GENEVA (ILO News) - Government, employer and worker representatives will hold a wide-ranging debate on basic labour rights and strategies for new partnerships to promote a fair globalization at the 291st session of the ILO Governing Body, from 4-19 November.
The Governing Body will examine proposals for further follow-up to the recently published report, "A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All", presented to the International Labour Organization (ILO) by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization ( Note 1). This includes strategies for strengthening existing partnerships within the multilateral system and designing new ones.
The Report of the independent Commission established by the ILO to examine the social impact of globalization calls for an "urgent rethink" of current policies and institutions involved in the governance of globalization and outlines a vision for making it fair for all.
With respect to basic labour rights, the Governing Body will consider a report ( Note 2) issued by an ILO Commission of Inquiry concluding that the Belarus trade union movement has been and continues to be the subject of significant interference on the part of Government authorities. The Commission of Inquiry, composed of high-level independent experts, was appointed in November 2003 by the Governing Body of the ILO.
In its report, the Commission of Inquiry stresses the importance of ensuring full respect for the basic civil liberties of trade union members and leaders. It considers that many of these, in particular the right to freely express one's opinion, to freely seek and impart information and ideas through the media, and freedom of assembly, have been seriously infringed in Belarus.
The Governing Body will also discuss continued efforts to end the use of forced labour in Myanmar (Burma). In June 2004, the Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labour Conference noted with deep concern that in spite of the government's assurances of its intentions, in actual practice forced labour continued to be exacted in many parts of the country.
The ILO's Liaison Officer in Myanmar will report to the Governing Body on activities to assist people who complain that they have been subjected to forced labour. The Governing Body is asked to review the situation, including the prospects for a Plan of Action against forced labour in the country. Options for further ILO action are expected to be discussed.
The latest report of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association is also among the agenda items of the November session of the Governing Body.
Another agenda item of the Governing Body is a report on the progress made to date and plans for follow-up to the expanded programme of technical cooperation for the occupied Arab territories. The report covers work progress, from the last update in November 2003, which has been made by the ILO in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FPCCIA).
As a follow-up to resolutions adopted at the 2004 International Labour Conference, the Governing Body will also look at specific steps to be taken to promote equality between women and men in the world of work and a fair deal for migrant workers.
The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Office (the Office is the secretariat of the Organization). It meets three times a year, in March, June and November and takes decisions on ILO policy, the agenda of the International Labour Conference and the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference.
It is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers). Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States). The other Government members are elected by the Conference every three years.
Note 2 - Trade Union Rights in Belarus. Report of the Commission of Inquiry appointed under Article 26 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization to examine the observance by the Government of the Republic of Belarus of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). Geneva, 2004.