The ILO Subregional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific was established in 2000 with the merging of the South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (SEAPAT) and the ILO Area Office which existed since 1970. As a subregional office, it provides advisory services and technical assistance to countries in the subregion with the support of ILO Area Offices in Indonesia and Fiji.

The ILO is committed to realize decent work and livelihoods, job security, better working conditions and living standards. It was founded in 1919, to promote social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. In 1946, the ILO became the first specialized agency of the United Nations. It is the only “tripartite” United Nations agency, where governments, employers and workers have an equal voice in improving conditions and life at work.

Disclaimer: The above map does not reflect a position by the ILO on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.

Persons with disabilities often face lack of work opportunities or low wages compared to non-disabled persons. “In the world of employment, discrimination against persons with disabilities happen. Often, they are the last to be hired but the first to be fired,” said Mr. Richard Arceño, National Coordinator of the Philippine Council of Cheshire Homes for the Disabled (PhilCOCHED).

ILO estimates that people with disabilities represent 10 per cent of the world’s population, or some 650 million people worldwide. Approximately 470 million are of working age. In a forum on the “Right to Work of Persons with Disabilities” held in line with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the ILO Manila highlighted the need for decent work and equal opportunity. “We hope that more people understand disability issues and make efforts to realize a community where people with disabilities can fully and equally enjoy human rights. Women and men with disabilities can be and are productive members of society”, according to ILO Manila.

Employers gave their testimonies on hiring persons with disabilities. Over a hundred persons with disabilities, government officials, employers from public and private sectors, resource speakers, non-government organizations and advocates joined the forum. PhilCOCHED, a non-profit organization for persons with disabilities, organized the forum. The forum included the launch of PhilCOCHED’s Access to Livelihood: Economic Empowerment Programme funded by UK-based Leonard Chesire Disability to ensure recognition of the right to work of persons with disabilities and to improve their lives economically.

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) based in Berne, Switzerland have launched the 38th International Letter Writing Competition for young people to promote better understanding around the world through the post office.

The competition will focus on the theme “Write a letter to someone to explain how decent working conditions can lead to a better life.”

The 1st prize winning entry on the national level will automatically qualify for the UPU international letter writing competition to be held in Switzerland. The theme was chosen in coordination with the International Labour Organization (ILO), which is currently launching a worldwide campaign on the importance of decent work.

Students or out-of-school youth who are citizens of the Philippines and not more than 15 years old are qualified to join the contest. The compositions must be recent and must be in the form of a letter (must include the address of the recipient and sender as well as a proper signature ending). It should be written in English - between 500 to 1,000 words long, handwritten or typewritten. On a separate sheet of paper, the participant must indicate the number of words of the letter, complete name and address, gender of candidate, age and birth, 2x2 coloured ID picture, name of school and address, grade level, and contact numbers. Compositions should refrain from promoting any political or religious opinions, strictly following the set theme.

The first prize winner will receive P15,000; second prize, P10,000; third prize, P5,000 plus other recognitions. The competition is also a way of making young people aware of the important role that the service plays in our societies, to foster attention for writing letters even though other means of modern communication exists, such as mobile phones and the Internet.

Send your entries to Ms. Joy E. Cacho or Ms. Annadel S. Bangalisan, PhilPost Marketing, 3/F Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) Liwasang Bonifacio 1000 Manila or call +63 (2) 527 0059 / 527 0108 / 524 8771. Each entry must be sent either through Domestic Express Mail Service (DEMS) or Registered Mail. Deadline for submission of entries is on 28 February 2009.

read more about the Universal Postal Union's international letter-writing competition

In almost every country where they live, indigenous peoples belong to the poorest of the poor, have the lowest income levels and limited access to basic education, health care and other services. Indigenous peoples represent 5 per cent of the world’s population and over 15 per cent of the world’s poor.

In order to protect and promote the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples in the Philippines, the International Labour Organization is supporting a forum on “Leveraging Change through ILO Convention No. 169” which will be held on August 7 (Thursday) 1:00-6:00pm at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) covers a wide range of issues, including land rights, access to natural resources, health, education, vocational training, conditions of employment and contacts across borders.