Press releases

October 2009

  1. Decent work and globalization

    Informal employment curbs trade benefits for developing countries

    12 October 2009

    A joint study from the International Labour Organization and the WTO has found that high incidence of informal employment in the developing world suppresses countries' ability to benefit from trade opening by creating poverty traps for workers in job transition. “The study confirms what we know from experience, that by promoting complementarity between decent work objectives and trade, financial and labour market policies, developing countries are much better placed to benefit from trade opening, advance the social dimension of globalization, and to cope with the current crisis” said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia.

September 2009

  1. G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh

    Press Release for the Pittsburgh G20 Summit 2009: G20 Commit to Putting Quality Jobs at the Heart of the Recovery

    25 September 2009

    Leaders of the G20 have welcomed the ILO Global Jobs Pact and the building of “an employment-oriented framework for future economic growth”. ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, who was invited to present a report on policies and prospects for jobs and social protection to the Pittsburgh Summit said, “I welcome the significant commitment of the Leaders to “implementing recovery plans that support decent work, help preserve employment and prioritize job growth.”

  2. ILO communication to the G20

    Despite continued rise in unemployment, measures taken by G20 governments will save up to 11 million jobs in 2009

    18 September 2009

    Employment and social protection measures taken by G20 governments since the economic crisis began will have created or saved an estimated 7 to 11 million jobs in the G20 countries this year, the Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO) said in a communication at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

  3. Press release

    Green jobs initiative: MOU signed between BMET and Grameen Shakti

    16 September 2009

    In support of the government’s current efforts for expansion of renewable and clean energy, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and Grameen Shakti signed a Memorandum of Understanding for training of solar technicians on 16 September 2009.

July 2009

  1. Global Jobs Pact

    ILO welcomes new support for the Global Jobs Pact from the UN Economic and Social Council

    27 July 2009

    The International Labour Office welcomed the adoption of a resolution on the ILO’s Global Jobs Pact sponsored by more than 170 countries attending the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting in Geneva.

  2. G8 Summit

    ILO Director-General welcomes G8 support for “global jobs pact”

    09 July 2009

    The Director-General of the International Labour Organization Juan Somavia today welcomed the strong support of the G8 summit meeting in L’Aquila, Italy, for the Global Jobs Pact agreed by governments, employers and workers, at the International Labour Conference three weeks ago, to tackle the global jobs crisis.

  3. HIV/AIDS awareness raising campaign

    International post office network to share HIV prevention messages

    07 July 2009

    Halting the spread of HIV by 2015 is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To contribute towards this goal, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and UNAIDS together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNI Global have launched a global awareness campaign. Post offices in participating countries will display HIV prevention information which will reach the general public and postal employees.

  4. ECOSOC 2009 High-level Segment

    ILO Director-General presents “Global Jobs Pact” to U.N. Economic and Social Council

    06 July 2009

    The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Juan Somavia presented the ILO’s new Global Jobs Pact to the U.N. Economic and Social Council which began its annual meeting on Monday.

June 2009

  1. ILO Governing Body

    ILO Governing Body elects new Chairperson ─ Committee on Freedom of Association cites Myanmar, Cambodia and Islamic Republic of Iran

    19 June 2009

    The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) elected H.E. Mrs. Maria Nazareth Farani Azevêdo, Ambassador of Brazil and Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations Office in Geneva as Chairperson for its 2009-10 Session.

  2. Press release

    International Labour Conference concludes its work

    19 June 2009

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its annual meeting in Geneva after considering a wide range of issues, including HIV/AIDS, gender equality and the effect given to ILO labour standards and adopting a historic Global Jobs Pact.