APEC ministers pass labor market information system
APEC ministers pass labor market information system
MANILA (AFP): Ministers of the member economies of the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum yesterday endorsed the
creation of a labor market information (LMI) computer network
among themselves at a conference here.
The joint ministerial statement, obtained by the press, also
called on members to facilitate "the mobility of qualified
persons through sharing of LMI on skills, wages and working
conditions."
The statement said "focal institutions" in each country should
be identified to distribute LMI and that such information should
be shared between member economies and disseminated through the
Internet and other international data sharing systems.
However the statement did not deal directly with the growing
movement of workers from labor surplus nations like the
Philippines and Indonesia to countries with labor shortages like
Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia.
All these countries, along with Australia, Brunei, Canada,
Chile, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
Singapore, Thailand and the United States, are member economies
of APEC.
The Philippines, which is hosting the annual APEC summit in
November, and which initiated this APEC ministerial meet on human
resources, had warned of the growing problems of overseas
workers.
Problems
Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon, in remarks to the
ministers yesterday cited the problems faced by these workers,
some of whom have become victims of abuse due to lack of legal
protection and cultural sensitivity.
The problem is particularly acute in the Philippines which has
about four million men and women working overseas and which is
seeking access to more foreign labor markets.
Philippine Labor Undersecretary Bienvenido Laguesma, a
delegate at the conference, said that the treatment of overseas
workers was not specifically discussed.
But he said that "the mere fact that the mobility of qualified
persons has been considered would indicate that there is
recognition" of the issue.
In a statement, Philippine President Fidel Ramos said he
expected a consensus to be reached on such issues as regional
labor market trends, mutual accreditation of educational
standards and skills and on vocational and technical training.
About 200 leftist protesters staged a brief rally near the
hotel where the conference is being held until Friday, condemning
APEC which they charged would open the Philippine economy to
exploitation.
Police prevented them from approaching the hotel and they
later dispersed without incident.