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ASEAN-focussed labour market governance programme (OSH and industrial relations) - Final Evaluation

eval_number:

2019

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/2019

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Informal economy

category:

Employment

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comments:

Targetted at ASEAN countries

challenges:

The informal economy thrives in a context of high unemployment, underemployment, poverty, gender inequality and precarious work, and is marked by acute decent work deficits and a disproportionate share of the working poor. Some of the characteristics of informal employment are unsafe working conditions, compulsory overtime or extra shifts, and the absence of social benefits such as pensions, sick pay and health insurance. Women, migrants and other vulnerable groups of workers who are excluded from other opportunities have little choice but to take informal low-quality jobs. Informal economy workers, particularly women, often work in the most hazardous jobs, conditions and circumstances. The rate of work-related accidents and diseases is much higher in small than in large-scale industry and, even without precise data, the preponderance of small enterprises in itself points to increased risks in the informal sector. This makes the prevention of work-related accidents and illnesses an essential aspect of efforts to address working conditions in the informal economy .

success:

In Cambodia, the project built upon the ILO’s “Informal Economy, Poverty and Employment” project (2006), which was a success because it integrated OSH in the public service, and provided training of trainers for tripartite constituents in the informal economy, including home based workers and farmers. This project has similarly provided training of trainers at provincial level for informal economy workplaces The project facilitated the government’s recognition of the participatory training programmes as a practical means to address safety and health. In Viet Nam, the project intervened in a similar manner at the provincial level and national level legislative and policy activities assisted with the development of the new OSH Law, which extends coverage to the informal sector. Participatory training programmes like Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) and Work Improvement in Neighbourhood Development (WIND) are increasingly applied in Asia for supporting grassroots initiatives in informal economy workplaces to improve safety, health and working conditions. The ILO’s Work Improvement tools provide excellent entry points into the informal sector. These participatory programmes are easy to apply and action-oriented, and focus on immediate improvement needs of informal economy workplaces. Approaches that are educational, persuasive, transparent and participatory are particularly successful in reaching the informal economy.

context:

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is keen to extend OSH coverage to informal economies in the region. The Philippines and Viet Nam provide good examples of varying levels of OSH coverage in the informal economy.

description:

It is good project strategy to focus on OSH coverage in the informal sector, as well as in the formal sector, at national and grassroots levels.

administrative_issues:

N/A

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/195635

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location:

country:

Asia and the Pacific - regional

region:

Asia and the Pacific

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eval_title:

ASEAN-focussed labour market governance programme (OSH and industrial relations) - Final Evaluation