GENEVA (ILO News) - 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 ILO Committee on Freedom of Association marked its 50 th year in defence of the principal of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining.
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.
Myanmar
Profound concern was expressed in the ILO Governing Body over the limited impact of Government measures to end forced labour in Myanmar, and the Governing Body called for the setting up of a permanent ILO presence in the country to monitor continued efforts to eradicate the practice.
The decision came after a thorough debate on the report of the ILO High Level Team - which visited the country in September this year - that found despite legislation introduced one year ago, the practice of forced labour persisted in many parts of Myanmar, especially where the military presence was significant.
During the debate, it was noted that the perpetrators of forced labour, largely the military authorities, could not be allowed to act with impunity from criminal prosecution. The Governing Body Conclusions called upon the Director-General of the ILO to provide technical assistance with the implementation of new legislation, including the eventual establishment of an ombudsman.
The Governing Body endorsed the report's proposal to establish an ombudsman "to whom complaints regarding forced labour could be submitted and who would have a mandate and the necessary means to conduct investigations without fear or favour with the required confidence of all parties concerned.
The Governing Body acknowledged that Myanmar had made efforts to remedy the problem of forced labour and had extended cooperation to an unprecedented investigation conducted by the High Level Team of ILO experts.
Members agreed that more needed to be done to strengthen enforcement of laws and disseminate information on decrees banning forced labour. This could be done via the mass media throughout the country and by translating the new laws known into local languages. Throughout the debate, speakers called attention to the lack of credibility of the legal system in Myanmar and its ability to provide redress to victims and prosecute perpetrators of forced labour.
The report of the High Level Team said that long-term representation of the ILO in Myanmar "would strengthen the confidence of victims in seeking redress." It could also provide assistance to the authorities responding to the international community regarding allegations made with respect to the continuing practice forced labour.
World Commission on Globalization
A proposal to establish a World Commission of 18 eminent persons was debated in the Governing Body's Working Party on the Social Dimensions of Globalization on the basis of a proposal submitted by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia.
The decision to establish a Commission was approved by consensus by the Governing Body's Working Party on the Social Dimensions of Globalization, which has been considering methods of enhancing its action while deepening the knowledge base for the ILO's work.
The Commission members, who are expected to be named early next year, will participate in the formulation of a "major, authoritative report on the social dimensions of globalization, including the interaction between the global economy and the world of work."
The choice of members, to be appointed by the Director-General, will include "eminent individuals with outstanding personal achievements and vision, participating in their individual capacity." The Commission report is scheduled to be submitted to the Governing Body at the March 2003 session.
According to the GB decision, the composition of the Commission, should "encompass in a balanced manner the principal views and policy perspectives in globalization debates, thereby offering prospects for the development of consensual solutions with broad-based support."
Freedom of Association
The Governing Body's Committee on Freedom of Association issued urgent calls to Belarus and Venezuela to modify legislation and practices which severely limit trade union freedoms.
The Governing Body's Committee on Freedom of Association celebrated its 50 th year of work defending the rights of workers to establish representative trade unions. Currently there are 76 cases pending before the Committee. At its present meeting, the Committee has examined 16 cases, reaching definitive conclusions in seven cases and interim conclusions in nine cases.
Committee Chair Engelen Kefer drew the attention of the Governing Body to two cases, those of Belarus and Venezuela, "due to the seriousness and the urgency of the issues raised therein."
The Committee issued a request to the Government of Belarus to "institute truly independent investigations into a series of allegations concerning pressure and intimidation of trade unionists and interference in trade union activities through management efforts to establish new union structures."
In the case of Venezuela, the Committee noted with regret that the Government failed to end the functions of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) in respect of trade union elections and that the CNE decided to enact a Special Statute for the renewal of trade union leadership, "which regulates excessively the electoral process of trade unions." The Committee "reiterated its call to put an end to the functions of the CNE and to repeal the Special Statute."