Your Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

Other distinguished key officials of the Philippine Government representing their departments, offices and institutions, Esteemed colleagues from the development circle, friends, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is an honour and privilege for me to be invited to speak in this Employment Summit on behalf of the United Nations system in the Philippines.

At the outset, I would like to compliment the Government of the Philippines on organizing this Summit. The presence of Her Excellency the President demonstrates the very high priority accorded by the Government to employment promotion, to "Developing a Responsive Employment Strategy " as highlighted in the motto for the Summit.

Mrs. President, worldwide, 150 million people are unemployed, many more are underemployed. Work - and even more the absence of it - affects and shapes people's lives decidedly. As ILO's Director General, Mr. Juan Somavia, points out, work is critical to our identity and future. The income which we derive from work allows us to participate in markets. Without a job the promise of the market economy is hollow to most of us.

This summit recognizes that employment is a crucial policy issue and a source of livelihood and social integration. Productive and freely chosen employment is the main safeguard against poverty. Of course, the strategy cannot be the same for those living in the knowledge economy and for those ekeing out a living in the informal economy. Both are a reality and both are growing. We in the United Nations are eager to assist your building bridges between the two. We stand ready to work with you on immediate measures and on a comprehensive employment strategy. No doubt, this will promote "Decent Work" for all, ILO's overall programme thrust which encompasses employment promotion, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue.

Employment creation also implies a major emphasis on enterprise development and the need for creating an enabling environment for productive investment. Training and skills development and support for small and medium-sized enterprises are critical. Without a healthy employment situation, which in turn is also dependent on a global economic environment that promotes sustainable growth, improving labour conditions and achieving other social objectives will be very difficult. As reflected in this summit's agenda, the promotion of employment is related to the process of integration in the global economy. International flows of capital, knowledge and labour all critically affect the potential for employment growth, but also underlie the increase in competitive pressures.

To promote employment also involves ensuring access to and equality for women in the labor market, finding ways to enable the young to enter the labor market and moving children out of the worst forms of child labor and back into schools. It also implies support to indigenous peoples and to all those workers who are particularly vulnerable such as those affected by HIV/AIDS. In the framework of the UNDAF, there are joint programs in these areas with your government and we pledge to continue and, where possible to enhance our cooperation with a view to reducing and eliminating social exclusion wherever they exist.

Although the Philippines has been able to weather the financial and economic crisis that battered most of the South East Asian countries with relatively less severe adverse impact, the growing unemployment, which according to some estimates is presently over 11 percent, remains a major concern, as is the high level of underemployed workers. Employment generation and poverty reduction, no doubt, constitute the biggest challenges for social policy planners and program implementers in the country. Thus, following a growth strategy which is employment-friendly is important for moving towards a sustained growth with equity in the country.

As this summit recognizes, to generate, preserve, enhance and facilitate employment is only possible if all parties concerned, the government, industry and labour - and civil society have a say in how this goal is to be achieved. This summit recognizes the need for dialogue explicitly. It takes a participatory approach, creating a space for social dialogue that can address the challenges of full employment constructively and with a view to achieving a measure of consensus in the interest of the common good. Having a voice on these crucial concerns strengthens the foundation for trust and cooperation in the management of change.

Before I close, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the Government of the Philippines once again for this opportunity to share our views and to renew the commitment of the United Nations to the Government of the Philippines in their efforts to attain growth with equity, eradicate poverty and enhance international competitiveness. While on a global scale, employment may not yet receive the priority it deserves, we the United Nations family are pledging to contribute actively and enthusiastically to your government's initiative on employment as a central policy priority in the Philippines.

Thank you for your attention.