Press releases

2012

1. Trade Union Youth in India join hands to campaign ratification of ILO Conventions Nos.87 and 98

   20 September 2012

2. ILO concerned with continuing trade union rights restrictions in Korea

   18 September 2012

3. Interview with Zakari Koudougou, Regional Secretary of UNI Africa

   04 September 2012

   The Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) has been promoting several activities in support of trade union actions in trying to organize in multinational companies, using the ILO’s MNE Declaration and its standards. In September 2011 a meeting was organized which brought together UNI Africa affiliates, who discussed strategies for organizing in the different countries covered by telecommunications giant MTN (the only African global telecom carrier). The workshop took place in Johannesburg, with a strong representation of the confederal centres affiliated to ITUC–AFRICA, with local high-level representation from the ILO’s Pretoria Office, and with the participation of Anna Biondi, ACTRAV’s Deputy Director and focal point for MNEs, as well as Kristi Drew from TUAC who addressed the newly revised OECD Guidelines. The following is an interview with Zakari Koudougou, Regional Secretary for UNI Africa, who led the UNI delegation.

4. Thailand: 15 unions sign a petition for the ratification of ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98

   01 September 2012

5. The ILO hopes that Thailand will ratify Conventions Nos. 87 and 98

   30 August 2012

6. International Labour Conference 2012: interview with Luc Cortebeeck, Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Governing Body

   15 June 2012

   The 101st session of the International Labour Conference ended with the adoption of a new Recommendation on social protection and a call for democracy in Myanmar. Luc Cortebeeck, Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Governing Body, reviews the highlights of this Conference – the last one in which Juan Somavia took part as Director-General of the International Labour Office. Elected as Juan Somavia's successor is Guy Ryder.

7. International Labour Conference 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi meets the Workers' Group

   14 June 2012

8. International Labour Conference 2012: reactions from Mody Guiro of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa)

   14 June 2012

   What does social protection mean to African workers? And what about youth employment and social dialogue in Africa? ACTRAV INFO raised these issues with Mody Guiro, the President of the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa). We spoke to him after the 101st session of the International Labour Conference, which has just ended in Geneva.

9. International Labour Conference: Workers’ Group Statement on Tunisia

   14 June 2012

   The Workers' Group has been monitoring with deep concern the latest violence in Tunisia triggered by fundamentalist groups in an attempt to undermine democratic values in the home of the Arab Spring.

10. Welcome Changes in Burma on Forced Labour and Freedom of Association: Cautious Optimism by FTUB

    12 June 2012

    "The ILO Supervisory Mechanism does work." This was the sentiment echoed by all when at last some concrete steps were seen with regard to the long-standing problems of forced labour in Burma. A Commission of Inquiry was established by the ILO in 1996 to examine instances of forced labour in Burma. Since then the ILO’s Governing Body, in tripartite discussions, have followed up on the implementation of the Recommendations of the Inquiry. Only this year we have seen some changes and at this Conference the ILO will consider removing sanctions and other measures that were taken to force the Government to implement the recommendations. In other developments, direct talks have been established between government officials and the FTUB, including its leader Maung Maung. The following interview with Maung Maung reflects some of his thoughts on the recent developments.

11. ILC: the Workers' Group pays tribute to Juan Somavia

    04 June 2012

12. A new social contract for Europe?

    04 June 2012

    Questions and answers with Vasco Pedrina, author of “The Eurocrisis and the European trade union movement.

13. International Labour Standards: Three countries ratify ILO Conventions

    01 May 2012

14. May Day: Trade union demonstration in Geneva

    01 May 2012

    Swiss trade unions, together with the ILO Staff Union, held a demonstration in Geneva to mark May Day.

15. Brazil: Second Congress of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA-CSA)

    20 April 2012

    The Second Congress of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA-CSA) was held in Brazil on 17-20 April 2012.

16. Abidjan: Training on trade union unity in French-speaking Africa

    02 April 2012

    The General Secretaries of a number of African trade union organizations took part in a training seminar on the unity of the trade union movement in French-speaking Africa, held in the capital of Côte d'Ivoire from 29 March to 1 April 2012.

17. International Labour Standards: Four countries ratify ILO Conventions

    31 March 2012

18. Committee on Freedom of Association: Interview with Workers' group spokesperson Yves Veyrier

    31 March 2012

    At its 313th Session, the Governing Body adopted the report of the Committee on Freedom of Association, which examined some 40 cases of rights violations relating to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Yves Veyrier, the Workers' group spokesperson on this Committee, explains...

19. Governing Body: Workers' group statements on Guinea, Mali, and Spain

    31 March 2012

    The Workers' group of the ILO Governing Body adopted statements on the current situations in Guinea, Mali, and Spain.

20. Governing Body: the Director-General meets the Workers' Group

    26 March 2012

    ILO Director-General Juan Somavia met the Workers’ Group of the Governing Body. During the meeting, he emphasized that this would be the last Governing Body session that he would attend in the capacity of Director-General.