Message from the International Labour Organization (ILO)
Good-practice approaches have been playing a greater role in implementing the raising of occupational safety and
health (OSH) standards at both the national policy and workplace levels. Adopting successful approaches strengthens
the efforts of government, workers and employers. Within the region, each country has the potential to learn from one
another and further promote high standards in OSH.
Recognizing how countries within the region can benefit from each other’s experiences, the Singapore Government
designed and hosted the ASEAN-OSHNET Workshop on Good OSH Practices in February 2009, with financial
support from the ILO/Japan Multibilateral Programme. The initiative was very timely and helped to solidify the
collaborative nature of ASEAN-OSHNET. The Government of Singapore and the ILO have further worked together
to collect the OSH good-practice stories from the workshop presentations and discussions for sharing with a broader
audience.
This publication showcases the diverse efforts and achievements of ASEAN countries to promote OSH from the grassroots
workplace level up to the national policy level. These efforts share the common goal of realizing decent and safe
work for all workers. I see this publication as a milestone in the ongoing process of strengthening OSH practices and
an important tool for greater network collaboration that can assist ASEAN countries.
I would like to express appreciation to the ASEAN-OSHNET members for their implementing and documenting
these good practices. I also appreciate Tan Fang Qun of the OSH Division in Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower and
Tsuyoshi Kawakami, Senior Occupational Safety and Health Specialist in the ILO Subregional Office for East Asia for
their collaboration in editing this publication, in cooperation with many ASEAN-OSHNET colleagues. I also extend
thanks to the ILO/Japan Multibilateral Programme, which has long supported the efforts of ASEAN-OSHNET.
I am certain this publication will provide useful ideas for OSH policy makers, practitioners, workers and employers in
ASEAN countries. The efforts and actions described here should also be useful at the international level. The ILO, as
the agency to promote decent work, will continue to join the commitment of ASEAN-OSHNET and work together
in realizing safe and healthy workplaces for all workers.
Bill Salter
Director
ILO Subregional Office for East Asia