World Association of Public Employment Services
Association Mondiale des Services d'Emploi Publics
Asociación Mundial de los Servicios Públicos de Empleo


Who are we?

Role & mission

What is WAPES?

WAPES is the World Association of Public Employment Services. The members are public employment services all over the world.
   
The Association was founded in 1988/89 by six public employment services: Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the USA, together with the International Labour Office (ILO). Meanwhile the number of members has grown to more than 90. The ILO remains an observer to the Association.

The official address of WAPES is at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The WAPES Secreteriat, however, is located in Brussels, Belgium.

WAPES has three official languages: English, French and Spanish.


What is the purpose of WAPES?

The main purposes are to :

  • encourage contacts between the various member bodies
  • promote exchange of experiences and information of the activities of the members
  • encourage co-operation between members, especially between the more developed bodies and the less developed ones
  • provide services of common interest such as surveys, studies, data bank management, training and upgrading
  • organise congresses, conferences, meetings, workshops, and seminars dealing with themes of common interest


Membership in WAPES

National public or governmental bodies responsible for activitites related to employment management or implementation of labour market policies may join WAPES. Membership is at country level. When the various activities regarding employment management are performed by different national organisations the one responsible for worker placement may join WAPES. Its Director General represents the member country. Membership is not open to private employment management organisations, employee associations, unions or individuals.

For any further inquiries concerning membership in WAPES please contact the WAPES Secretariat.