Representatives from around 40 countries are to attend the 16th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of the International Labour Organization (ILO), to discuss issues affecting employment and the world of work in the region.
More than 400 people are expected to take part in the meeting in Bali, Indonesia, between 6-9 December, including government Ministers and officials, industry and worker representatives and several major non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
IOSH has been invited by the ILO to attend the meeting, with Vice-President Dr Vincent Ho due to represent the Institution during the proceedings.
Vincent is expected to have the opportunity to address delegates about the work of IOSH, its support of occupational safety and health initiatives globally and its branch networks in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ahead of the meeting, Vincent said: "IOSH is supporting the 16th APRM of the ILO and its aim of building consultative relationships with international NGOs.
"By being a part of the meeting, I want to raise the profile of IOSH as an international NGO, promote our policy on health and safety in corporate social responsibility and sustainability, and to gain a broad understanding of the ILO's priorities to see if there are potential opportunities for IOSH to explore as a collaborator."
Such ILO regional meetings are usually held every four years or so, with the most recent APRM having taken place in Japan in 2011.
Among the topics to be discussed at the upcoming meeting are strategies for creating jobs, and promoting equity and decent work.
Conclusions that arise from the meeting will help to shape the national labour and employment policies of the ILO's Member States, as well as the ILO's work in the Asia-Pacific region.
Richard Jones, IOSH's Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: "IOSH has been an ILO-recognised international NGO since 2006 and we're very pleased to have received this invitation, as it's the first time we've been invited to attend one of these important regional meetings.
"We were very keen to attend this international forum to help reinforce IOSH's already strong relationship with the ILO, and to encourage further such invitations in the future."
Proceedings can be followed online at www.ilo.org/aprm2016, or by using the hashtag #ILOAPRM via Twitter.
