Deborah France Massin, Director ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities

Being sucessful in globalised world not achievedby independent unilateral action (impact of multipolar, turbulent world on smaller states)?

No economy can act in isolation

Creating a modern business environmentrequires cooperation across borders – building coalitions/alliances essential

Complex/time consuming – don’t always getyour own way but cost of not engaging?

Policy making context has changed.

International fora being used to shapestrategic direction of policy debates

Global institutions set parameters for regional/national legislation

Agenda is increasingly being set atinternational level to deliver responses to global challenges

Regional blocs setting the agenda at global level

Other actors very organised (NGOs etc)

Trade union campaigns at global level do have impact

Business voice can go by default

ILO discussion on informal economy Objective: international Recommendation on

facilitating transitional from informal to formal economy

Employer group proposal Difficulties – focus on improving working

conditions («living wage», supply chains, collective bargaining)

Strong international employer lobby

Landmark instrument and advocacy tool

Focus on transition measures via integratedpolicy framework

Key business themes◦ Improved access to business services, finance,

infrastructure, property rights◦ Undertake business entry reforms (reduce

registration costs, compliance costs etc)

Working conditions in supply chains

Issue of «living wage»

Future of work

Accepted need to update Recommendation(go beyond results of international warfare to include internal conflicts and disasters)

Questionnaire now out for consultation –responses by 25 September 2015.

Revise Recommendation or new one? (previous experiences)

Need to focus on not only resilience but alsorecovery

Need to ensure concept of preparedness alsocovered not just resilience

Issues for employers◦ Protecting existing business and do no harm

concept◦ Business continuity planning◦ Clarity on employer liability◦ Ensure Recommendation is not «over-detailled»

Make responses direct to ILO by 25 September 2015

Copy IOE Why ?◦ Example of using international agenda to

reinforce/push for action at regional / national level◦ Catalyst for action after adoption of

Recommendation◦ But first have to ensure content business friendly

and relevant