GENEVA (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization today called for nominations for the 2008 " ILO Decent Work Research Prize" to recognize outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge on the ILO's central goal of decent work for all.
Created by the ILO's International Institute for Labour Studies and awarded for the first time in 2007, the prize will be awarded during the next International Labour Conference in June 2008 in Geneva. The deadline for receipt of candidatures has been set on 15 January 2008.
The first ILO Decent Work Research Prize was awarded at the closing plenary of the International Labour Conference on 15 June 2007 to Nobel peace laureate and former South African President Nelson Mandela and to the eminent academic and specialist in social security, Professor Carmelo Mesa-Lago.
Mr. Mandela received an exceptional prize for his extraordinary lifetime contribution to knowledge, understanding and advocacy on the central concerns of the ILO, while Mr. Mesa-Lago received his award for major scholarly contributions to the analysis of socio-economic relationships and policy instruments for the advancement of decent work, in particular on social security and pension reform.
The prize can be awarded for major specific publications or a lifetime contribution to knowledge on the central concerns of the ILO, including job creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue. The laureate will be selected by a jury of five eminent international experts in labour and social policy issues.
Candidates can be nominated by individuals and institutions, including governments, workers' and employers' organizations. Only individuals qualify as candidates. They must have the support of at least one representative of the ILO's tripartite constituency and one leading academic in the area of labour and social policy coming from different regions of the world.
The winner will be invited to give a lecture to a global audience of government, employer and worker representatives, and be made Honorary Fellow of the International Institute for Labour Studies for 2008-2009. The prize carries an honorarium of US$ 10,000.
The International Institute for Labour Studies (IILS) was established by the ILO in 1960 as a centre for advanced studies in the social and labour field to further a better understanding of labour issues through education and research.