Features

2012

Article

Youth speak out on employment crisis

21 May 2012

This 2012 International Labour Conference (ILC) will focus much of its attention on the issue of youth employment. While for years young people world-wide have had difficulty finding decent work, with the global economic downturn their struggles have become more acute and what was a challenge has been transformed into a crisis. By Matthieu Cognac, Youth Employment Specialist, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

2011

Article

Recognition for India’s invisible workers

30 May 2011

Domestic workers play an important role in the economy and they allow others to go out and earn money. Yet they remain invisible, unprotected and their contribution is often not recognized. At the forthcoming International Labour Conference (in Geneva, 1-17 June) the ILO and its members will debate drafts that could lead to the first international instruments specifically designed to protect domestic workers. By Neelam Agnihotri, Communication & Information Officer, ILO Country Office for India

2010

Interview

Questions and answers about maternity at work

23 June 2010

Maternity protection has been a primary concern of the ILO since its creation, in 1919, when the first International Labour Conference adopted the first Maternity Protection Convention No. 3. A new publication on the state of maternity protection in the world has just been released by the ILO. Interview with Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO Conditions of Work and Employment Programme, about achievements made and persisting challenges for maternity protection, including the impact of the current economic and employment crises.
HIV/AIDS

Learn about it at work: an HIV poster campaign in Russia

16 June 2010

The proposed new standard on HIV/AIDS that is under discussion at the International Labour Conference is not only the first international human rights instrument to focus explicitly on HIV/AIDS. It also contains provisions on prevention programmes and anti-discrimination measures at national and workplace levels aimed at strengthening the contribution of the world of work to HIV prevention, treatment care and support. This story demonstrates how a participatory approach and involvement of social partners allowed to create an effective HIV poster campaign in Russia.
ILO-UN Social Protection Floor Initiative

ILO-UN Social Protection Floor Initiative: The role of social security in crisis response and recovery, and beyond

16 June 2010

The crisis has reinforced the perception that the extension of social security should be a high priority. While in many developing countries social security systems were previously considered unaffordable, they are now regarded as important investments to support sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, in times of crisis, social security systems are playing an essential role as economic stabilizers. Interview with Michael Cichon, Director of the ILO’s Social Security Department, about the UN Social Protection Floor Initiative and social security in times of crisis.
Article

‘The main change has to happen in peoples’ minds’: a child labour film programme in Kyrgyzstan

11 June 2010

The ILO Global Report “Accelerating action against child labour“, launched in May 2010 calls for “better targeted advocacy” based on “filling important knowledge gaps and making greater use of the media”. This story shows how a small-scale but successful child labour awareness programme in one of the Central Asian countries is putting this kind of advocacy to work.
Article

Child Labour in Cambodia - A New Direction

10 June 2010

Although Cambodia is emerging as one of the brightest economic growth stories of Southeast Asia, over 313,000 children are trapped in the worst forms of exploitation such as drug trafficking and prostitution. But the end of all worst forms of child labour in the country is within reach, according to Elaine Moore, a Phnom Penh based journalist, and Allan Dow from the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok who sent us this report.
Article

A policy framework for better managing business and human rights challenges

07 June 2010

One of the main goals of the UN Framework "Protect, Respect and Remedy" is to identify and clarify standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for business enterprises with regard to human rights. Professor John Ruggie, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on business and human rights, shared insights on the current phase and further steps towards operationalizing and promoting this framework with participants of the 99th ILC. ILO Online spoke with Mr. Ruggie about design and development of the UN Policy Framework and its relationship to ILO’s work.
Child Labour

Fixing the future of Mali's child workers

07 June 2010

In Mali, approximately two out of three children aged 5 to 17 work. This represents over 3 million children. Few of them go to school and 40 per cent of children aged 5 to 14 perform hazardous tasks. The situation of migrant girls is of particular concern. ILO Online reports.
Child Labour

Eliminating child labour in Bolivia: The role of education

07 June 2010

Education is often cited as the key to eliminating child labour. But by itself, education isn’t enough. ILO Online reports from Bolivia showing how adding decent work for adults to education of children, together, with a quotient of political will, can make the equation work.