GENEVA (ILO News) ─ The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) is to examine the global impact of the current financial and economic crisis on governments, workers and employers at its 303rd meeting which opens here on 6 November.
The meeting will examine basic labour rights in Myanmar, and employment implications of climate change.
Against the backdrop of the current global crisis, the Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization will discuss the financial and economic crisis and its potential impact on the objectives pursued by the Organization’s Decent Work Agenda (see GB 303/WP/SDG/1).
A special guest, Mr. Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, will address the Working Party on 17 November. The discussion is being held in the context of new estimates suggesting a significant increase in unemployment and the number of working poor due to the financial crisis.
On 18 November, the Governing Body is to consider the appointment of the Director-General of the ILO. The serving Director-General, Juan Somavia is the single contender. As of 17 October, the final date for the presentation of candidatures, the Governing Body had not received any other candidatures.
Mr. Somavia, a national of Chile, became Director-General of the ILO in March 1999 and has led the organization on a new course through promoting the Decent Work Agenda, which has received support at the highest political level in all regions of the world as well as across the multilateral system. During his tenure the ILO also adopted a landmark Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization in June of this year.
The Governing Body will also discuss a preliminary implementation plan for the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (GB 303/SG/DECL/2). The Declaration calls for a new strategy to sustain open economies and open societies based on social justice. The Declaration endorses the concept of decent work and the Decent Work Agenda, with its four inseparable, integrated and mutually supportive strategic objectives (employment creation and sustainable enterprises, social protection, workers’ rights and social dialogue) as an effective response to the challenges of globalization.
The Governing Body will have a first round of discussions on the Strategic Policy Framework that will guide the Organization’s work for the period 2010-2015.
The meeting will also review the situation in Myanmar on the basis of a report by the ILO Liaison Officer in Yangon.
It will also consider the latest report of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.
Among other issues, the Committee on Social and Employment Policy will examine the Global Employment Agenda (GB 303/ESP/2), the ILO campaign for the extension of social security (GB 303/ESP/3), and employment and labour market implications of climate change (GB 303/ESP/4).
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.