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DECP News 2006
 | | ILO Building in Geneve |
Introductory interviews with ILO and IOE in Geneva From 15th to 17th February Jan Karel Bout, Director of DECP, and Mathieu Korten, Deputy Director, visited the International Labour Organisation and the International Organisation of Employers, both in Geneva. For a brand new organisation like DECP it is essential to have a good look around and to become acquainted with the most relevant organisations in the field of development cooperation.
IOE is the international umbrella organisation of employer federations all over the world with 150 members, and among them of course potential partners of DECP. IOE indicated that there is a strong need for a training programme for leadership in employer federations. The board of DECP had already decided that a training programme should be one of the main elements in the service package of DECP and IOE will be involved in the development of this programme.
The Bureau for Employers Activities of ILO (ACT/EMP) proved to be an important source of information for DECP. ACT/EMP has supported training programmes in several countries and has also developed papers for that purpose, for instance "The effective Employers Organisation". ACT/EMP was very pleased with the establishment of DECP
and looked upon it as an ally in the struggle to improve the business climate in developing countries. It is ILO's view that dysfunctional governments in developing countries are the main obstacle to improving the business climate and therefore welfare in these countries. If the government does not function properly because of corruption and/or bureaucracy, employer federations and trade unions cannot operate in the right way either. "Strong employer federations are essential to improve government" was a remarkable observation of one of the ILO officials. The regional office managers of ILO can provide DECP with very useful information about the current situation with respect to government and social partners in developing countries.  | | Presidential Palace La Paz |
Delegation of the Social Economic Council goes to Bolivia From 24th to 28th April Mathieu Korten, Deputy Director of DECP, visited Bolivia with a delegation of the Dutch Social Economic Council. The visit was a result of an invitation from President Evo Morales who visited the Netherlands in February 2004. During his visit he showed very much interest in the Social Economic Council in which he saw a means of softening polarised relations between employer federations, trade unions and other partners of civil society. The main purpose of the visit was to inform the various relevant organisations in Bolivia about the development of the Social Economic Council in the Netherlands and the functioning of the Council in relation to ministries, politicians, employers and trade unions.
The delegation started its work with discussions with President Evo Morales, Vice-President Garcia Linera and the Minister of Labour Mamani. During the week meetings were arranged with the national trade union COB and regional trade unions in Santa Cruz, the national employer federation CEPB, several Chambers of Commerce, sectoral organisations in the oil and gas industry and several advisory and research institutions. The week was rounded off with a discussion with Minister Quintana of the cabinet of the President and President of the National Bank of Bolivia.
The delegation had the impression that the election victory of President Morales and his government mandate are more or less undisputed, also among employers. Most of them see no alternative to Morales and no-one looks back longingly to the chaos of the recent past. Most of the organisations met and persons spoken to welcomed the establishment of a social and economic council in Bolivia. People differed only about the status of the council (an independent advisory council, as in the Netherlands, or a council with statutory decision-making powers), the regional balance in the council and the representation of the different groups in civil society, especially the informal sector in the economy.
The delegation submitted a debriefing report to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a summary report for the Bolivian discussion partners. The leader of the delegation, Steven Duursma of the Dutch Social Economic Council, visited Bolivia again from 12th to 14th June for a round table discussion with the Bolivian government and UNDP about the establishment of a social economic council in Bolivia.
 | | Moldovan flag |
Moldova From 12th to 14th May DECP visited Moldova, accompanied by a representative of the ILO. They had discussions with the national employer federation CNPM, the association for construction and construction materials, the Small Business Association and the National Federation of Employers in Agriculture and Food Industry. Occupational safety and health and supervision of the government is a problem for the members of CNPM and they are therefore interested in a training programme in this field. Also, the agricultural and food industry was interested in an OSH course, but more priority was given to social dialogue and negotiating with trade unions. This association’s Chairman Bulgari believes that there is a strong need among the regional organisations of his association for a training course to enhance the capacity of his members on this point. A formal request to DECP to organise a training course has now been submitted.
The construction association already had contacts with the Dutch government and it is fairly satisfied with the support it has received hitherto. A point still to be solved in this sector is a fund to continue paying construction workers in frosty weather. DECP promised to send a Dutch expert to help with negotiations with the Moldovan government to set up such a fund. SBA asked for an expert on microfinance and could be helped on the spot through referral to an ILO expert and a training course at the ILO training centre in Turin.
 | | A shake of hands after signing the MoU |
• Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesian employers On 31st May Mr Bernard Wientjes, the Chairman of VNO-NCW (the Dutch Employers Association) and also the chairman of DECP, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce Kadin, Mr Mohamad Hidayat. The memorandum is drafted in cooperation with The Indonesian Employers' Association Apindo and The Indonesian-Netherlands Association INA. The Chairman of Apindo, Mr Sofyan Wanandi and the Vice-Chairman of INA, Mr Theodoor Bakker, co-signed the memorandum. The Chairmen recognise the importance of improving Indonesia's investment climate and international competitiveness. In this context they underline the essential role business and employer federations can play. The experience and expertise of Dutch employers in the Netherlands in policy-making and constructive dialogue with government and trade unions has a long tradition and has proved to have a positive influence on Dutch economic performance.
The importance of constructive dialogue between employer organisations, government and labour unions is also seen as a potentially important positive factor for influencing the Indonesian economy.
The signatories agreed that an exchange of experience between employer and business federations in their
countries is very useful. They decided to work together and develop a programme with the purpose of
strengthening the organisational structures and policy-making capacities of Kadin and Apindo. It is the aim that strengthening these organisations will help to maximise economic growth, investment and employment in Indonesia.
The programme will be developed with the assistance of DECP. It is foreseen that in the near future DECP experts will visit Indonesia to discuss and assist on a wide range of subjects. The programme will start with a pilot project focused on investment and labour relations. It is also foreseen that training of Indonesian experts will be part of the exercise. The programme will be executed with the financial support of DECP.
 | | Statue of Skanderbek, the national heroe in Tirana |
Albania In July Thieu Korten and Jean-Marie Standaert visited KOPSH, the main Employer Organisation in Albania and IOE member.
DECP had a very useful and fruitful meeting with a delegation of KOPSH comprising Mr. Imir Kamba, Vice-President of KOPSH for international relations, Mr. Varoshi, Secretary General, Mr. Agim Lamja, Board Member, and Mr. Bashkim Sala, Senior Advisor. Several proposals were discussed for improving the representativeness of KOPSH taking into account the specific environment.
DECP also paid a short visit to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and met Mrs. Marleen Monster, Second Secretary.
 | | Map of the Republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina |
• Bosnia-Hercegovina
At the end of July Jean Marie Standaert and Thieu Korten visited the Dutch Embassy's First Secretary, Mr Jan de Boer and the APBiH (Association of Employers of Bosnia and Hercegovina) with the aim to present DECP and to discuss and examine possible cooperation programmes.
DECP had a very fruitful meeting with the staff of APBiH.
Several proposals for cooperation were discussed and developed which APBiH has now to concretise and to submit to DECP. Just as in Albania payment of membership fees is a problem.
It was agreed upon that the staff of APBiH would submit officially to DECP proposal regarding amongst others :
- Publication of an Employers' Memorandum to be sent to the political parties in view of the coming elections;
- Organisation of a workshop on how to prepare employer federations for membership of the Economic and Social Council, with examples from other EU-countries;
- Organisation of a workshop on public procurement with rules on transparency, about the EU-regulations, etc;
- Organisation of a large Day of the Entrepreneur with participation government members.
 | | Guatemala's national bird, the quetzal |
• DECP fact-finding mission to Guatemala From October 21-25 Jan Karel Bout and Bram Van Overbeeke visited Guatemala at the invitation of the Guatemalan employers' organisation CACIF. The objective of the trip was an appraisal of the way DECP can be of assistance to CACIF, in particular in setting up some form of 'social dialogue'. After intensive consultations it was clear that there are substantial social divisions and that the gap between employers and trade unions will be very difficult to bridge. One intermediate step might be one or more preliminary meetings of both employers and trade-unions chaired by the former president of the Spanish Social and Economic council. DECP will try to involve knowledgeable and experienced people from the Netherlands in the process. Another suggestion was that attempts should be made within Guatemala to try and find "Eminent Persons" who could work as a catalyst leading up to the establishment of a Social and Economic Council.
DECP also introduced its benchmark checklist for measuring the effectiveness of an employers' organisation. The Executive Director of CACIF agreed to use it as basis for formulating the various types of assistance that DECP could provide in the upcoming period.
 | | Surinam's Presidential Palace |
• Fact-finding mission to Vereniging Surinaams Bedrijfsleven (VSB) Jan Karel Bout and Thieu Korten visited VSB (Surinam Trade & Industry Association) on a fact-finding mission from 18-21 October. The chairman of VSB, Marcel Meyer, visited DECP early July 2006 and invited DECP in order to analyse the Association and advise the board on how to enhance the position of the VSB. DECP had two meetings with the board of the VSB at which the President of the Association of Surinam Manufacturers
(ASFA) was also present. The VSB is the largest employers' federation in Surinam, representing various sectors of economic activity (mining, banking, insurance, engineering, agriculture, etc.); the ASFA represents manufacturing industries in the country.
A predominant problem in Surinam is the weak earning capacity of its economy, outside that of the mining sector (bauxite, gold and crude oil), that takes care of about 90% of its foreign currency. The conditions of improving the earning capacity of the economy are also weak, partly because of the traditional lack of cooperation between government and private sector and partly because of the period of political and economic downturn of the country during the military dictatorship of the eighties with the dire consequences of the sky high inflation and the monetary financing of the governments during the eighties and nineties.
The current government has developed a multi-annual development plan 2006-2011 that shows a new openness to the private sector and civil society. It creates new challenges to the whole of society to find new linkages of cooperation and strategic alliances to solve the new problems of liberalization and regional integration.
DECP suggested that VSB tackle the problems in a strategic way by publishing a priority plan and holding a conference for business people and politicians in which a World Bank representative and business leaders from abroad should give their view on the development situation in Surinam.
DECP will give a one week's training programme in the Netherlands for the newly appointed director of VSB in February 2007. In addition, DECP proposed to coach this director and his Bureau over a two weeks' period in which a priority- and publicity plan should be developed. | | Ancient Georgian weapon shield |
• Fact-finding mission to the Georgian Employers’ Association (GEA) From 8-11 November Jean-Marie Standaert and Thieu Korten visited the Georgian Employers' Association GEA to discuss a Cooperation Programme.
GEA was founded in November 2000 by 25 companies. At present is has about 600 members, with regional offices in most of the provinces. GEA is the only employers’ organisation represented in the Tripartite Economic and Social Council.
DECP will organise a training programme for the staff members of GEA about “Making and Keeping Members” in February 2007. A seminar on lobbying is planned to be organised in April 2007.
DECP submitted several proposals to GEA to develop new services, e.g. a helpdesk, an OSH service, a wage administration service, management training service, etc. | | ILO, De Baak and DECP seminar speakers with some of the participants |
• Training Programme for Kadin and Apindo (Indonesia) From the 27 November until 1 December 2006 DECP, together with the ILO Training Centre in Turin and the IOE in Geneva, organised a training programme for Kadin and Apindo. The training programme was very successful and was assessed by the participants at 3.75 on the ILO-scale from 1-5. The programme consisted of the following modules: governance of an EO, advocacy and lobby, income and services, strategy and planning.
Each module was followed by exercises and examples from different countries.
This training programme will probably be followed by a training programme for the regional sections of Kadin and Apindo.
The DECP delegation, consisting of Jan Karel Bout and Thieu Korten, and accompanied by the Indonesian Netherlands Association, also had a meeting with the board of Kadin and Apindo to work out the Memorandum of Understanding which was concluded with Kadin / Apindo / INA on 31 May 2006. An important element of the Memorandum was to set up a list of parameters with which the competitiveness of Indonesian business could be established.
• Rwanda fact-finding mission From December 12 -15 Jan Karel Bout and Bram Van Overbeeke visited Rwanda at the invitation of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (RPSF). The objective of the trip was to get a view of the socio-economic situation in Rwanda and the role and position of RPSF on the one hand, and an appraisal of the type of assistance that DECP may provide on the other.
RPSF had organised a series of intensive and highly informative consultations. The government of Rwanda expects RPSF to play a major role in the economic development of the country and of the private sector in particular. The ambitious leadership of RPSF has clearly picked up that challenge in the face of several formidable obstacles such as the large proportion of non-paying members and the dependence on external financing.
DECP and RPSF agreed to set up a long-term relationship through which specific expertise will be transferred. For a start DECP, in cooperation with the ILO, will set up training courses for the leaders of the nine professional chambers and the 55 business associations of RPSF. Also, DECP will advise RPSF on the creation of the Rwanda Economic and Social Council. Relations will be further strengthened through twice-yearly visits and the designation of an expert/account manager to work as a permanent liaison officer.  | | Also Bosnian employers suffer from government bureaucracy |
• Mission to Employers’ Organisation Republika Srpska and Bosnia-Hercegovina Thieu Korten and Jean-Marie Standaert visited the Employers’ Confederation of Republika Srpska and had a meeting with the staff of the Association of Employers of Bosnia-Herzegovina (APBiH) about upcoming activities with DECP from 11 to 14 December. DECP had also a meeting with the Union of Businessmen and Employers of Zepce, a local EO which has a strong organisation in its region. This organisation was informed about the possibilities of cooperation with DECP.
DECP recommended the staff of APBiH to start with a quarterly newsletter with concrete information about the activities of the Association which could be funded by DECP. The Association will also draft a list of priorities for a memorandum for the new governments. The document will be printed and made public at a press conference. DECP and APBiH agreed on the organisation of “The day of the entrepreneur” to be held in March-April 2007. |
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