The Government of the Republic of Korea and the International Labour Organization (ILO) signed an agreement for a partnership programme for technical cooperation in Asia and the Pacific.  The Programme provided a second year of funding of US$550,000 for the promotion of decent work, youth employment, improving safety of workers, training and a fellowship programme.  The ceremony was held on Friday 28 January 2005at the ILO Office,United Nations Building, Bangkok. 

Photo from left:

Ms. Mito Tsukamoto, Senior Development Cooperation Officer, ILO Geneva,
Ms. Mukda Sunkool, Chief, Regional Programming Services Section, ILOB angkok,
Ms. Christine Evans-Klock, Director, ILO Subregional Office,Bangkok
Ms. Lin Lean Lim, Deputy Director, ILO Regional Office,Bangkok,
Mr. Shinichi Hasegawa, Director, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific,
H.E. Byung-Hoon Choi, Deputy Minister of Labour, Republic of Korea,
Mr. Jong-kil Park, Expert, Vocational Training, ILO Bangkok,
Mr. Myung Rho Lee, Director for the Preparatory Office the 14^th Asian Regional Meeting (ARM),Korea 

Background note for information:

The Government of the Republic of Korea has provided funding for several experts and various ILO workshops in Thailand since 2002.  The Korea/ILO Partnership Programme on Technical Cooperation was established in 2004.   Later this year Korea will host the ILO’s 14^th Asian Regional Meeting (ARM) which will be held in Busan from 10-14 October 2005. 

The Korean funding of US$550,000 provides support to technical cooperation programmes in Asia and the Pacific which includes:  promotion of youth employment, improving working and employment conditions, reform of ILO skills institutions network, and training and fellowship programmes in vocational rehabilitation policies, occupational safety and health, social security, and dispute mediation and arbitration.  Besides cash contribution, the Republic of Korea has also provided in-kind assistance worth US$170,000.

Also present at the signing ceremony will be: Mr. Lee Myung Roh, Director of the Preparatory Office for the ILO’s 14^th (ARM); officials from the Korean Employment Promotion Agency for the Disabled (KEPAD), the Korean Human Resource Development Agency (KOSHA), the Korean Labour Education Institute (KLEI), the Korean Labour Welfare Corporation (KLWC) and theKoreanUniversityof Technology.

For enquiries, contact:   
Krisdaporn Singhaseni
Information Officer, ILO
Tel. 02 288 1664, 01 624 1399
 E-mail:  krisdaporn@ilo.org