All ILO Newsroom content

January 2013

1. 

   Global Employment Trends 2013

   Global unemployment rising again but with significant differences across regions

   22 January 2013

   Five years after the outbreak of the global financial crisis, labour markets remain deeply depressed. Unemployment has started to rise again as the economic outlook worsens.

June 2012

1. 

   Article

   Working a childhood away in Afghanistan’s kilns

   07 June 2012

   Children as young as five work as brick makers in Afghanistan’s kilns, as poverty and debt keep their families in low-wage bonded labour. Tackling the issue is far more complex than just banning child labour in the kilns, the ILO says.

2. 

   Video coverage

   ILO Head calls for a policy rethink to overcome global economic uncertainty

   06 June 2012

   In his address to the ILC, ILO DG Juan Somavia, urges that in the midst of crisis, now is a time for policy reevaluation to ensure a more stable global economy. He highlights that growth can no longer be the key criteria for macroeconomic success, but instead quality job creation, the reduction of poverty and fair access opportunities need to be brought to the forefront to ensure international cooperation.

December 2011

1. 

   Article

   From the depths of an African shantytown, a nascent youth employment movement grows

   14 December 2011

   In Africa’s second largest slum, youth unemployment is sky high. But cooperative projects are helping youth find work and slowly lift themselves out of poverty through such projects as raising food in community gardens, processing waste for bio-fuel or providing improved sanitation. Journalist Anne Holmes reports on how this emerging economic revival is making a small but significant dent in a major ongoing challenge.

2. 

   Questions and Answers

   Questions and answers on food security

   13 December 2011

   Recent food price shocks threaten some 1 billion people with hunger. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that climate change, along with rampant commodity speculation and lack of social protection are contributing to widespread food insecurity, resulting in hunger, poverty and even increased child labour. ILO On-line talked to Marva Corley-Coulibaly and Uma Rani Amara, senior economists at the ILO International Institute for Labour Studies about the growing concerns over food insecurity, and what urgent actions are needed to address the crisis.

October 2011

1. 

   Feature story

   Building a social protection floor in Mozambique

   10 October 2011

   Mozambique is a low-income country with high levels of poverty, informal and rural labour. Seriously affected by HIV and AIDS and exposed to climatic shocks and crises such as floods and droughts, the country’s institutions only have a limited capacity to deal with such shocks and offer social protection for the poor and vulnerable population. To address these challenges, an ILO technical cooperation project financed by Portugal works, together with other UN Agencies, to improve public policies and strengthen institutional capacity for the extension of social protection in Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking African countries.

2. 

   Feature story

   Empowering South Africans with decent work

   07 October 2011

   While African economies have bounced back from the economic crisis, daunting challenges for the continent remain, including poverty, unemployment and underemployment. Faced with these and other major challenges, the Republic of South Africa is one of the 27 African ILO Member States that are implementing Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) aimed at promoting decent work as a key component of their national development. ILO Online reports from Johannesburg, South Africa.

July 2011

1. 

   Article

   The ILO and Manual Scavengers in India: Paving the long way towards the elimination of discrimination based on social origin

   18 July 2011

   For millions of people, contemporary India has become a land of opportunities, and the largest democracy in the world has experienced a remarkable economic growth during the last decade. Yet, as India accelerates its pace towards development, many are left behind due to long standing caste-based discrimination in employment. ILO Online reports from Rajasthan, India.

2. 

   Article

   Questions and answers on the ILO response to challenges in the Arab World

   08 July 2011

   On 8 July 2011, the International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted a meeting on “The Arab World, Towards a New Era of Social Justice”, which brought together representatives of countries from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the international community, donors and ILO constituents. A background paper entitled “Challenges in the Arab world: an ILO response” on the ILO’s strategy and response was the basis for the discussions. It provides figures and trends on the employment situation and answers a series of questions around creating decent work opportunities in the region. A series of concept notes was also presented, covering areas where the MENA countries have requested ILO assistance. ILO is developing work in the MENA countries and seeks additional funding for some of these programmes.

June 2011

1. 

   I-News

   Main findings of the ILO study "The Global Crisis: Causes, responses and challenges"

   13 June 2011

   This new report by the ILO shows how well-designed employment and social policies can now play a crucial role in both boosting job creation and making economic growth more solid and equitable.