GENEVA (ILO News) - The challenges of globalization, the labour situation in Myanmar and the employment and social consequences of September 11 th top the agenda of the Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) which opens its 283 rd session here on 11 March.
During the two-week meeting, the Governing Body Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) will mark its 50 th anniversary at a round-table discussion, including testimony from two labour leaders released from prison on CFA recommendations.
The Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization will meet on 18-19 March and resume a discussion on trade liberalization and employment begun at its November session. The debate will concern the complex relationship between trade and economic growth, its impact on jobs and the roles of national policies and institutions.
Delegates will also consider a new study on investment in the global economy and decent work that outlines ways of attracting foreign investment and maximizing potential benefits.
The Working Party will also receive a report on the launch of the World Commission on the Social dimension of Globalization which took place at the ILO on 27 February. The new Commission will hold its first meeting in Geneva on 25 March.
The impact on jobs of the events of 11 September will be the subject of one of the main papers before the ILO's Employment and Social Policy Committee on 14 March (See GB.283/ESP/2, "Policy responses to address the employment and social consequences of the events of 11 September 2001").
The paper traces the spread of job losses in the industries most directly affected against the backdrop of the slowdown in the world economy that began earlier in the year. It reviews the ILO's policy response, which included emergency meetings of employers, unions and governments in the civil aviation and hotel and tourism sectors.
The paper suggests that, with prospects for recovery still uncertain, policy makers need to be ready to take internationally-coordinated action. Stress is placed on the importance of bolstering investment in developing countries and building integrated policy frameworks to support the goal of decent work for all.
The Committee will also discuss follow-up action to the ILO's Global Employment Forum held last November. The Forum proposed a rolling programme of action aimed at placing employment at the centre of economic and social policies.
Myanmar
Following conclusions reached at its November 2001 session, the Governing Body will consider a report on the technical cooperation mission sent by the Director-General to Yangon 19-25 February 2002. The Governing Body acknowledged at its November meeting that Myanmar had made efforts to end the problem of forced labour and had cooperated with an unprecedented investigation by a high-level team of ILO experts. The Governing Body, however, called on Myanmar to make urgent efforts to remedy the persisting forced labour situation as described by the high-level team and requested the Director-General to pursue a dialogue aimed at establishing a continued and effective ILO presence in the country in that connection.
Other issues
The Governing Body will also review the annual reports required under the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work on the basis of an introduction, which has been prepared by a group of Experts-Advisers. The reports provide an annual review of the situation in countries that have not ratified one or more of the ILO's core Conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining, forced labour, child labour and discrimination in employment and occupation. The expert advisers have also recommended that the ILO approach the authorities of Afghanistan regarding their technical cooperation needs to pursue reconstruction efforts that encompass promotion of the fundamental principles and rights at work as part of a development strategy.
Under the title "Voice, Freedom, Security: 50 years of the Committee on Freedom of Association", the 50 th anniversary of the CFA will be marked with a roundtable on 14 March at 18:30. The participants include two trade union leaders who were released from prison following CFA recommendations: Dita Sari from Indonesia and Basie Mahal Gahé from Côte d'Ivoire. Ken Douglas, former President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, will discuss the impact of the CFA recommendations on New Zealand labour legislation. Kadi Pärnits, President of the Central Association of Estonian Trade Unions will discuss the changes in Estonian trade union legislation following the CFA's recommendations and an ILO mission. Jean-Jacques Oeschlin will be present in his capacity as employer and former Rapporteur of the CFA. From the Government side, Angelino Garzon, Minister of Labour from Colombia, will talk about the various cases concerning Colombia.
The Governing Body will examine a document (GB.283/4) on the review of improvements in standards-related activities, including an overview of discussions and decisions on standards policy. The document summarizes the progress made since early 1990`s and points to the major initiatives taken by the Governing Body and the International Labour Conference to further promote international Labour standards. It is also listing a number of areas which can be subject of a more detailed discussion in the course of the current process of review and improvement of the standards-related activities of the ILO.