New partnership to encourage women’s entrepreneurship and to promote the employment of people with disabilities in developing countries

A new partnership agreement was signed today by Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas aid programme, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to encourage women’s entrepreneurship and address the inclusion of people with disabilities in workplaces in developing countries. The programme, which is implemented by the ILO with support from Irish Aid, draws on the expertise and experience of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC).

Ms Mito Tsukamoto of the ILO, David Begg, General Secretary of ICTU and Turlough O’Sullivan, Director General of IBEC, were present for the signing at the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre.

For many, the route out of poverty is through a decent job based on rights, protection and social dialogue.  This partnership seeks to empower some of the world’s most vulnerable people and to give them the means to lift themselves out of poverty.  

Note for Editors:

The ILO is a UN agency that brings together governments, trade unions and employers. The partnership announced today runs from 2008-2011 and will see Irish Aid provide €9 million during this period to support activities across a range of countries and focusing on five specific programmes, each of which contribute to the realisation of decent work and opportunities for all:

1. Promoting women’s entrepreneurship development: seeks to create more and better opportunities for women in developing countries to secure decent employment and income through enterprise activities;
2. Promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in employment: seeks to include both women and men with disabilities in a range of employment-related programmes, including entrepreneurship development and vocational training. Particular attention is being paid to promoting the inclusion of disabled women and men living with HIV and AIDS;
3. Promoting the employment of people with disabilities through effective legislation:  enhances the capacity of national governments to implement legislation which promotes the employment of people with disabilities;
4. Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour:  focuses in particular on building the capacity of employers’ and of workers’ organisations to contribute to action against forced labour. In addition to activities at the global level, the Partnership supports country-level action aimed at the prevention of forced labour and trafficking of vulnerable migrant workers in Ethiopia, Nepal and Zambia.   
5. International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour: Irish Aid support builds the capacity of employers’ and workers’ organisations to support action against child labour. 

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Press Office
03 November 2008