Aiming for higher labour standards: Anwar receiving a courtesy call from Houngbo (left) at the Prime Minister’s Office. Looking on is Sim (centre).
PETALING JAYA: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has commended Malaysia and the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in spearheading Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship.
The ILO director-general Gilbert F. Houngbo, who paid a courtesy call to Anwar at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Putrajaya on Friday, praised the success of inviting world leaders to attend the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits.
This is the first time an ILO director-general has visited Malaysia since the country joined the world labour body in 1957.
Houngbo was accompanied by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. He expressed the ILO’s commitment to continue supporting the efforts of the Asean region and strengthening cooperation with member countries to improve regional labour standards.
Additionally, during the meeting, Sim said they also discussed the future of employment and Malaysia’s leadership on regional labour issues.
In an Instagram post, Sim also said the ILO sees Malaysia as an example of progressive labour leadership.
Among Malaysia’s initiatives are the ratification of ILO Convention 155 to improve the occupational safety and health sector, the drafting of the Gig Workers Bill, reforming the foreign worker management system, and strengthening the skills training sector, Sim added.
