February 2005

1. Article

   7th European Regional Meeting in Budapest Trade unions in Central and Eastern Europe confront challenges

   18 February 2005

   Throughout most of Europe, trade unions are struggling to meet the challenges posed by globalization. In the new EU Member States of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), as well as other countries in Eastern and Southeast Europe, these difficulties have been compounded by the economic and social costs of transition to systems of market democracy.

2. Press release

   ILO Regional Meeting expands social agenda for Europe and Central Asia

   18 February 2005

   The International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its 7th European Regional Meeting here today with agreement among tripartite representatives from the region's 50 member States to "work together through dialogue and cooperation to promote a common future of democracy, economic prosperity and social justice".

3. Article

   7th European Regional Meeting in Budapest The impact of ageing on labour markets and pension reform

   17 February 2005

   Although the establishment of national pension schemes in the world's industrialized countries ranks among the great achievements of the twentieth century, and those schemes have proved effective in alleviating poverty among the elderly, adjustments are needed if current levels of well-being are to be maintained. Ageing and its impact on labour markets and pension systems is one of the main issues to be discussed at the European Regional Meeting of the ILO in Budapest on 14 to 18 February. ILO online spoke with Emmanuel Reynaud, head of the Social Security Policy and Development Branch.

4. Article

   7th European Regional Meeting in Budapest Balancing flexibility, stability and security in European labour markets

   16 February 2005

   Policymakers all over Europe are facing the crucial challenge of regulating a rapidly evolving labour market in the context of the globalized economy. Will they listen to calls made for greater flexibility to overcome what have often been characterized as the region's labour market rigidities: employment protection and legislation, union bargaining power, generous welfare systems and high labour taxation? Or can they place their trust in a "flexicurity" model: new ways of balancing flexibility and security in relation to employment, income and social protection? "Flexicurity" is one of the main issues to be discussed at the forthcoming European Regional Meeting of the ILO in Budapest on 14 to 18 February. ILO Online spoke with ILO employment experts Sandrine Cazes, Alena Nesporova and Peter Auer.

5. Article

   Seventh European Regional Meeting in Budapest Managing migration in Europe

   15 February 2005

   BUDAPEST - Migration has become a defining issue in almost all countries in Europe and Central Asia, and policymakers are looking for possible responses. The number of economically active migrants in the region is estimated to be 26.5 million, or about 4 per cent of the total workforce. But their significance for the future of economies and societies in the region may well far outweigh their current numbers. Migration, both regular and irregular, is one of the main issues to be discussed at the European Regional Meeting of the ILO in Budapest, 14-18 February. ILO Online spoke with ILO experts Patrick Taran and Roger Plant.

6. Press release

   7th ILO European Regional Meeting, Budapest, 14-18 February 2005 2004 termed a "lost year for jobs" as economies fail to balance growth with job creation

   15 February 2005

   The 7th European Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) opened here today with calls for economic policies to improve the ability of countries in the region to create badly needed jobs.

7. Press release

   New ILO report sees weak global job growth in 2004 Says European job growth remains static

   14 February 2005

   Despite robust economic growth, the global employment situation improved only slightly in 2004, with employment increasing and unemployment down marginally, the International Labour Office (ILO) said in its annual Global Employment Trends, released today.

8. Press release

   New international labour convention for seafarers' ID documents comes into force

   10 February 2005

   The international Convention that creates the first global biometric identification system for issuing secure identity documents to the 1.2 million seafarers in the world seas came into force as of 9 February 2005, the International Labour Office (ILO) said today.

9. News

   ILO Tsunami Response Tsunami: ILO/IPEC project on vulnerability of children to worst forms of child labour

   10 February 2005

   On February 8, the United States Department of Labour approved a new $1.5 million project to address vulnerability of children to worst forms of child labour following the Tsunami disaster in Aceh.

10. Article

    Seventh European Regional Meeting in Budapest Balancing social and economic development

    08 February 2005

    The European and Central Asian region is a key player in economic globalization. The region is also a world leader in economic, monetary and political integration, not only in the EU, but also in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The main task for governments is to reverse the high unemployment rates which continue to plague Europe, both Eastern and Western, and Central Asia. This calls for strong governance to sustain balanced economic and social development, says a report prepared for the forthcoming European Regional Meeting of the ILO in Budapest on 14 to 18 February. ILO online spoke with ILO expert Philippe Egger.