GENEVA (ILO News) A key decision for the future of human rights and international labour standards is forthcoming at the 271 st session of the ILO Governing Body. In the course of its deliberations between 23-27 March, the Governing Body will examine the draft text of a possible Declaration on fundamental rights, to be submitted to the next session of the International Labour Conference in June 1998.
This Declaration and an appropriate follow-up mechanism could constitute, in the words of ILO Director-General Michel Hansenne, "the most significant endeavour for ensuring respect for fundamental ILO standards since the adoption in 1945 of the Declaration of Philadelphia."
He described the draft Declaration as "central to fulfilling the increasing hopes and expectations placed on the ILO by the international community," notably in the aftermath of the United Nations' World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995).
Also during its current session, the Governing Body will vote on a successor to Michel Hansenne as Director-General: the election is scheduled to take place on Monday 23 March.
Beginning on Thursday 12 March, the various Committees of the Governing Body will examine such issues as freedom of association, discrimination in employment and occupation and the future of ILO technical cooperation programmes to eliminate child labour, enhance employment opportunities for women and combat poverty and social exclusion. The longer term future of the ILO will be considered, in plenary, in a preliminary consultation on the programme and budget proposals for the biennium 2000-2001.
The draft text of a possible Declaration on fundamental rights, prepared by the ILO Secretariat after intensive consultations between member States, has been submitted to the Governing Body for discussion in the plenary debates, which begin on Monday, 23 March.
While the specific content of the text, as well as the modalities of the follow-up mechanism, are expected to be the subject of intense discussions, the draft Declaration seeks to promote the principles of the seven "core" Conventions of the ILO relating to fundamental human rights. (Endnote 1) These deal with prohibition of forced labour and child labour, freedom of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively, equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value and non-discrimination in employment.
Michel Hansenne said that while the draft Declaration to be considered by the Governing Body in no way creates new legal obligations on member States, its adoption would confirm "that all ILO members, whatever their level of economic development, are committed to working in good faith and unremittingly to eliminate practices that are incompatible with the basic principles and values of the Organization, which they have voluntarily accepted upon becoming members of the Organization."
The Declaration would thus commit ILO member States to inter alia:
- ensure the promotion of freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
- constantly seek to suppress all forms of forced or compulsory labour, exacted under the menace of any penalty and for which workers have not offered themselves voluntarily;
- pursue efforts toward the effective abolition of child labour;
- bring about conditions of true equality of opportunity among all workers, especially male and female workers, through the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation in all its forms.
At the same time, the ILO would pledge its own constituents to help the efforts of member States through technical cooperation and a follow-up mechanism.
A campaign to achieve universal ratification of the seven core Conventions has been underway since May 1995, registering over 80 ratifications and confirmations to date, with many other countries currently involved in formal ratification procedures or examining the process of ratification. The progress of this campaign will be examined in the ILO's Committee on Legal Issues and Labour Standards with an eye towards increasing ratifications and providing technical cooperation where necessary. The Declaration is expected to give strong impetus toward universal ratification of these Conventions.
Michel Hansenne was elected Director-General of the ILO in 1989 and re-elected to a second, five-year term of office in 1994. His current term expires in March 1999.
Two candidacies have been submitted for the election of the next Director-General. They are, Ms. María Nieves Roldan-Confesor of the Philippines and Mr. Juan Somavía of Chile, both submitted by their respective governments.
Ms. Confesor is currently a Presidential Adviser for Human Resource Development and International Labour Affairs, Office of the President of the Government of the Philippines and holds the rank of Cabinet Minister. Mr. Somavía is currently Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations in New York and served as Chile's Representative to the Security Council between 1996-97.
Under ILO procedures, the 56 titular members of the Governing Body are entitled to vote. Voting is by secret ballot. To be elected, a candidate must receive the votes of more than one-half of the members of the Governing Body entitled to vote.
The Governing Body, composed of 28 government members
(Endnote 2)
14 employer members and 14 worker members, convenes three
times annually. It is the executive arm of the ILO and takes
decisions on the implementation of ILO policies and programmes.
Ten of the government seats are permanently held by major
industrialized countries. The remaining members are elected for
three years by governments, workers and employers respectively,
taking account of regional distribution.
Endnote 1
Freedom of association and collective bargaining (No. 87
and 98); Forced labour (No. 29 and No. 105); Non-discrimination
(No. 100 and No. 111); and Minimum age (No. 138).
Endnote 2
Bangladesh, Brazil*, Canada, Chile, China*, Colombia,
Congo, Egypt, France*, Germany*, Guinea, Hungary, India*,
Italy*, Japan*, Republic of Korea, Mauritius, Nigeria, Panama,
Poland, Russian Federation*, Saudi Arabia, Suriname, Swaziland,
Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom*, United States*.
(* = members holding non-elective seats as States of chief industrial importance).