Kuwaiti Deputy Premier arrives in Japan

Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Dr. Mohammad Al-Afasi arrived in Osaka, western Japan, on Saturday to participate in the 15th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) from Sunday.Upon arrival at Kansai airport, Dr. Al-Afasi was received by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi and Japanese officials.The Kuwaiti delegation includes the ministry's Undersecretary Mohammad Al-Kanderi, other officials from the ministry and Kuwaiti businessmen.The four-day meeting is expected to be attended by about 500 people, representing more than 46 countries in Asia and the Pacific and the Arab States and Territories in West Asia.Among those scheduled to attend are prime ministers, government ministers, representatives of workers' and employers's organizations and academics.Al-Afasi underlined the importance of taking part in this meeting to review the developments related to the implementation of the Asian Decent Work Decade convention which Kuwait had signed.At the meeting, three thematic panels will discuss the co-ordination of macroeconomic, employment and social protection policies; the development of productive employment, sustainable enterprises and skills; and promoting rights at work and social dialogue.The ILO originally planned this meeting in April, but postponed following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March. The ILO is the UN specialized agency dealing with work and work-related issues. It has a unique tripartite membership structure, under which governments, employers' and workers' organizations act as equal partners, making decisions representative of the real economy.