1. the Present and Future of PES, Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 PES orientations in crisis times Patrick Venier WAPES Executive Secretary

2. the Present and Future of PES Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 The basic objective of Public Employment Services (PES) is to facilitate the adjustment of companies and jobseekers/workers to changing labour market conditions. In times of economic crisis, demand for the fundamental employment services of registering individuals for unemployment insurance where it exists and providing job search assistance to unemployed workers is intensified. PES orientations in Crisis times

3. the Present and Future of PES Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 PES orientations in Crisis times At the same time PES must implement new Active Labour Market Programmes (ALMPs) instituted to mitigate redundancies and speed re-employment for those who do lose their jobs. Meeting heightened expectations and increasing delivery capacity has become a major challenge in many countries.

4. the Present and Future of PES Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 PES orientations in Crisis times The crisis demands Capacity increase and innovative responses to improve the PES performance, and more specifically, to improve how public employment objectives and services are accomplished and delivered  High unemployment rates  Diversification of users: individuals with specific characteristics, groups at risk…  New clients  Change of skills and workers profile  Part time and temporary employment  Workers mobility  Self-employment  Micro credits  Training and vocational orientation  Life long learning & career guidance  Private agencies competence

5. the Present and Future of PES Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 PES are the principal implementing agencies for governments’ labour market programme responses to the economic crisis The majority of PES have responded to the crisis by expanding existing job-matching services ( Japan, Argentina, Germany) Some by introducing more flexibility to unemployment benefits, intermediation services and ALMP’s. (Mexico, USA, Cameroon) Public Employment Services responses to the Global Economic Crisis (ILO, Skills & Employability Department - November 2009)1

6. the Present and Future of PES Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 Targeted services to support worker groups affected by crisis: laid off workers, young and older jobseekers ( El Salvador, Japan) The implementation of mobile services ( PES services on- site at an enterprise) allows rapid responses to enterprises affected by the downturn (Croatia, Thailand) Worksharing schemes or short-time work schemes to prevent worker layoffs (Turkey, Spain, Uruguay) Strenghtened partnerships with PREA’s ( New Zealand, the Netherlands Public Employment Services responses to the Global Economic Crisis (ILO, Skills & Employability Department - November 2009)2

7. Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 Conclusions PES need to be ready to change and adapt their services need to strive for continuous improvement & effectiveness need to be recognised as the main impact instrument of labour market policy should work together with a wide range of partners

8. the Present and Future of PES Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 WAPES activities: Information collection: Questionnaire with ILO to PES to ascertain what they did in past crisis and how this might apply to the current situation Exchange good practices : world congres and regional workshops on the role of PES in crisis times Advocacy: Cooperating with other organisations to raise the visibility of WAPES member responses to the crisis PES orientations in Crisis times

9. Asia & Pacific Region Workshop Seoul, Republic of Korea 25 November 2009 Thank you for your attention! Questions Patrick Venier, Executive Secretary WAPES Executive Secretariat 95, rue de la Loi 1040 Brussels BELGIUM wapes@wapes.org