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Business and Human Rights: a resource website

 

  ILO (International Labour Organization): Initiatives & reports  

See also the following sections of this website:

NEW (recent additions to this section; top item is most recent addition)
ILO launches first global report on discrimination at work - Says workplace discrimination remains a persistent global problem, with new, more subtle forms emerging (International Labour Organization, 12 May 2003)

ILO websites: 

Business and Decent Work (International Labour Organization)

Business and Social Initiatives Database (International Labour Organization)

Code of Practice on Safety and Health in the Non-ferrous Metals Industries (International Labour Organization, 2001)

Corporate Codes of Conduct (International Labour Organization) 

Database of Legislative Texts on Occupational Safety and Health [more than 3500 (as of 2001) laws, regulations and international legal instruments dealing with OSH matters in approximately 140 countries and international organizations, plus references to the ILO's OSH-related conventions] (International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre, International Labour Organization)

Democratising Globalization: the Role of the ILO (Dr. Juan Somavia, Director General, International Labour Office) 

e.quality@work: An information base on Equal Employment Opportunities for Women and Men (International Labour Organization):

How to find international and national labour law (International Labour Organization)

Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV)

ILO Programme on Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (International Labour Organization)

International Institute for Labour Studies (International Labour Organization)

International Program on Chemical Safety (World Health Organization, International Labour Organization and UN Environment Programme) 

Multinational Enterprises (International Labour Organization)

SafeWork: Codes of Practice - ILO Codes of Practice contain practical recommendations intended for all those with a responsibility for occupational safety and health in both the public and private sectors. (International Labour Organization, InFocus Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment)

Training tools: Labour information centres and libraries: Use our guides and manuals to strengthen your labour information skills! (International Labour Organization)

World of Work: The Magazine of the ILO (International Labour Organization)

Other websites:

RATIFICATION WATCH: Ratification of the eight fundamental conventions of the ILO [International Labour Organization] (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 9 Oct. 2001)

Other materials:

2003:

ILO launches first global report on discrimination at work - Says workplace discrimination remains a persistent global problem, with new, more subtle forms emerging (International Labour Organization, 12 May 2003)

2003: Safety and Health Culture in a Globalized World - According to ILO estimates, each year two million men and women die from work-related diseases and accidents - a death toll averaging some 5,000 workers a day. (International Labour Organization, 28 Apr. 2003)

FTSE4Good raises the bar for companies - FTSE Group recently announced a new, more stringent set of human rights criteria for companies in the socially responsible index series FTSE4Good...FTSE are trialling the human rights standards on the global upstream oil gas and mining sector...They are asking companies to commit to ILO core labour standards on a global scale, support publicly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have guidelines on the use of armed security guards according to the UN Basic Principles of the Use of Force and Firearms and to reference “respect of the rights of indigenous peoples”. In order to stay in the FTSE4Good Index, companies will also have to provide training for employees on human rights policy, provide evidence of undertaking a human rights impact assessment and integration of their policy into risk assessment processes...In countries of particular concern such as Angola, China, Burma, Zimbabwe and Sudan, resource companies must commit to meeting more stringent guidelines (Tobias Webb, Ethical Corporation Magazine, 21 Apr. 2003)

ILO keeps pressure on several anti-union governments - The ICFTU was particularly satisfied that the ILO’s CFA [Committee on Freedom of Association] upheld all its complaints against governments brought before the Committee over the last year, including China, Colombia, Belarus and Venezuela, singled out in a special introductory paragraph (n°10) as presenting the most serious violations of trade union rights. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 4 Apr. 2003)

TUC calls for enforcement of ILO Conventions [Ghana] - The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to legislate all International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions into the national laws in conformity with Article 75 of the Constitution to make them enforceable on social partners. (News in Ghana, 20 Mar. 2003)

CHILD LABOR: ILO, Inter-American Development Bank Examine Strategies -...Most child laborers in Latin America work in agriculture, especially coffee growing, but urban areas are the scene of child labor and exploitation, including child prostitution (UN Wire, 13 Mar. 2003)

MYANMAR: Forced Labor Continues, ILO Representative Says (UN Wire, 12 Mar. 2003)

VIETNAM: Government, ILO. Launch Project To Combat Child Labor (UN Wire, 26 Feb. 2003)

UN Looks for Action Against Child Labor [Russia] - The head of a UN [ILO] program to eliminate child labor said Friday that Russia is moving in the right direction, but actions would speak louder than words and pacts...The ILO estimates that about 50,000 children younger than 14 are working in Moscow, while 16,000 are working in St. Petersburg (Oksana Yablokova, Moscow Times, 17 Feb. 2003)

An Appeal to Action on HIV/AIDS - In the context of HIV/AIDS as a major threat to global development, the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, the Head of UNAIDS, and the Director General of the ILO sent a joint letter to the CEOs of companies participating in the Global Compact...The Global Compact, the ILO and UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) will join forces in 2003 to mobilize businesses, encourage increased action to fight HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and combat stigmatisation of people in the workforce living with the disease. ..The letter encourages businesses worldwide to adopt and fully implement the ILO Code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work. (U.N. Global Compact, 14 Feb. 2003)

Processing the export zones - "Legal restrictions on trade union rights in a few export processing zone operating countries, the lack of enforcement of labor legislation and the absence of workers' organizations representation were among the factors noted as undermining the ability of zones to upgrade skills, improve working conditions and productivity and thereby to become more dynamic and internationally competitive platforms," it [ILO] said. (Sam Vaknin, Senior Business Correspondent, UPI, 10 Feb. 2003)

International standards for corporate responsibility [refers to UN Global Compact, ILO conventions, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, ISO 14000 Series, AccountAbility 1000, Global Reporting Initiative, Global Sullivan Principles, Social Accountability 8000] (Malcolm McIntosh, Ruth Thomas, Deborah Leipziger, and Gill Coleman, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 30 Jan. 2003)

CHILD TRAFFICKING: Experts Examine Problem In Bangladesh, Asia -...The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 1 million children working in the sex industry throughout the region, mainly in Thailand, India, Taiwan and the Philippines. (UN Wire, 6 Jan. 2003)

2002:

Women Staff Sexually Harassed- ILO Report [Uganda] -...Sexual harassment of workers especially female workers was identified as one gender issue that needs urgent attention. It was recommended that legislation on sexual harassment be introduced and sensitisation programmes of employers, workers and the general public be initiated (The Monitor [Uganda], 16 Dec. 2002)

CHILD LABOR: Jordan Signs Agreement With ILO -...The plan will pay children and families close to ...what they would have earned as workers, with an emphasis on girls and children employed in dangerous conditions, such as chemical and steel factories, mining and manufacturing positions (UN Wire, 4 Dec. 2002)

CHILD LABOR: ILO Official Calls For More Efforts In Central America -...During his visit to Guatemala, director of the ILO's International Program on the Eradication of Child Labor Frans Roselaers cited various programs already working in the region to benefit children who work in dangerous conditions, such as firework factories, quarries, agricultural labor that involves direct contact with insecticides and pesticides, domestic labor and sexual exploitation (UN Wire, 4 Dec. 2002)

ILO standards: a dilemma for labour laws [Pakistan] (M.S. Jamal, Dawn [Pakistan], 25 Nov. 2002)

ILO: Report On Trade Unions Cites Concerns In Belarus, Latin America The International Labor Organization's Committee on Freedom of Association issued a report yesterday citing concern about the violation of trade union rights in Belarus, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and other nations. (UN Wire, 22 Nov. 2002)

ICFTU condemns incarceration of trade unionists in South Korea - Following the arrest of 241 striking hospital workers and the subsequent imprisonment of a further 7 union leaders in South Korea, on Friday 15 November, the ICFTU lodged a formal complaint against the country at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 18 Nov. 2002)

EL SALVADOR: ILO Cites Progress Toward Ending Child Labor - El Salvador's El Diario de Hoy reported yesterday that the International Labor Organization said it is making progress in efforts to assist an estimated 265,000 child laborers in the country, 30,000 of whom participate in the worst forms of child labor. The ILO said child participation in such industries as fishing, cane and fireworks production and garbage collection has declined in several Salvadoran regions. (UN Wire, 15 Nov. 2002)

CLB [China Labour Bulletin] Statement on ACFTU Deputy Chairman's Recent Remarks on Yao Fuxin - At a press conference during the recent 16th Party Congress, All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) Deputy Chairman Zhang Junjiu stated that Liaoyang workers representative Yao Fuxin had been detained because he had broken Chinese law by carrying out car-bombings and not because he had organised a workers campaign.  CLB expresses outrage that no sooner has the ACFTU won a seat on the ILO Governing Body in Geneva as a deputy worker member than it began to unscrupulously slander Chinese workers engaged in peaceful organising to struggle for their legal rights. (China Labour Bulletin, 12 Nov. 2002)

ILO: Governing Body Discusses Labor Rights, Development - The International Labor Organization's governing body opened its 285th session yesterday in Geneva, focusing on reports of forced labor in Myanmar...delegates will address developments in Colombia, where 100 unionists have reportedly been killed this year. They will consider proposals to extend funding for a special technical program to secure the rights of Colombian unionists, promote freedom of association and the right to organize, and promote social dialogue to stop violence. (UN Wire, 8 Nov. 2002)

CHILD LABOR: U.S. To Give Jordan $1 Million Through ILO (UN Wire, 7 Nov. 2002)

ZAMBIA: Hunger, HIV/AIDS Push Children Into Labor, ILO Warns - Hunger and high HIV/AIDS infection rates are forcing more than 500,000 Zambian children to quit school and take up often hazardous work in farms and factories, the International Labor Organization said yesterday. (UN Wire, 29 Oct. 2002)

U.S.-China Summit Must Focus on Rights -...Bush should use U.S. trade links with China to push for respect for Chinese workers' rights to free expression, association and assembly; lifting of restrictions on independent unions; and acceptance of a mission from the International Labor Organization on freedom of association. The United States should also urge the immediate release of detained labor activists. (Human Rights Watch, 22 Oct. 2002)

ILO & Russian Business Focus on Labour Rights - Ten leading representatives of the Russian business community together with the representatives of UN agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and Social Development attended a meeting on 24 September organized by the ILO on the important issue of Discrimination. (U.N. Global Compact, 17 Oct. 2002)

CHILD LABOR: China Bans Practice; ILO Signs Agreement With Mongolia (UN Wire, 17 Oct. 2002) 

ILO, ADB join forces to improve labour standards, promote development - The International Labour Office (ILO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have joined forces to improve labour standards as a means of promoting development and reducing poverty in the Asia-Pacific region...The meeting recommended that Governments, the ADB and the ILO highlight labour standards in policy dialogue with governments; promote improved labour standards by designing projects, e.g., to address child labour, improve occupational safety, reduce discrimination at the workplace or eliminate bonded labour; strengthen monitoring of working conditions in the region... (International Labour Organization, 11 Oct. 2002)

ICFTU Submission in October 2002 for the World Commission on the Social Dimensions of Globalisation (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 10 Oct. 2002)

MINING: Intensive Shifts Could Raise Accident Rates, Says ILO - New, intensive labor practices in the mining industry could become a "poisoned chalice" of industrial accidents, according to an International Labor Organization study released yesterday. (UN Wire, 8 Oct. 2002)

GARMENT INDUSTRY: Bangladesh, ILO Seek Better Work Conditions - The International Labor Organization and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association have launched a $2.1 million program to improve working conditions in Bangladeshi garment factories...The program...will seek to promote occupational health and safety, improve human resource management and monitor the elimination of child labor. (UN Wire, 3 Oct. 2002)

ILO gives Cambodian garment factories thumbs up - The International Labour Organisation (ILO) gave working conditions in Cambodia's garment factories a relatively clean bill of health on Wednesday, saying there was scant evidence of forced or child labour. (Reuters, 2 Oct. 2002)

CHILD LABOR: Asian Nations Draft National Plans At ILO Meeting (UN Wire, 2 Oct. 2002)

LABOR: ILO, ADB Meet On Standards, Development - The International Labor Organization and Asian Development Bank yesterday opened a two-day workshop on labor standards and social and economic development...The bank said Asia's "progress ... has been uneven" on compliance with labor standards, citing in particular the prevalence of child labor and reports of bonded labor and discrimination, as well as repression of unions and workers' meetings, exposure to health hazards and frequent avoidable accidents. (UN Wire, 19 Sep. 2002) 

CHILD LABOR: U.S. Pledges $4 Million For ILO Program In Tanzania -...Up to an estimated 400,000 children below the age of 15 are working in Tanzania, mostly domestically and in the mining and agricultural sectors (UN Wire, 12 Sep. 2002)

Fourth Synthesis Report on the Working Conditions Situation in Cambodia's Garment Sector (International Labour Organization, Sep. 2002)

Seafarers demand better payment, welfare [Indonesia] - ...The ILO report on its investigation into their living and working conditions in the Asia-Pacific region said that labor conditions in Indonesia's maritime and sea transportation sector were still in poor condition because of extremely weak union representation of port workers and seafarers. (Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta Post, 30 July 2002)

Worker's Rights And Investment Go Hand in Hand - Last week, the International Labour Organisation launched a radio/media campaign in East Africa in support of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights of Work. (East African [Kenya], 29 July 2002)

ECUADOR: Accord Signed To Eliminate Child Labor On Banana Plantations - Ecuador has moved to eliminate child labor in a new accord signed Tuesday by representatives of the banana industry, UNICEF, the International Labor Organization and the country's ministries of labor and education...Ecuador's four largest exporters -- Bananera Noboa, Rey Banano del Pacifico, AGROBAN and the Del Monte subsidiary in Ecuador, Bandecua -- are included in the agreement (UN Wire, 25 July 2002)

CHILD LABOR: ILO Says 500,000 Honduran Children Help Support Families - The International Labor Organization has said in a new report that nearly 500,000 Honduran children are forced to work to supplement their family's incomes, with many working in high-risk occupations such as shellfish diving, handling dangerous chemicals and making fireworks (UN Wire, 23 July 2002)

RUSSIA: Much Work Ahead To Implement New Labor Laws, ILO Head Says - International Labor Organization Director General Juan Somavia wrapped up a five-day visit to Russia Friday by cautioning that "a lot of work" remains ahead of the country as it implements a labor code introduced Feb. 1 that the ILO helped to draft. (UN Wire, 22 July 2002)

Internationally-recognised Core Labour Standards in the 15 Member States of the European Union - Report for the WTO General Council review of the trade policies of the European Unions  (Geneva, 24 and 26 July 2002) - All eight of the core ILO conventions have been ratified by all fifteen European Union (EU) member states. In certain areas however, law and practice in several EU countries require further government efforts in order to respect the commitments to fundamental workers’ rights [refers to pay gap between men and women, child labour, trafficking in women and girls for the purposes of forced prostitution] (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 18 July 2002)

Trade Unions Call For More Integrated Workplace Approaches to AIDS/HIV -...world trade union bodies are calling on national governments to institute more integrated approaches to deal with the scourge of HIV/AIDS by implementing concrete measures at the workplace level...Trade unions have stepped up efforts to encourage governments and stakeholders to make the new ILO Code of Practice for HIV/AIDS a central tool for implementation of solutions, world-wide (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 5 July 2002)

CHILD LABOR: ILO To Fund Paraguayan-Brazilian Border Initiative - The International Labor Organization is planning to invest $2 million over a three-year period in the Paraguayan-Brazilian border region to help combat the sexual and commercial exploitation of children, O Estado de Sao Paulo reports. (UN Wire, 3 July 2002)

CHILD LABOR: New Foundation Launched To Fight Problem In Cocoa Industry - The world's chocolate and cocoa companies yesterday announced a new industry-funded foundation to combat child slavery on cocoa farms. The initiative is the result of an agreement reached last October between world chocolate industry representatives, child labor activists and U.S. lawmakers. (UN Wire, 2 July 2002)

ILO finds "encouraging signs of improvement" in working conditions in Cambodian garment factories - The International Labour Office (ILO) today reported "encouraging signs of improvement" of working conditions in some 30 garment factories located in Cambodia which produce apparel for sale in North America, Europe and other developed countries. The "Third Synthesis Report on the Working Conditions Situation in Cambodia's Garment Sector" provides an overview of progress made by the factories in implementing suggestions made by ILO monitors. (International Labour Organization, 1 July 2002)

Labour department focuses on mining [South Africa] - The mining industry has become the focus of the labour department, which plans to use the benchmarking and safety standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to fine-tune new national safety laws. In the background is the disturbing increase in mining accidents this year, particularly the deaths at Impala Platinum, and calls for widespread safety reforms in the industry. (Sherilee Bridge, Business Report [South Africa], 1 July 2002)

A Guide to Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the International Labour Organization - Indigenous peoples throughout the world continue to suffer serious abuses of their human rights. In particular, they are experiencing heavy pressure on their lands from logging, mining, roads, conservation activities, dams, agribusiness and colonization...This Briefing paper provides guidance on how to file a complaint with the ILO Committee of Experts. [refers to ILO Convention 169 cases relating to: logging concessions which overlapped indigenous territories in the Bolivian Amazon; Arco & Berlington Resources Ecuador Ltd. project in Ecuador affecting the Shuar People; Occidental project in Colombia affecting the U’wa indigenous community] (Fergus MacKay, Forest Peoples Programme, July 2002)

ILO Reaffirms Need to Reinstate Dismissed Shangri-La Jakarta Unionists [Indonesia] (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 28 June 2002)

12 Million Child Laborers [Indonesia] - The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates the number of child laborers in Indonesia could be as high as 12 million as a result of the country’s prolonged economic crisis...Many boys work full-time on plantations, coastal fishing platforms or in the construction sector, while many young girls work as domestic servants, prostitutes or factory laborers. (Laksamana.Net [Indonesia], 27 June 2002)

Hotel legal dispute drags on [Indonesia] - Despite pressure from the International Labor Organization for the rehiring of some dismissed workers, the Shangri-La Hotel management is insisting on awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on its appeal. (Jakarta Post, 26 June 2002)

In Search Of A Better Deal For Informal Workers - Government officials, workers and employers assembled in Geneva for the 19th annual International Labour Conference this month to find solutions to the problems facing workers who fall outside labour regulation. (Mail & Guardian [South Africa], 21 June 2002)

ILO annual Conference adopts new measures to tackle the challenges of globalization - The International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its 90th annual Conference today after adopting a series of measures designed to promote a more rigorous approach to tackling the challenges of globalization and create an "anchor" for personal security through poverty reduction, job creation and improved workplace health and safety. (International Labour Organization, 20 June 2002)

Confusion at the ILO? China's Government Elected to Governing Body as...Worker Delegate - For decades, there has been a general consensus in the democratic labour movement that the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) is a component part of the Party/state power structure in China, i.e. the Chinese "unions" represent the state (backed by the army and police) and not the workers...[L]ast week's vote by a divided Workers' Group at the International Labour Conference where a small majority decided to give the ACFTU a seat as an alternate worker delegate on the ILO Governing Body...will unavoidably be seen as a softening of international labour's commitment to defending the right of Chinese workers to independent trade unions. (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 19 June 2002)

Nike may move back in to Cambodia: New scrutiny of labour laws bring transparency - U.S. sportswear giant Nike may be about to make a comeback in Cambodia, two years after a television documentary on underage girl workers prompted the company to stop using factories in the country...Nike's possible change of heart has come about following the launch of independent monitoring in the country by the International Labour Organization. (National Post [Canada], 18 June 2002)

Belarus government liquidates free trade unionism: And gets elected to ILO Governing body (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 14 June 2002)

ILO Launches Report On Child Labour (U.N. Integrated Regional Information Networks, 12 June 2002)

World Day Against Child Labour - Today marks the first ever World Day Against Child Labour, a day proclaimed by the International Labour Organization to observe the massive international child labour problem and the determination of the global community to combat it. Below are the statement of ILO Director-General Juan Somavia on the first observance of the day, and background information on child labour. (Accra Mail [Ghana], 12 June 2002)

Internationally-recognised Core Labour Standards in India -...India has only ratified four of the core ILO labour conventions. In view of serious problems of child labour and forced labour, as well as restrictions on the trade union rights of workers in EPZ’s and continuing gender discrimination in employment, determined measures are needed (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 11 June 2002)

Globalisation Cast Millions to Poverty, Says ILO Africa Boss (African Church Information Service, 10 June 2002)

Chao: Work Standards an ILO Issue - U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said Monday she will press the United Nations labor agency to lead to the fight for basic work standards and keep the issue out of the hands of trade negotiators. (Alexander G. Higgins, AP, 10 June 2002)

Iran favors broader cooperation with ILO - Iranian Labor Minster's International Affairs Deputy Mohammad Salamati said here Friday that Iran wants broader cooperation with the International Labor Organization (IRNA, 8 June 2002)

ILO Workers' Group Denounces Anti-Union Repression World-Wide - Belarus, Colombia, Ethiopia, Burma (Myanmar), Sudan and Venezuela were singled out today for anti-union repression by more than 500 workers' representatives from 175 countries attending this year's annual session of the International Labour Organisation (International Labour Organization, 5 June 2002)

Strong anti-union repression in Ethiopia - Ethiopia was one of the six countries worldwide slammed at this year's annual session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva today for repression of trade unions. (afrol News, 5 June 2002)

ILO launches first "World Day Against Child Labour" 12 June 2002 (International Labour Organization, 5 June 2002)

World leaders tackle child labour - The eradication of child labour tops the list of challenging issues at this year's International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference. (BBC News, 4 June 2002)

H&M builds Bangladeshi children a bridge to safe work - H&M [international clothes firm] say they worked with the ILO and other UN agencies to define the four month technical training programme which would enable teenagers to build on their initial UN education and avoid slipping back into a life of exploitation where they could risk dangerous working conditions and, in extreme cases, prostitution. (International Chamber of Commerce, 3 June 2002)

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS: ILO Says 2 Million Die Annually (UN Wire, 24 May 2002)

Inter-regional workshop on occupational safety and health in agriculture - The Inter-regional Workshop on Occupational safety and Health in Agriculture was held on May 13-16, 2002 in Damascus in collaboration with the International Labor Organization, and the ministry of social affairs and labor, Syria and the Arab Labor Organization (ArabicNews.com, 20 May 2002)

CHILD LABOR: Sub-Saharan Africa Suffers World's Worst Rates, ILO Says (UN Wire, 20 May 2002)

Sweet success for anti-slavery lobby - Britain's major chocolate-makers have endorsed an initiative to phase out slavery and child labour in cocoa plantations in West Africa...Industry associations, whose members include Cadbury Schweppes, Mars and Nestlé, signed an agreement with the International Labour Organisation this month to persuade cocoa-growers to eliminate illegal labour practices by 2005. (Severin Carrell, Independent [UK], 19 May 2002)

US may press countries over labour rights - The US is considering the first revision in almost 20 years to the list of workers' rights that African and other developing countries must respect in order to sell their goods duty-free into the US market. The US Senate is likely to approve next week a revision to the 25-year-old Generalised System of Preferences that will for the first time require beneficiary countries to prohibit discrimination with respect to employment and occupation. (Edward Alden, Financial Times, 16 May 2002)

LABOR: ILO, Philippines Sign "Decent Work" Deal - The Philippines, one of four countries selected for the initial three-year phase of the International Labor Organization's Action Program for Decent Work, signed an agreement yesterday in Manila with the ILO and employers' and workers' groups to launch the program in the country. The Philippines is bound under the joint declaration to support freedom of association and collective bargaining and to seek the elimination of forced labor, child labor and discrimination in the workplace. (UN Wire, 14 May 2002)

CHILD LABOR: Panel Urges Education, Development As Solution -...Somavia [International Labor Organization Director General Juan Somavia] urged putting pressure on employers, especially those "who prefer to hire children instead of adults." (Michael Kitchen, UN Wire, 9 May 2002)

Third of Africa's kids work - Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest proportion of labouring children between the ages of five and 14, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reported on Monday. (News24.com, 6 May 2002)

CHILD LABOR: 246 Million Children Still At Work, ILO Reports - Child labor is still a major global problem, involving 246 million minors worldwide, according to an International Labor Organization report issued today. (UN Wire, 6 May 2002)

TANZANIA: ILO Project Targets Child Labor, Women's Work Opportunities - The International Labor Organization has launched a project in cooperation with the government of Tanzania and the Akiba Commercial Bank to reduce the use of child labor in Tanzania by bolstering employment opportunities for women. (UN Wire, 6 May 2002)

CHILD LABOR: ILO Examines Bolivia, Brazil; Nicaragua Hears From Children - The International Labor Organization said in a report released last week that 800,000 Bolivian children enter the labor market each year. Many of the children, the report said, are forced to work for mining and agricultural companies or suffer from sexual exploitation. (UN Wire, 3 May 2002)

LABOR: More Deaths Are Due To Work Than War, ILO Says - Work-related deaths claim 2 million lives a year -- the equivalent of a Sept. 11 terrorist attack every day -- making work a bigger killer than war or drug and alcohol abuse, according to an International Labor Organization study released this week...The ILO named agriculture, construction and mining as the most dangerous occupations (UN Wire, 2 May 2002)

The Integrated Approach Survey: Survey on ILO Standards-Related Activities in the Area of Occupational Safety and Health (International Labour Organization, May 2002)

{···français} Lutte contre le trafic et le travail des enfants: Le BIT fait accélérer le processus -...L’installation d’un comité national de lutte contre le trafic des enfants et un projet de loi visant à définir un cadre institutionnel afin de sanctionner plus efficacement les trafiquants sont autant de mesures prises dans le sens sus-indiqué. (Cendres Glazaï, Notre Voie [Côte d’Ivoire], 27 avril 2002)

Kirby Bouquet for Equal Pay [Australia]: High Court judge Michael Kirby cites NSW treatment of equal pay as a ground-breaking application of human rights principles into industrial law - Speaking to a packed audience, Justice Kirby argued that international human rights principles, through ILO conventions, were increasingly underpinning Australian workplace law. (Workers Online, Labor Council of New South Wales [Australia], 26 Apr. 2002)

MEXICO: ILO Says Girls More Vulnerable To Child Labor, Exploitation -...The ILO's International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor says Mexican girls on average work longer hours, receive less pay and begin at a younger age than boys, mainly in the agricultural sector. (UN Wire, 24 Apr. 2002)

TUC [Trades Union Congress, UK] urges Unocal shareholders to pass Burma resolution -...Shareholders in the US energy firm Unocal have put forward a resolution for its annual meeting calling on it to adopt and implement an enforceable company-wide employee policy based on the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. (TUC, 22 Apr. 2002)

Helping China's trade unions protect workers' rights: The All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), whose affiliates represent 120 million workers, is launching an initiative to help workers laid off in the transition to a socialist market economy and strengthen unions' ability to protect workers' rights and interests. UNDP and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are supporting the project. (U.N. Development Programme, 22 Apr. 2002)

Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Agrees to Reopen Marsinah Case [Indonesia]: The murder of Marsinah--who was a worker at PT Catur Perkasa Surya in Sidoarjo, East Java--has been always questioned at the conferences of the International Labour Organization (ILO). (Dede Ariwibowo, Tempo [Indonesia], 22 Apr. 2002) 

Megawati backs worker death probe [Indonesia]: President Megawati Soekarnoputri gave the go-ahead on Thursday to efforts to reopen investigations into the killing of woman worker Marsinah in 1993. (Jakarta Post, 19 Apr. 2002)

Boost for workers' rights in Saudi Arabia - Workers in Saudi Arabia are now able to defend their rights through committees at the workplace, a move welcomed by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia as another step in promoting social and labour rights in the Middle East (International Labour Organization, 18 Apr. 2002)

First Women Bank, ILO to combat child labour in Pakistan: The First Women Bank Ltd (FWBL) and ILO’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) have signed a memorandum of Understanding to set up micro finance projects for carpet weavers in the three cities of the Punjab as part of efforts to combat child labour. (Child Labour News Service, 15 Apr. 2002)

CAMBODIA: ILO Gives Mixed Review To Country's Garment Factories - The International Labor Organization released a report Friday giving mixed reviews to 34 Cambodian garment factories that operate under a technical cooperation project with the United States. The ILO uncovered no evidence of forced labor or discrimination but did find sexual harassment, infringements on freedom of association and problems with payment of wages and overtime hours. (UN Wire, 15 Apr. 2002)

IMF [International Metalworkers' Federation] joins complaint against China - Following mounting repression against workers in the People's Republic of China, the IMF joins the ICFTU in a formal complaint to the ILO (IMF - International Metalworkers' Federation, 4 Apr. 2002)

Seminar held in Jakarta on local and international OSH [occupational safety and health] resources - The Jakarta ILO office already has ongoing workplace health and safety projects in Indonesia, including trainings with employers and workers, as well as a library of printed materials in several languages. AMRC also has conducted trainings in Asia, including Cambodia, Korea and Thailand, and has health and safety-related printed materials. (Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network Newsletter, 31 Mar. 2002)

ICFTU lodges complaint with ILO against China: Independent labour leader feared critically ill or killed in custody... (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 28 Mar. 2002)

THAILAND: Sex Trafficking Occurs Via Informal Networks, ILO, UNDP Say - Sex trafficking of children in Thailand is largely an industry run by small, informal networks and is also linked to poverty and education issues (UN Wire, 26 Mar. 2002)

GLOBALIZATION: ILO Panel Urged To Find Ways Poor Countries Can Benefit (UN Wire, 26 Mar. 2002)

MYANMAR [Burma]: Leadership To Allow ILO To Monitor Forced Labor - Myanmar yesterday agreed to allow the International Labor Organization to monitor the government's efforts to eliminate forced labor, United Press International reports...The agreement was received cautiously by many ILO members, and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions said "the brutality continues virtually unabated." (UN Wire, 22 Mar. 2002)

ILO's World Commission on Globalization begins work:...It will seek to harness the globalization process to foster growth and reduce poverty...Mr. Somavia [ILO Director-General Juan Somavia]  said..."Labour unions, citizens and, increasingly, enlightened business leaders around the world have made their point: we can no longer ignore the social dimension of globalization." (International Labour Organization, 22 Mar. 2002)

Time for action over Burma:...In the 21 months since the ILO condemnation of forced labour in Burma in June 2000, whilst a number of companies have taken action, not a single government has implemented mandatory economic measures against the regime...Rangoon accepted the posting of an ILO liaison person in Burma from June 2002. The ICFTU welcomes this step but stresses that, according to the terms of the agreement approved today, the posting of this liaison officer is only a first step toward a permanent and effective ILO presence in Burma, with all means necessary at its disposal to achieve the complete eradication of forced labour in the country. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 21 Mar. 2002)

{···français} « Les biens publics mondiaux à l'honneur »: [la conférence de Monterrey] - La représentante de la CISL a souligné qu'en matière de responsabilité sociale des entreprises, la priorité devait aller aux respect des droits sociaux fondamentaux et au développement de la négociation collective. Elle a plaidé pour la négociation de codes de conduite et d'accord cadre au sein des multinationales sur la base des normes de l'Organisation internationale du travail et des principes directeurs de l'OCDE (CFDT - Confédération française démocratique du travail, 21 mars 2002)

New Study Says Nepal Has 900,000 Child Laborers: Out of a population of 22 million, there are nearly 900,000 child laborers in Nepal, an ILO-supported study released yesterday concluded. (UN Wire, 20 Mar. 2002)

ILO will help Bangladesh eradicate child labour: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) will assist Bangladesh in implementing a time-bound special programme to eradicate hazardous child labour from the country. (Independent [Bangladesh], 19 Mar. 2002)

Labor group calls on Seoul to ease action on strikers [South Korea]: The International Labor Organization urged the South Korean government Saturday to allow labor unions freedom in seeking outside mediation of labor-management disputes. It also demanded that Seoul revise its labor laws, which allow union leaders to be punished for impeding business operations, to meet international standards of freedom of association. (Koh Han-sun, JoongAng Ilbo [South Korea], 18 Mar. 2002)

ILO launches program to combat child labour in Nicaraguan coffee industry: The ILO is launching a $275,000 program in Nicaragua to combat child labour in the country's coffee industry during the next year and assist 1,500 working children attend school. (La Prensa [Nicaragua], English summary in Child Labour News Service, 15 Mar. 2002)

ICFTU accuses Zimbabwe of trade union rights violations: In a letter to ILO Director General, Juan Somavia, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has submitted a complaint against the government of Zimbabwe for grave violations of trade union rights. The protest follows yesterday’s police actions in banning a legitimate ZCTU meeting. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 15 Mar. 2002)

ILO and Inter-Parliamentary Union in campaign against worst forms of child labour (International Labour Organization, 14 Mar. 2002)

INTERNET: U.N. Agencies Partner With Web Site To Distribute Publications - Information company ebrary yesterday announced it is forming a partnership with the World Bank, the U.N. University Press, the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization to provide access to their publications through the Internet. (UN Wire, 12 Mar. 2002)

Beyond the Monterrey consensus: A trade union agenda for the governance of globalization -...We demand that Core Labour Standards as set out in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up be at the centre of global and sustainable development strategies. (WCL [World Confederation of Labour] & ICFTU [International Confederation of Labour], Mar. 2002)

ILO probes forced labour in Myanmar [Burma]: The International Labour Organisation has sent a mission to Myanmar to check whether the government is respecting its demand to stop forced labour. (Vanguard [Nigeria], 28 Feb. 2002)

ILO Tackles Social Consequences of Globalization: The International Labour Organization (ILO) today launched a top-level commission comprising Presidents, politicians, academics, social experts and a Nobel Economics laureate which, for the first time, will address the social dimension of globalization. (International Labour Organization, 27 Feb. 2002)

Forced labor investigators hindered in Myanmar [Burma]:...The Monday move followed criticism of the junta by ILO officials meeting in neighboring Thailand, who said Myanmar was doing too little to curb use of forced labor. (CNN, 26 Feb. 2002)

MYANMAR: ILO Team Optimistic About Permanent Office - As an International Labor Organization team ends a week of what it called "candid dialogue" with Myanmar's military rulers on the issue of forced labor, ILO labor standards chief Kari Tapiola today said he is "optimistic" the country will "in the long run" allow a permanent ILO office in the capital, Yangon...Discussions with the ILO team have focused on the permanent office, the appointment of an ombudsman and inquiries into murders of forced labor whistle-blowers. (UN Wire, 25 Feb. 2002)

PAKISTAN: ILO Offers Alternative Education For Working Children: an estimated 3.6 million children continue to work, tens of thousands of them in dangerous locations such as mines, canneries and glass and textile factories (UN Wire, 14 Feb. 2002)

Extreme forms of child labour prevails in Dhaka city [Bangladesh]: ILO - An agency of the International Labour Organisation has found prevalence of "extreme forms" of child labour in Dhaka City. A survey revealed that 12,170 children were working under "very hazardous" circumstances in 5,428 workplaces...Most of the sectors, identified 47 in total, such as automobile engineering, welding, plasto-rubber and plasto-metal and lathe machine were found to be "extremely hazardous (Independent [Bangladesh], 11 Feb. 2002)

U.N. Panel Wants Globalization to Work for Workers: The United Nations labor arm [International Labor Organization] will soon set up a commission to explore how globalization can better serve the needs of employees as well as their bosses, its director said on Tuesday. (Reuters, 5 Feb. 2002)

ILO waves "red card" at child labour: The International Labour Organization (ILO) will launch its "Red Card to Child Labour" campaign this week to coincide with the start of the 2002 African Cup...The new campaign against the use of child labour is symbolized by the red card handed out by referees for serious violations of rules on the soccer field. (International Labour Organization, 15 Jan. 2002)

The International Labour Organization: a handbook for minorities and indigenous peoples - This handbook gives an insider's view of how the ILO works. It explains how the Organization can be used by non-governmental organisations and other groups, to promote and protect minority and indigenous peoples' rights. (Chandra Roy and Mike Kaye,  Anti-Slavery International & Minority Rights Group International, 2002)

2001:

Korean Govt to Ratify 4 More ILO Conventions Within Year: The South Korean government will ratify within the year four more International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions, covering a minimum wage system, job security offices, protection of union leaders and a minimum wage in a developing country. (Asia Pulse, 11 Dec. 2001)

Construction workers losing rights: Construction work has become increasingly temporary and insecure worldwide as jobs are outsourced to subcontractors, undermining workers' rights to social security and collective bargaining, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)...Union power was being further eroded under the Bush Administration in the United States, which the report said had effectively barred labour agreements on federally funded construction projects. (Reuters, 6 Dec. 2001)

Worldwide Jobs Drive for Disabled People Launched:...The International Labour Organization (ILO) is calling on employers to follow a code of practice unveiled today which would help improve job prospects among the 610 million disabled people worldwide. (Daniel Nelson, OneWorld UK, 3 Dec. 2001)

Huge challenge for ILO: More than one million people die annually from injuries at work and occupational diseases (Trade Union News from Finland, 3 Dec. 2001)

Forced labour still massive in Burma, says ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 3 Dec. 2001)

No evidence of child labour in Cambodian garment factories, UN reports: The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) said today that its initial probe of working conditions in Cambodian garment factories found no evidence of child labour, forced labour or sexual harassment, but did reveal some problems related to over-time payments, hours of work and anti-union discrimination. (UN News Centre, 30 Nov. 2001)

ILO Code [Code of Practice on Managing Disability in the Workplace] seeks to improve job prospects for the disabled (International Labour Organization, 30 Nov. 2001)

LAPFF Reveals New Shareholder Engagement on Labour Standards: The £40 billion Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has unveiled a new phase in its three year long campaign to raise overseas labour standards in the supply chains of UK retailers. The Forum has analysed the codes of conduct adopted by the nine retail groups in the FTSE100 in order to identify which are the most comprehensive and which are weakest...The two companies with the most comprehensive codes were Safeway and Tesco. All other companies ignore at least one of the 'core' labour standards agreed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). (Local Authority Pension Fund Forum [UK] in CSRwire, 28 Nov. 2001)

ILO Addresses Compact [Global Compact] in Bangkok Conference (United Nations Global Compact, 27-28 Nov. 2001)

'Rights at the workplace' available [Papua New Guinea]: Motu and pidgin explanations on basic human rights at places of work are now available. The translated versions of the International Labour Organisation's "declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work" were launched in Port Moresby yesterday. (Lucy Kapi, The National [Papua New Guinea], 27 Nov. 2001)

 Local workers to get international support [Indonesia: regarding ILO standards and labour issues] (Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, Jakarta Post, 27 Nov. 2001)

MYANMAR: Yangon Rejects Call For Permanent ILO Presence - Myanmar Monday rejected last week's International Labor Organization request to open a permanent office there, calling ILO complaints of continued forced labor groundless. Government officials meanwhile pledged to "continue to cooperate with the ILO where possible," Reuters reported yesterday. (UN Wire, 21 Nov. 2001)

ILO Governing Body's 282nd session targets fundamental rights - The International Labour Office (ILO) Governing Body ended its 282nd session with a renewed commitment to eradicating forced labour in Myanmar, a decision to set up a World Commission of 18 eminent persons to examine the social impact of globalization and a call to end grave and serious violations of freedom of association in Belarus and Venezuela...The Governing Body also agreed on the broad outline of a technical cooperation programme for Colombia with the goal of creating mechanisms to safeguard the lives of trade union and business leaders in that country while strengthening compliance with freedom of association, as well as improving social protection, working conditions and freedom of enterprise in Colombia. (International Labour Organization, 20 Nov. 2001)

Do-It-Yourself Labor Standards: While the WTO dickers, companies are writing the rules -...The movement is being driven by Western corporations and the factories in developing countries that supply them...Employers in several developing countries are even asking for independent monitoring of their factories to attract or retain orders from Western companies. Their requests have thrust the International Labor Organization (ILO) into a new role as factory-labor cop. (Aaron Bernstein, Business Week, 19 Nov. 2001)

MYANMAR: ILO Wants Permanent Monitors - The International Labor Organization said yesterday it wants to place permanent monitors in Myanmar because legislation has not eliminated forced labor, Associated Press reports. (UN Wire, 16 Nov. 2001)

At Least 17.5 Million Children Work in Latin America: ILO - At least 17.5 million children aged five to 14 work in high risk areas throughout Latin America, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reveals in the second meeting of human rights attorneys, held in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Xinhua News Agency, 16 Nov. 2001)

ILO calls for reinstatement of dismissed Shangri-La Workers Union members at the 5-star Shangri-La Jakarta Hotel [Indonesia] (Asian Food Worker, 15 Nov. 2001)

Core Labour Standards tabled at Doha WTO Ministerial:...“It is significant that a number of countries welcomed the proposal to express their commitment to the respect of core labour standards, and for enhanced co-operation between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the WTO,” commented ICFTU General Secretary Bill Jordan. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 11 Nov. 2001)

ILO blasts govt subsidies: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said that subsidising of agriculture by developed countries is killing employment in the third world. (Eliud Miring'uh, East African Standard [Nairobi], 10 Nov. 2001)

ILO says Burma still using forced labour:...The ILO mission says the use of forced labour is no longer used routinely on building sites and road construction. At least, it has not seen any evidence of it. But the use of forced labour is still endemic near military installations according to the ILO investigation. (BBC News, 8 Nov. 2001)

ILO team finds limited impact of new legislation against forced labour in Myanmar; Suggests action for further progress: Despite new legislation introduced just one year ago, forced labour still exists in Myanmar, according to a report from an International Labour Office (ILO) High-Level Team. (International Labour Organization, 7 Nov. 2001)

WCL & ICFTU call on the WTO to make real progress:...The joint statement by the two Brussels-based labour groups calls on the WTO decision-makers to incorporate respect for the ILO’s core labour standards into international trade agreements and the work of the WTO through a formal body with the full participation of the ILO. The statement also demands the inclusion of social, labour, gender, environment and development concerns in the WTO's trade policy review mechanism as well as providing formal consultative procedures for trade unions and other significant and representative non-governmental actors. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and World Confederation of Labour (WCL), 6 Nov. 2001)

Annan urges trade round to aid poorer nations: Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary-general, called on Thursday for a global response to rebuild confidence in the international economic system after the September 11 attacks in the US, including the launch of new world trade talks to benefit poorer countries...Juan Somavia, ILO director-general, also backed a new trade round to make trade "a locomotive of equitable growth and decent work creation". (Frances Williams & Nancy Dunne, Financial Times, 1 Nov. 2001)

EMPLOYMENT: Annan Stresses Plight Of Poor Following Terrorist Attacks - Addressing the opening of the International Labor Organization's Global Employment Forum in Geneva, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said today that the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States will have "severe and multiple" effects on the job market and the poor. Citing the ILO estimate that 24 million could lose their jobs by the end of next year, Annan called for global economic integration that takes into account social and employment difficulties. (UN Wire, 1 Nov. 2001)

ICFTU calls for leading role for the ILO in globalisation and at the WTO: Bill Jordan, General Secretary of the ICFTU, will outline how the ILO has a central role to play in establishing “new global rules that will permit and encourage sustainable development, decent employment and respect for workers’ rights in all part of the world”, at the ILO’s Global Employment Forum opening in Geneva tomorrow. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 31 Oct. 2001)

ICFTU reports to ILO on failure to respect basic labour rights: In a report submitted today to the ILO within the framework of the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) examines the situation in 45 countries. Although not exhaustive, the report clearly illustrates a failure to respect basic labour standards. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 31 Oct. 2001) 

International Labour Organization formally joins UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today announced that the International Labour Organization (ILO) has formalized its commitment to fighting the global HIV/AIDS epidemic by becoming a Cosponsor of UNAIDS..."The ILO brings to UNAIDS its understanding and expertise in the world of work. We know the workplace is a key location for HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes," said Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS...ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said, "HIV/AIDS affects everyone today but has an especially profound impact on workers and their families, enterprises and employers, and national economies. With the accession of the ILO to UNAIDS, we now add the historic force of tripartism - governments, workers and employers - to the international efforts being undertaken to meet the challenge of HIV/AIDS and its impact on the world of work." (UN Wire, 25 Oct. 2001)

As Unions Grow, an Industry Booms [Cambodia]: Under the Bilateral Textile Agreement signed in December, 1998, Cambodia can get as much as a 14% increase in its U.S. import quota if it demonstrates "substantial compliance" with international labor standards. The provisions aren't spelled out, but the idea is that overtime must be paid, child labor banned, and sufficient work breaks offered. (Susan Postlewaite, Business Week, 22 Oct. 2001)

International body to monitor child labour in Sialkot soon [Pakistan]: An international monitoring body for child labour will be established shortly in Sialkot, sources here said on Friday. Talking to APP, sources said that in furtherance of Atlanta Agreement, the ILO-IPEC had established a system with the co-operation of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) for achieving the ultimate goal to eliminate child labour from soccer ball industry. The ILO-IPEC and its partners would be transferring the existing monitoring system to this body, the sources said, adding the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had been monitoring this system since December, 1997 under Atlanta Agreement. (Business Recorder [Pakistan], 20 Oct. 2001)

Forest industry takes lead in sustainable development practices: Failure to address the challenges of globalization and sustain the forestry and wood industry sectors could lead to elimination of more than 5 percent of the global workforce in this area, estimated at some 47 million, says a new report by the ILO. (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 9 Oct. 2001)

Implementing the ILO Declaration in Africa: More than seventy participants from all over Africa, drawn from trade unions, and employers’ organisations, government, International Trade Secretariats, friendly organisations from Europe and representatives of intergovernmental organisations including the ILO took part in a three day conference on the implementation of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work..."The ICFTU-AFRO takes the view that workers rights be linked to trade agreements and the process should be open, fair, multilateral and give time for problems to be resolved amicably by discussions and negotiations. The WTO and ILO should cooperate closely in the implementation of international workers’ rights", ICFTU-AFRO General Secretary Andrew Kailembo told the conference. (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 9 Oct. 2001)

Promoting sustainable tourism in the Caribbean: The participation of social partners in all regional and national bodies involved in sustainable tourism, the strengthening of Labour ministries to implement and enforce health and safety regulations relating to tourism and the promotion of key ILO standards and the concept of Decent Work in that industry, were among the key recommendations made last month (September 2001) at an ILO-sub regional seminar on the promotion of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean...Increased pollution, coastal zone degradation, freshwater shortages and loss of bio-diversity were all threatening the nature of the industry as a result of mass tourism and an unsustainable approach. (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 9 Oct. 2001)

Protecting workers in the non-ferrous metal industries: Protecting workers from occupational safety and health hazards, preventing or reducing the incidence and severity of illnesses and injury and promoting consultations and cooperation between governments, and employers and workers’ organizations are the key objectives of a new Code of practice on safety and health in the production of non-ferrous metals. (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 9 Oct. 2001)

RATIFICATION WATCH: Ratification of the eight fundamental conventions of the ILO [International Labour Organization] (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 9 Oct. 2001)

Investigators silent after Burma visit: A high-level delegation from the International Labour Organisation has finished a three-week investigation of the use of forced labour in Burma...They continued to give no details of the visit, as they left the country. However western diplomats believe the investigation has been extremely rigorous. (Larry Jagan, BBC News, 6 Oct. 2001)

ASIA: Women Face Hostile Conditions In Workplace, ILO Says - An International Labor Organization report says that while a greater number of women are moving into the workforce in Asia, many of them occupy low-status jobs and are increasingly vulnerable to sexual harassment in the workplace. (UN Wire, 3 Oct. 2001)

Women face hostile conditions at workplaces in Asia: ILO report - A large number of women are moving into labour force in Asia, but they occupy bottom rungs of the employment ladder leading to increase in the scale and risk of sexual harassment at workplaces, says a technical report of International Labour Organization (ILO). (Dawn [Pakistan], 3 Oct. 2001)

ILO meeting on the management of disability at the workplace (International Labour Organization, 2 Oct. 2001)

Agreement to end child labour on cocoa farms: The International Labour Organization (ILO) today welcomed the agreement between two members of the U.S. Congress and representatives of the world chocolate industry to eliminate child slavery on West African cocoa plantations and end the worst forms of child labour in the global cocoa-chocolate sector. (International Labour Organization, 1 Oct. 2001)

Milestone in Campaign Against Worst Forms of Child Labour: The world has moved at a record pace in ratifying an international convention that calls for immediate action to outlaw the worst forms of child labour, says the International Labour Organization (ILO). (International Labour Organization, 26 Sep. 2001)

ILO symposium to promote social concerns at World Bank and International Monetary Fund:...While the international financial institutions gradually have become more receptive to dialogue with global trade unions, a discussion paper prepared for the symposium argues that their policies still fail to address the negative consequences of globalization for workers around the world. The document, entitled "Trade unions and the global economy: An unfinished story," points to a number of instances where the policies of the financial institutions run contrary to ILO core Conventions, namely on the right to bargain collectively, and to universally-accepted provisions for social protection. (International Labour Organization, 21 Sep. 2001)

Business and Labour Responds to HIV/AIDS in Asia: The International Labor Organisation (ILO) has identified HIV/AIDS as a major threat to enterprise and the workplace. The business community must play a role in implementing sound workplace policies, raising public awareness on HIVAIDS, mobilizing political commitment, and contributing resources to the national response. In this context, a conference on business and labour responses to HIV/AIDS is being held on 18-19 September 2001 in Bangkok. The conference is being organized by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with ESCAP, ILO, UNDCP and UNAIDS, and the Asian Business Coalition on AIDS. (United Nations Information Services, 17 Sep. 2001)

Forced labour in Burma: international team investigates - A former Governor General of Australia and chief justice of Sri Lanka arrive in Burma today as part of a team investigating whether the country continues to violate international agreements on forced labour. (Christian Aid, 17 Sep. 2001)

Burmese forced labour in the spotlight: United Nations officials have gone to Burma to assess efforts by the military government to end the use of forced labour. The UN's International Labour Organisation said its team had been guaranteed freedom of access during its three-week stay, and that witnesses who gave evidence would be protected. (Larry Jagan, BBC News, 17 Sep. 2001)

UKRAINE: Nearly Half Of Juvenile Workers Under 15, U.N. Study Reveals - Nearly half of Ukrainian working adolescents are younger than 15, despite laws to regulate child labor, an International Labor Organization-funded study says, warning that even children working in family businesses are in danger of being exploited. (UN Wire, 7 Sep. 2001)

Statement by ILO Director-General at World Conference against Racism: "...Racism is a workplace issue. Where racism and discrimination exist, workers are faced with them constantly, day by day, as they try to earn a living. And if you are unemployed, they are formidable obstacles to getting a job..." (statement by Juan Somavia, Director General, International Labour Organization, 2 Sep. 2001)

Every reason to link trade with labour standard: Sir, Professor Jagdish Bhagwati has done a disservice to the trade and labour debate with his article "Break the link between trade and labour" (August 29). He has also done a disservice to millions of exploited sweatshop workers with his polemic, based as it is on several fallacies and a misrepresentation of the position of those who advocate a positive link between trade and labour standards. (letter to editor from Bill Jordan, General Secretary, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, in Financial Times, 7 Sep. 2001)

ILO studies find worsening labour conditions in Ukraine – A decade after their country gained independence, tens of millions of Ukrainians continue to work without pay, lack access to adequate health coverage and avoid seeking help from government agencies when faced by economic or social crises, according to a pair of new surveys by the International Labour Organization. (United Nations Newservice, 23 Aug. 2001)

Reduction in poverty can help eliminate child labour: ILO official (Business Recorder [Pakistan], 22 Aug. 2001)

ILO High Level Team to Visit Myanmar: Mission to assess Government actions on eliminating forced labour - The composition of a High Level Team due to visit Myanmar for a three-week period next month to assess Government actions on forced labour was announced today by the International Labour Office (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia. (International Labour Organization, 21 Aug. 2001)

Internationally-backed group to study use of child labour in west Africa: An internationally-backed group of experts are to carry out a study over the next three to four months of the use of child labour in five west African countries [Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria], study group members told AFP here. (Agence France Presse, 11 Aug. 2001)

CHEMICAL SAFETY: Documents Available Free on Internet - The World Health Organization yesterday announced that thousands of chemical safety documents are now available free at the Web site of the International Program on Chemical Safety, a joint effort of the WHO, the International Labor Organization and the UN Environment Program. (UN Wire, 26 July 2001)

Workshop on child labour in carpet industry [Pakistan]: The two-day workshop organized by the ILO-IPEC Project on Combating Child Labour in the Carpet Industry in Pakistan on self-evaluation/stakeholders began here on Tuesday. (Dawn [Karachi], 11 July 2001)

GENDER EQUITY: ILO Says Women Face "Glass Walls" In Jobs - Women face "glass walls" in their efforts to achieve high-ranking management positions, according to a new International Labor Organization study of the role of women in business and government in more than 70 countries. (UN Wire, 10 July 2001)

Minister pins hopes on fair trade: Patricia Hewitt, the [UK] industry secretary, yesterday bluntly told globalisation protesters that their demands would block the world's poor from pathways out of poverty. (Patrick Wintour, Guardian [UK], 10 July 2001)

Protection for 1,3 billion agricultural workers, at long last...[adoption of the International Convention on Health and Safety in Agriculture] (Human.Rights@Work [A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities], 9 July 2001)

Singled out for rights abuses: Belarus, Colombia, Ethiopia, Burma, and Venezuela were singled out by the Conference [June 2001 International Labour Conference] Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, for serious infringement of Convention 87 on freedom of association, while Sudan was pointed at for continued failure to implement Convention 29 on forced labour. (Human.Rights@Work [A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities], 9 July 2001)

Burma to Cooperate With Forced-Labor Probe: Seeking to stem a flood of allegations about the widespread use of forced labor, Burma's government is vowing to cooperate fully with international investigators even as it continues to defend its record on workers' rights. (Thomas Crampton, International Herald Tribune, 4 July 2001) 

ILO’s Sh5m project to curb child labour [in Kenya] (Tabitha Onyinge and Agatha Katheu, East African Standard [Nairobi], 26 June 2001)

Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work (International Labour Organization, 22 June 2001) {···english···español···français}

89th International Labour Conference To Press Forward on Decent Work Agenda - ILC Adopts First International Standard on Safety in Agriculture: In addition to the wide ranging debate on reducing the decent work deficit, delegates gave overwhelming approval to the first labour standard on agricultural safety and health ever - with the aim of protecting the world's 1.3 billion agricultural workers by a vote of 402 for, 2 against with 41 abstentions. The new International Convention on Health and Safety in Agriculture will enter into force once ratified by two ILO member States. (International Labour Organization, 21 June 2001)

CHILD LABOR: Three Nations To End Practice By 2011, ILO Says [El Salvador, Nepal, Tanzania] (UN Wire, 13 June 2001)

TRADE: ILO Proposes Commission To Air Social Fears: International Labor Organization Director-General Juan Somavia yesterday proposed establishment of a commission on the social dimensions of globalization. Diplomats say establishment of the body could remove a significant obstacle for the launch of new World Trade Organization talks. (UN Wire, 12 June 2001)

Burma Still Using Forced Labor (Human Rights Watch, 12 June 2001)

Myanmar Tests Resolve of I.L.O. on Enforcing Standards (Elizabeth Olson, New York Times, 5 June 2001)

Combating child trafficking in West and Central Africa: ...In general, girls are placed as domestics or street traders while boys work on plantations, in construction or in mines...The existence of trafficking in children for labour exploitation is now recognized in the countries participating in the project: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Togo (World of Work - The Magazine of the ILO, June 2001)

Seeking socially responsible tourism: ...the negative social and environmental impact of this mass tourism is being assessed, and a growing number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are calling on the tourism industry leadership - and vacationers as well - to adopt a more responsible attitude. (World of Work - The Magazine of the ILO, June 2001)

Forced labour, human trafficking, slavery haunt us still: Forced labour, slavery and criminal trafficking in human beings - especially women and children - are on the rise worldwide and taking new and insidious forms. A new study by the ILO Stopping Forced Labour, say slavery, oppression and exploitation of human beings have by no means been relegated to history. (World of Work - The Magazine of the ILO, June 2001)

Beyond the "glass ceiling" - Women in the world of work: Progress, but slowly - ...Whether at work or in politics, this artificial barrier - a transparent but stifling cap fashioned from attitudinal and organizational prejudices - remains in effect despite decades of social development and advancements in gender equality. (World of Work - The Magazine of the ILO, June 2001)

Private benefit from forced prison labour: Case studies on the application of ILO Convention 29 [Australia, Cameroon, China, Russia, UK, USA] (Colin Fenwick, for International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, June 2001)

ILO report: Stopping Forced Labour (International Labour Organization, June 2001):

ILO Director-General visits China (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 23 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS is a workplace issue: New [draft] ILO Code of Practice (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 23 May 2001)

Remarks by [ILO Director-General] Juan Somavia at a Press Conference on the Occasion of the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between China and the ILO,  Beijing, 17 May 2001 (International Labour Organization, 17 May 2001)

ILO focusing on garment industry, EPZ [export processing zones] for enforcing conventions: Workshop participants find indifference [among governments] to implementing workers' rights (The Independent [Dhaka, Bangladesh], 15 May 2001)

Statement by Juan Somavia Director-General of the International Labour Office to the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Brussels, 14 May 2001 (International Labour Organization, 14 May 2001)

Amnesty International's Concerns at the 89th International Labour Conference (5-21 June 2001, Geneva) (Amnesty International, 1 May 2001)

Labor Leaders to Publicize ILO's Worker Rights List (WorldExploitation.com, 14 Feb. 2001)

Interview: George Soros - Levelling the Field: As opposition to globalization continues to grab headlines, the global financier makes the case for multilateral reform (Far Eastern Economic Review, 8 Feb. 2001)

Code of Practice on Safety and Health in the Non-ferrous Metals Industries (International Labour Organization, 2001)

The effects of core workers rights on labour costs and foreign direct investment: Evaluating the "conventional wisdom" (David Kucera, International Institute for Labour Studies discussion paper, 2001)

The Economic Impact of Child Labour (Rossana Galli, University of Lugano, International Institute for Labour Studies discussion paper, 2001)

2000:

Globalization’s downside - From shipyard to graveyard: Is there a decent way to break ships? - ...Local businesses and others say the annual breaking of some 700 ships benefits the five nations (India, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan and Viet Nam) where the work takes place these days. But critics claim these countries have become dump sites for the industrialized world; an environmental disaster and an example of poor, often highly dangerous working conditions. (World of Work - The Magazine of the ILO, Dec. 2000)

ILO Governing Body opens the way for unprecedented action against forced labour in Myanmar (International Labour Organization, Nov. 2000) 

Tripartite Meeting on Labour Practices in the Footwear, Leather, Textiles and Clothing Industries - Geneva, 16-20 October 2000 (International Labour Organization): 

"Five Years After Copenhagen" - Roundtable on Disability and Social Development - Geneva 2000 NGO Forum - Message by Mr. Juan Somavia, Director-General, ILO (Juan Somavia, Director-General, International Labour Organization, 28 June 2000)

International Labour Conference adopts Resolution targeting forced labour in Myanmar (Burma) (International Labour Organization, June 2000) 

The 88th International Labour Conference: Amnesty International's concerns relevant to the Committee on Application of Standards (Amnesty International, 1 May 2000) 

Labour Standards and World Trade Law: Interfacing Legitimate Concerns:...We submit that the WTO labour-related measures should focus on a product-related approach while the implementation of broader policies and efforts should be pursued within the ILO (Thomas Cottier and Alexandra Caplazi, Institute of European & International Economic Law, University of Berne, Mar. 2000)

Multinational Enterprises and the Social Challenges of the XXIst Century: The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles at Work; Public and Private Corporate Codes of Conduct; edited by Roger Blanpain (abstract of book by the publisher, Kluwer Law International, Jan. 2000)

1999:

Business Boosts International Labor Organization (Human Rights for Workers, 6 Sep. 1999)

Further examination of questions concerning private initiatives, including codes of conduct (International Labour Organization, Mar. 1999)

1998:

Export Processing Zones (International Labour Organization, Dec. 1998)

Overview of global developments and Office activities concerning codes of conduct, social labelling and other private sector initiatives addressing labour issues (International Labour Organization, Nov. 1998)

Forced labour in Myanmar (Burma) (International Labour Organization, 2 July 1998)

Governance of Globalisation: ILO's Contribution (Robert Kyloh, International Labour Organization, 1998) 

Corporate Codes of Conduct and Labour Standards (Jill Murray, International Labour Organization, 1998)

Codes of Conduct for Multinationals (International Labour Organization, 1998)

1997: 

Business ethics in the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industries: Codes of Conduct (J.P. Sajhau, ILO working paper, 1997)