GENEVA (ILO News) – The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) which opens here on 5 March is to examine urgent new policies and measures to mitigate the severe impact of the global financial and economic crisis on the world of work and to stimulate a sustainable economic recovery.
On 23 March 2009, a High-level Tripartite Meeting on the Current Global Financial and Economic Crisis will discuss effective responses to the crisis based on a report covering 40 countries worldwide. Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, will address the meeting, among others.
Professor Joseph Stiglitz, who was awarded the ILO’s Decent Work Prize in 2008, will address the Governing Body during a special sitting on 12 March 2009.
Against the backdrop of the financial and economic crisis, the Committee on Social and Employment Policy will examine the ILO response to the crisis (for further information see GB.304/ESP/2). The Committee will also discuss an update on minimum wage developments worldwide (GB.304/ESP/3), and the implementation of the Global Employment Agenda in Brazil (GB.304/ESP/4).
The meeting, scheduled for 5-27 March, will examine programme and budget proposals for the 2010-11 biennium. The ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia has said the budget is designed to support efforts of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations worldwide to reach the Organization’s objectives in the midst of a profound and global economic crisis.
The proposed budget of US$641.7 million for 2010-11 is the same in real terms as for the present biennium.
The meeting will review the situation in Myanmar on the basis of a report by the ILO Liaison Officer in Yangon. On 26 February 2008, the one-year trial period of an Understanding reached between the ILO and the Government of Myanmar on a mechanism for victims of forced labour to seek redress without having to fear reprisals had been extended for 12 more months. The Governing Body will also be informed about the reconstruction activities that the ILO has been carrying out following cyclone Nargis in the Irrawaddy Delta.
It will also consider the latest report of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.
The Governing Body will discuss a preliminary implementation plan for the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (GB.304/SG/DECL/1). The Declaration calls for a new strategy to sustain open economies and open societies based on social justice. It 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 Building Subcommittee of the Governing Body will discuss proposals for a master plan for the renovation of the ILO headquarters building, including a comprehensive financing plan (GB.304/PFA/BS/2).
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.