A senior Chinese government official in Geneva on Tuesday called on the International Labor Organization (ILO) and its member states to take actions to help disadvantaged groups in the world of work.

 

"The goals pursued by the ILO have always been achieving social justice and fairness, ensuring all the workers to have equal work opportunities and security," said Tian Chengping, Chinese minister of labor and social security.

 

"However, poverty, unemployment, unsafety and insecurity at work and lack of social protection remain to be the universal social issues faced by many developing countries and regions," he told more than 4,000 delegates to the 95th International Labor Conference.

 

Tian noted that to implement the ILO's Decent Work Agenda, the international community needs to provide assistance to underdeveloped regions.

 

On the other hand, governments also need to help and protect the disadvantaged groups in the labor world through domestic policies.

 

The official shared with delegates China's experience in promoting employment and improving social security system for the disadvantaged people.

 

He also put forward several recommendations concerning the social policy priorities of governments and the tasks of the ILO. One of his recommendations is to provide employment services and preferential policies for starting up small businesses, and to help every family to have at least one person engaged in a job with income.

 

Another recommendation is to provide more training opportunities which comply with the demand in the labor market and are affordable to the job seekers.

 

He also suggested developing a basic social safety network to guarantee people's basic livelihood against old-age, diseases, work-related injuries and unemployment.

 

Delegates to the conference, which opened on May 31 and ends June 16, represent governments, workers and employers of more than 170 member countries of the ILO.

 

The meeting is focusing on a wide range of issues including changing patterns in the world of work, child labor, occupational safety and health, the employment relationship, labor inspection, etc.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2006)