Seeking Further Opportunities for Japanese ILO Multi-bilateral Cooperation in the Context of Promoting Decent Work in Lao PDR:A Case Study on Employment Projects for Lao PDR
Promoting decent work (DW) for all, which is a target of the eight goal among the sustainable development goals (SDGs), is regarded as a focal point to be discussed globally. Additionally, each policy making and Official Development Assistance (ODA) is bei ng increasingly developed to address various labour issues. In this context, numerous labour issues, including employment issues, have been highlighted in Lao PDR, which is in a geographically important location of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation s (ASEAN) and has close diplomatic relations with Japan, and the Lao government has set policy goals for promoting DW accordingly. Conversely, the number of foreign direct investments from Japanese companies to the country has increased every year. To inco rporate market growth in Asia, labour issues in the region such as Lao PDR would constitute a serious concern. Hence, the Japanese government has engaged in various efforts towards promoting DW. Given the need for promoting DW in Lao PDR and the requiremen ts for the Japanese government to implement an effective ODA for DW in the country, this article seeks further opportunities for Japanese ILO multi bilateral cooperation in Lao PDR, which is a cooperation method to combine the technical expertise of ILO wi th financial support from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Welfare of Japan, while referring to recent cases of employment projects by ILO nationwide. Specifically, this article focuses on three perspectives (1: whether there are actual needs for such cooperation in the country, 2: whether Japanese ILO multi-bilateral cooperation effectively works in the country, 3: whether Japanese ILO multi bilateral cooperation contributes to being present in international society) to confirm whether Japanese ILO multi bilateral cooperation is possible in Lao PDR.departmental bulletin pape
