Press releases

February 2010 

• EU Presidency holder Spain becomes first EU state to ratify key ILO Maritime Labour Convention
  05 February 2010 - Spain, which currently holds the European Union Presidency, has become the first EU member state to ratify the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, in a major step toward bringing into force a new, comprehensive “bill of rights” for seafarers.

January 2010 

• Unemployment reached highest level on record in 2009: Somavia calls for the same policy decisiveness that saved banks to save and create jobs
  26 January 2010 - The number of jobless worldwide reached nearly 212 million in 2009 following an unprecedented increase of 34 million compared to 2007, on the eve of the global crisis, the International Labour Office (ILO) said in its annual "Global Employment Trends" report.

December 2009 

• ILO to focus on green jobs, employment issues at UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
  11 December 2009 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) will take part in the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to draw attention to the value of “green jobs” for reaping the development benefits and meeting the employment challenge associated with the goal of cutting CO2 emissions.
• ILO mourns death of former Director-General Francis Blanchard
  10 December 2009 - Francis Blanchard of France, who served as Director-General of the International Labour Office during the turbulent and transitional years 1974 to 1989, died on Wednesday, 9 December 2009 at the age of 93.
• ILO warns “early exit” from stimulus measures could prolong jobs crisis
  07 December 2009 - An “early exit” from support measures adopted in response to the global economic crisis could postpone a jobs recovery for years and render the fledgling economic upturn “fragile and incomplete”, a new report by the research arm of the International Labour Organization (ILO) says.
• ILO to issue report on status of global jobs crisis
  03 December 2009 - The International Institute for Labour Studies of the International Labour Office (ILO) is to launch a new study, entitled “World of Work Report 2009 – The Global Jobs Crisis and beyond” on Monday 7th of December. ...
• First African Decent Work Symposium hears calls to invest in employment and sustainable enterprises
  01 December 2009 - The First African Decent Work Symposium “Recovering from the crisis: the implementation of the Global Jobs Pact in Africa” opened in Ouagadougou on 1 December with three heads of state and ministers of labour and finance and representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations from more than 45 African countries.

November 2009 

• ILO Director-General says HIV/AIDS programmes crucial in crisis response
  30 November 2009 - The ILO’s Global Jobs Pact adopted earlier this year to address the global economic and jobs crisis, can play a crucial role in an effective workplace response to the impact of the crisis on people living with HIV/AIDS, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said in a statement issued for World AIDS Day on 1 December.
• ILO Governing Body calls for comprehensive crisis response, long-term sustainable development based on Global Jobs Pact
  20 November 2009 - The Governing Body of the International Labour Office called for an “employment oriented” response to the global economic crisis based on policy measures set out in the ILO’s Global Jobs Pact. “A more balanced economic growth pattern must not lose sight of the need to urgently address large-scale unemployment, underemployment and rising income inequality. ...
• Marlee Matlin urges that people with disabilities be “counted in” economic recovery efforts
  12 November 2009 - Expressing concern that people with disabilities may face rising exclusion from the world of work due to the global economic crisis, Academy Award winning actress, television star and activist Marlee Matlin urged that they be “counted in” efforts to stimulate and support economic recovery.
• Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin to address ILO panel on people with disabilities and the economic crisis
  09 November 2009 - People with disabilities represent an estimated 10 per cent of the world’s population, or some 650 million people worldwide. They are often excluded and marginalized, and are particularly vulnerable in times of crisis. ...
• ILO Governing Body to address world of work response to global economic crisis
  06 November 2009 - The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) is to examine the response of the world of work to the global economic crisis, and assess the current outlook for a recovery in employment at its meeting here on 5-20 November under the Global Jobs Pact adopted by the ILO’s International Labour Conference in June 2009.
• ILO says economic crisis eroding real wages for second year running
  03 November 2009 - Global growth in real wages slowed dramatically in 2008 as a result of the economic crisis and is expected to drop even further this year despite signs of a possible economic recovery, the International Labour Organization said. ...

October 2009 

• ILO meeting adopts revised list of occupational diseases
  30 October 2009 - A tripartite meeting of experts on occupational diseases held at the International Labour Office has adopted a new list of occupational diseases designed to assist countries in the prevention, recording, notification and, if applicable, compensation of illnesses caused by work. ...
• ILO Conference in Düsseldorf to discuss crisis impact on occupational safety and health
  29 October 2009 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) will host an international conference “Implementing Occupational Safety and Health Standards Globally” in Düsseldorf from 3-6 November 2009 to consider the potential impact of the global economic crisis on safety and health at the workplace.
• Arab Employment Forum endorses agenda for action in the region
  21 October 2009 - The Arab Employment Forum closed with agreement between the government, employer and worker representatives of 22 countries on an Agenda for Action to apply the Global Jobs Pact in the region to mitigate the immediate impacts of the economic crisis on labour markets.
• Arab Employment Forum opens with strong call for a job-centered recovery
  19 October 2009 - Government, employer and worker representatives opened a three-day Arab Employment Forum amid growing concerns over the impact of the global economic crisis on jobs and enterprises in the region, and an urgent call for action based on the ILO Global Jobs Pact. ...
• ILO report says temporary workers among the worst hit by the economic crisis, urges balance between flexible labour markets and workers’ protection
  19 October 2009 - A new report issued by the International Labour Office says that workers employed by temporary employment agencies have been among the first to lose their jobs as a result of the financial and economic crisis. At the same time, the report also observes that ratification of ILO Convention No. ...
• Arab Employment Forum to address impact of the global financial crisis on employment
  18 October 2009 - A three-day Arab Employment Forum opens in Beirut with the participation of high-level delegates from 22 countries in the region to examine the consequences of the global economic crisis on Arab states and consider ways of sustaining jobs and extending social protection for its citizens.
• Arab Employment Forum: A Jobs Pact for Recovery and Growth
  15 October 2009 - Under the patronage of H.E. the Prime Minister of Lebanon, the International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with the Arab Labour Organization (ALO) will host the Arab Employment Forum (AEF) in Beirut on 19-21 October 2009. Keynote speakers will include Mr. Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, Mr. ...