme Antonio Marzano
Mr Glauco Maglio
Ms Francesca Santoro
Mr Eduardo Comes
|
President
|
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Mali |
Mr Moussa Balla Coulibaly
Mr Abdoulaye Fofana
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President |
| Mauritius |
Mr Mohamad A. Vayid
Mr Jayeraj Ramjada
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President
|
| Netherlands |
Ms Véronique Timmerhuis
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Secretary- General
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Portugal |
Mr Alfredo Bruto da Costa |
President |
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Summary of decisions made by the board of IAESCSI
(Tuesday 19 June 2007) in Beijing
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Participants:
The Chairs or representatives of the Chairs of the Economic and Social Councils or Similar Institutions of:
Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, China, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritius, Senegal, Spain, Tunisia, and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
The Union of African Economic and Social Councils (UCESA),
The Union of French-Speaking Economic and Social Councils (UCESIF).
The Board meeting was held on 19 June 2007 in Beijing, and was chaired by Mr Wang Zhongyu, the Chairman of the Chinese Economic and Social Council, and the President of the AICESIS.
After a word of welcome during which he paid tribute to the memory of Dali Jazi, the Chairman of the Tunisian Economic and Social Council (who passed away a few months ago), and he hailed the arrival of Mr Walfrido Dos Mares Guia, the Minister of Inter-Institutional Relations and the Chairman of the Brazilian CDES, the President had the agendas for the Board meeting and the General Assembly meeting of 20 and 21 June adopted.
The various matters on the agenda were then considered.
The following decisions were made:
1- Chairman Diop informed the Board of his appointment as the President of the UCESIF. The Board congratulated him and everyone agreed that henceforth the Chairman of the Senegalese Council of the Republic for Economic and Social Affairs will represent not just his Council on the Board, but the UCESIF as well.
2- The Board permitted Messrs Raphaël Hadas-Lebel and Wang Shenghong to present their report on the working theme “Intensifying international co-operation, Promoting common development, Building a harmonious world”. This report received the general approval of the members of the Board. The President mentioned that he had received 16 requests to speak regarding the report’s theme and that he intended to give the floor to everyone, with 5 minutes each being allocated.
An exception will be made for Chairman Babes, who will have 10 minutes to speak on behalf of Algeria and the UCESA.
3- The President received the Board’s unanimous approval to present the Beijing Declaration for adoption by the General Assembly. This Declaration took into account all the amendments received within the set timeframe.
4- Ms Hanifa Mezoui and Mr Bertrand Duruflé were given approval to propose the action platform for the Millennium Objectives to the General Assembly.
It features two sections:
- Ms Mezoui, who has been seconded to Geneva for 6 months to UNITAR (the United Nations Institute for Training and Research), will seek to co-ordinate the regional Centres of Excellence (by continent) which, completely in line with the round tables, are responsible for promoting initiatives in the field of training (at all levels) which are useful for achieving the MDGs. Mr Duruflé will ensure dissemination of all the initiatives that may concern the ESCs to those ESCs that are members of the AICESIS.
- Ms Mezoui and Mr Duruflé are pursuing the establishment of a Millennium Prize which, for the first year, received a grant of $20,000 from Total and WSA. This will enable 4 Prizes to be presented at the Board meeting in Brasilia to organizations chosen by the Selection Committee, which met in Beijing at 3pm on 19 June. The prize-winners include 2 NGOs (Good Neighbours in Korea and the Hernandiana Foundation in Argentina), and two African 2 ESCs (those of Mali and the Ivory Coast), who were selected for the support that they provide to NGOs that are particularly active in the training sector. Ms Mezoui is seeking to firm up the conditions for a 3rd Prize which would be awarded to a university.
5- The Board approved the presentation to the General Assembly of the candidature of the Laotian National Construction Front as an associate member and asked the General Secretary to take stock of the membership requests made by the Councils of the Dominican Republic, Peru, Serbi and Ukraine. Examination of these requests must be continued so that the next General Assembly meeting in 2008 may make a decision.
6- Approval was granted for the policy report and the financial report prepared by the General Secretary to be presented to the General Assembly.
7- Brazil informed the Board of its intention to lodge its candidature for organizing the 11th International Meeting and the Board granted its approval.
8- The General Secretary informed the Board of the composition of the new Board which was to meet on 21 June.
- Asia and Latin America will continue to be represented by China and Brazil.
- For Europe: Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg will be replaced by Portugal, Hungary and the Netherlands. Italy, France and the EESC will remain on the Board for a further term of office.
- For Africa: Tunisia will be replaced by Algeria. Cameroon, Mali, Mauritius and Senegal will remain on the Board for a further term of office.
9- Mr Duruflé quickly outlined the principles regarding interpreting, which he will propose for the Board meeting on 21 June to decide on. These principles were approved.
Henceforth, the languages used at AICESIS meetings will be:
- The 2 working languages of the United Nations: French and English,
- The language of the President of the AICESIS,
- The language of the place where the meeting is held,
- The language or languages spoken by at least 3 active members of the AICESIS.
10- Mr Duruflé briefly outlined the forms of support that he is requesting in order to once again request confirmation by the Board meeting on 21 June of his reappointment for a further term in office:
- The possibility of calling on the Chargés de Mission (who know all about the AICESIS) to stand in for him at certain international meetings, as Mr Roger Briesch, the former President of the EESC, has already had the opportunity to do (successfully) in Latin America… This would be done in order to cut down on the General Secretary’s travel.
- The possibility of covering the travel costs for his wife once a year should he go on a mission that lasts longer than 5 days.
The Board approved these terms and encouraged Mr Duruflé to request a further term in office.
11- The General Secretary outlined his intentions regarding the appointment of Deputy General Secretaries.
Chairman Babes of Algeria, who received the approval of Chairman Vahid of Mauritius, held that consideration would need to be given to another type of organization, with 3 Deputy General Secretaries truly representative of the African, Asian and Latin American continents. These Deputy General Secretaries could make preparations for relieving the General Secretary.
Chairman Vahid stressed that the AICESIS should express itself not only through reflection, but also by taking action.
These issues shall form the subject of more in-depth studies when the Board meeting is held in Brasilia.
Done in Beijing
19 June 2007
The Chairman The General Secretary
Mr Wang Zhongyu Mr Bertrand Duruflé
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Summary of decisions made by the general assembly of IAESCSI
(Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 June 2007) in Beijing
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The General Assembly meeting was held on 20 and 21 June 2007 in Beijing, and was chaired by Mr Wang Zhongyu, the Chairman of the Chinese Economic and Social Council, and the President of the AICESIS.
Opening ceremony:
After a word of welcome, President Wang Zhongyu read out a message from Mr Hu Jintao, the President of the People’s Republic of China.
Then, the following people spoke in succession:
- Mr Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
- Ms Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, the President of the UN General Assembly,
- Mr Pascal Lamy, the Director-General of the WTO,
- Mr Juan Somavia, the Director-General of the ILO,
- Mr Léo Mérorès, Vice-President of the United Nations ECOSOC,
- Mr Luc Guyau, the FAO’s representative,
The President then adopted the agenda.
Here are the decisions made upon consideration of the various matters entered in the agenda.
1- Mr Raphaël Hadas-Lebel presented the report by the working group on the main theme. After having heard speeches by approximately twenty Council representatives, the adoption of the report on the main theme “Intensifying international co-operation, Promoting common development, Building a harmonious world” was decided on by acclamation. It is the Rapporteur’s responsibility to complete his drafting of the text, taking into account the observations heard on 20 June. Mr Dominique Peccoud, Mr Somavia’s Special Advisor, provided a concluding speech on dialogue between cultures.
2- The Beijing Declaration which, prior to the meeting, took into account multiple requests for amendments, was adopted unanimously by acclamation.
3- The Chairman of the Lebanese ESC thanked both the President of the AICESIS and the AICESIS for the message of support that the General Secretary sent him in October 2006, pursuant to the decision made by the Seoul General Assembly meeting.
4- Chairman Sung-Joon Cho of Korea informed the General Assembly of the forthcoming holding of a Regional Forum on social dialogue in Seoul. President Wang Zhongyu assured him of the support of the members of the AICESIS in order to ensure the full success of this event.
5- Ms Hanifa Mezoui and Mr Bertrand Duruflé received approval of the initiatives taken in order to develop an initiative to promote the MDGs through co-ordination of Centres of Excellence intended to promote training initiatives relating to the MDGs by universities, ESCs and NGOs. They also received approval of the selection of the first Millennium Prize winners, who will receive their awards in Brasilia, when the Board meets. The winners include 2 NGOs (Good Neighbours in Korea and the Hernandiana Foundation in Argentina), and 2 African ESCs (Mali and Ivory Coast).
6- The Laotian National Construction Front was accepted by acclamation as an associate member of the AICESIS. The Front is preparing for the creation of an ESC which, naturally, will be aiming to become an active member.
7- The General Secretary was empowered to examine membership requests from the Councils of the Dominican Republic, Peru, Serbia and the Ukraine.
8- The financial report was adopted and quietus was given to the General Secretary for his management. The Assembly also approved the projected account for 2007 proposed by the General Secretary. The policy report was approved by the General Assembly.
9- Brazil’s candidature for organizing the 11th International Meeting was accepted. In accordance with our Articles of Association, the Chairmen of the Brazilian CDES, Mr Walfrido Dos Mares Guia, was appointed as President of the AICESIS for the period 2007-2009. The 11th Meeting will be held in Brasilia in June 2009; a specific date will be proposed at the next Board meeting.
10- The General Assembly ratified the proposals made for renewing the Board. For the period 2007-2009, the Board members will consist of the following Councils: Algeria, Brazil, Cameroon, the EESC, China, France, Hungary, Italy, Mali, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, and the UCESA and the UCESIF.
11- The General Assembly adopted the proposal made by the Italian CNEL to organize the 2008 General Assembly meeting. Consequently, it will be held in Rome on 12 and 13 June 2008.
12- The General Assembly noted Monaco’s proposal to organize an AICESIS event in Monaco; either a Board meeting or an international working meeting.
13- Mr Jacques Dermagne, the Honorary President, presented a proposal by the Board to have Mr Wang Zhongyu appointed as Honorary President of the AICESIS, which was done by acclamation.
Closing ceremony:
Before the closing speech by President Wang, the new President of the IAESCSI, Mr Walfrido Dos Mares Guia, read his investiture speech, and Messrs Bertrand Duruflé and Robert Tollet, the Chairman of the Belgian Central Economic Council, commented on the 10th anniversary of the AICESIS. On behalf of everyone, Jacques Dermagne, the Honorary President, also read out a motion offering particularly warm thanks to the Chinese authorities and, naturally, to Mr Wang Zhongyu, the President of the Institution which made such a magnificent success of the 10th International Meeting.
The President The General Secretary
Mr Wang Zhongyu Mr Bertrand Duruflé
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Summary of decisions made by the board of IAESCSI
(Thursday 21 June 2007) in Beijing
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Participants:
The Chairs and representatives of the Chairs of the Economic and Social Councils or Similar Institutions of:
Algeria, Brazil, Cameroon, China, France, Hungary, Italy, Mali, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
The Union of African Economic and Social Councils (UCESA),
The Union of French-Speaking Economic and Social Councils (UCESIF).
The Board meeting was held on 21 June 2007 in Beijing and was chaired by Mr Walfrido Dos Mares Guia, the Chairman of the Brazilian CDES, and the new President of the AICESIS.
The President obtained approval of the agenda for the Board meeting and asked the General Secretary to have the various matters on the agenda examined.
The following decisions were made:
1- The appointment of the Chairman of the Chinese Economic and Social Council, Mr Wang Zhongyu, as Honorary President, will be proposed to our General Assembly by Mr Jacques Dermagne, the Chairman of the French Economic and Social Council and Honorary Chairman of the AICESIS.
2- The next Board meeting will be held in Brasilia on 6 and 7 November 2007.
3- Mr Bertrand Duruflé was reappointed for a further term in office as the General Secretary.
4- Ms Esther Bemerguy De Albuquerque, assistant to Chairman Walfrido Dos Mares Guia, and Mr Li Xueming, assistant to Chairman Wang Zhongyu, were appointed as Deputy Secretaries-General. The study of other possible nominations of Deputy Secretaries-General and Chargés de Mission will be submitted to the decision of the next Board.
5- In the event of a long-term mission, once a year the General Secretary is allowed to cover the travel costs for his wife.
6- The General Secretary is empowered to report to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in Geneva regarding the work of the 10th International Meeting held in Beijing.
7- The Board has defined the principles that will be applied henceforth regarding interpreting. The languages used for AICESIS meetings shall be:
- The 2 working languages of the United Nations: French and English,
- The language of the President of the AICESIS,
- The language of the place where the meeting is held,
- The language spoken by more than 3 active members of the AICESIS.
8- The Board noted the availability of Monaco for holding an AICESIS event, a Board meeting or an international working group meeting.
9- The Board accepted the proposal made by the Italian CNEL to hold the 2008 General Assembly meeting. It will be held in Rome on 12 and 13 June 2008.
10- The President informed the Board that the 11th International Meeting will take place in Brasilia in June 2009. A date will be proposed at the next Board meeting.
The Board unanimously offered its thanks and congratulations to Chairman Wang Zhongyu for the outstanding organization of the 10th International Meeting in Beijing.
Done in Beijing
21 June 2007
The President The General Secretary
Mr Walfrido Dos Mares Guia Mr Bertrand Duruflé
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News Letter of the Economic and Social Development Commission of the Republic of Korea (May 15, 2007) |
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- Since its establishment in 1998, the Korea Tripartite Commission as a social dialogue body has reached 137 agreements so far. Thus, the Commission has contributed to overcoming economic crisis and reforming laws and systems of industrial relations as well as many a pending issues of industrial relations.
Now, the Korea Tripartite Commission newly starts its operation with a name of the Economic and Social Development Commission (hereinafter referred to as “ESDC”).
- The 1st Plenary Session of ESDC was held on 2nd May 2007. Ten members of the Plenary Session including Chairman of ESDC, President of the Federation of Korean Trade Union (FKTU), Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), Labor Minister deliberated and decided main projects of ESDC in 2007 and the draft on Composition and Operation of Committee by Agenda and the draft on partial revision of ESDC operating bylaws.
- The quorum of the Session is originally composed of 12 members. However, the current members of the Session are ten because the post of ESDC Vice-Chairman is vacant at present and President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) was absent.
- Representatives of labor, management and government in a meeting on April 2006 agreed the revamp of the Korea Tripartite Commission in evident efforts to boost efficiency in the operation of the Commission and build multi-layers consultative systems. Consequently, the agreement of labor, management and government invited the amended Act of the Korea Tripartite Commission. The amended Act is for the Establishment and Operation of the Economic and Social Development Commission.
- Main points of the Act of the Economic and Social Development Commission include:
1. Changing the name of the Korea Tripartite Commission with that of the Economic and Social Development Commission.
2. Promoting efficiency in the operation of the Economic and Social Development Commission.
- Reducing members of public interest groups in both Plenary and Standing Committee. The members of the groups are appointed among those who survive the exclusion by the labor union (FKTC) and employers federation (KEF).
- Members of public interest group in the Plenary Committee are two while members of the group in the Standing Committee are composed of four.
3. Permanent Committees (Subcommittees and Special Committees) are abolished. Instead, Committee by Agenda is set up under the Standing Committee. The Committee by Agenda exists for up to one year. Provided that, when necessary, the period of existence can be prolonged once by up to one year.
4. Defining way for conclusions of discussion when participants of the Plenary Session are absent without approval.
- The current decision status that requires consent of two-thirds or more of the members present in the session is maintained. In the event that resolution is not possible because of absence of either all worker members or all employer members, the Plenary Session can start the deliberation with the attendance of the majority of the registered members and decide to notify to the government the discussion results up to the time with the approval of the majority of the attending members.
5. Building multi-layers dialogue systems.
- Committee by Industry can be legally established to discuss industrial pending issues.
- Support for regional tripartite committees can be legally provided to promote social dialogues in the regions.
- The most important point in this revamp is that agendas can be efficiently discussed at Committees by agendas which replace the Subcommittees and Special Committees.
- In accordance with the revamp, the ESDC has set up five Committees by agendas. The five Committees include:
- Committee on follow-up measures of irregular workers law
- Committee on improvement of collective bargaining system
- Committee on improvement of wage system
- Committee on development of employment insurance system
- Committee on development of industrial relations
- In particular, the Committee on improvement of wage system will deal with measures to ameliorate the Salary Peak and measures to revamp wage systems for redressing the discrimination against the irregular workers. These measures are important enough to gain huge attentions from the public. The Committee on development of industrial relations is to check views of experts for wage systems and infrastructure of regional employment in an apparent attempt to seek for building a new industrial relations paradigm.
- The ESDC will establish and operate one or two Committees by industry which will be at the forefront of building multi-layers industrial relations.
- The ESDC will enlarge regions for financial support so as to activate regional tripartite committees.
- The ESDC will positively examine to adopt “Plan for building the regional employment governance as an agenda of the first half of the year.
The plan will be of consequence to heighten the efficiency of the regional employment governance and increase the cooperation of labor and management.
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