4th ASEAN Labor Inspection Conference opens in Phl

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The 4th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Labor Inspection Conference opened on Thursday in the Philippines.

Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the conference aimed at promoting regional partnerships to strengthen the network of labor inspectorates within the ASEAN.

She said the conference intended to develop labor inspection guidelines for local workers as well as for the migrant-reliant sectors, which would serve as a benchmark for the ASEAN member states on how to better protect and promote the rights and welfare of local and migrant workers through labor inspection.

"It also aims to address particular challenges related to work- sector, age, and legal status of migrants and local workers," she said.

The two-day conference will be highlighted by country presentations and discussions on ASEAN Good Practices on Labor Inspection, Training and Capacity Building for Labor Inspectors, and Identified Challenges and Solutions on Inspection and Emerging Issues.

It will also adopt implementation strategies on how to proceed with the Action Plan agreed upon during the 2nd ASEAN Labor Inspection Conference in Dong Nai, Vietnam in October 2012, she added.

The first ASEAN Labor Inspection Conference was held on October 13-14, 2010 in Ha Long, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, while the 3rd ASEAN Labor Inspection Conference was held in Bali, Indonesia on July 3-4, 2013.