JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO THE ILC AFTE

[darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx]

The full report of the debate is on the following link
(scroll down to 4th report of the Selection Committee)

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc88/com-seld.htm


Mr. HARAGUCHI (Government delegate, Japan) ? Thank you for recognizing me 
all the way up here on the second floor.
The ILO has a history of valiant efforts and outstanding achievements 
towards the improvement of conditions and standards of
work throughout the world, and many of us present here have directly or 
indirectly benefited from those efforts. The issue
before us now is a situation of forced labour in Myanmar. A resolution has 
been adopted threatening to gradually drive that
country into isolation, while aiming at the elimination of forced labour in 
that country. The Government of Japan voted against
this resolution. We did so not because we think the problem of forced 
labour does not exist in Myanmar. On the contrary, it is
exactly because we recognize the graveness of the problem and because we 
concluded that the best way to redress the
situation would be to strongly encourage the present administration of 
Myanmar to ensure that there should be no forced labour
in that country through a process of dialogue and assistance on the spot, 
rather than through drastic punitive measures. After a
process of five years, Myanmar has finally begun to show its willingness to 
cooperate with the ILO. This was brought about by
the efforts of the Members, as well as the Office, and we should well 
appreciate and take into account the significance of these
changes.

The Government of Japan frankly was not happy with the resolution, but now 
that it has been adopted we wish to read
optimism in its language.

Let us hope, and call upon the Government of Myanmar to maintain its 
dialogue and working relationships with the ILO. In this
context, I would particularly like to draw the attention of our colleagues 
from Myanmar to the fact that, in recognition of its
positive response to the mission sent by the ILO, the deadline is set, not 
for today, but for the end of November, that is to say,
a new window of opportunity has been opened for Myanmar. This window of 
opportunity has been opened because of the
perception, not only on the part of Government delegates, but also of the 
Workers and the Employers, that however subtle the
change in Myanmar?s stance may be, it is worth taking it seriously. Had the 
Government of Myanmar not accepted the
technical mission, this extension would not have been offered: Myanmar has 
earned it.

I would strongly urge the Office to assist the Government of Myanmar, by 
the means mandated to it, including the dispatch of
more technical cooperation missions, in order to support and facilitate the 
process of transition in Myanmar towards the
elimination of forced labour. I sincerely advise the Government of Myanmar 
not to take such offence from this resolution as to
cast away the positive elements contained in it, but rather to make the 
most of them and take the necessary steps before
November, along the lines already clearly expressed in the letter from the 
Labour Minister, thereby proving its seriousness and
sincerity in its commitment. In so doing, by honouring its promise, Myanmar 
will be able to gain renewed standing and
recognition in the ILO and the international community as a whole. In this 
regard, the Japanese Government will stand ready to
facilitate further dialogue between Myanmar and the ILO, by providing good 
offices and any assistance that may be called for,
for the sake of resolving the issue.