Articles

June 2010

1. 

   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.

2. 

   ‘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.

3. 

   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.

4. 

   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.

5. 

   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.

6. 

   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.

7. 

   Feature stories on HIV/AIDS and the world of work

   02 June 2010

8. 

   Questions and Answers on the proposed Recommendation on HIV/AIDS and the world of work

   02 June 2010

   The year’s International Labour Conference will see the second, and final discussion on the development of a labour standard on HIV/AIDS and the world of work. If adopted, the recommendation will be the first international human rights instrument on AIDS in the workplace. ILO Online spoke to ILO/AIDS Director, Dr. Sophia Kisting about the Recommendation.

May 2010

1. 

   Decent work for domestic workers: towards new international labour standards

   31 May 2010

   Domestic work employs millions of workers, mostly women, around the world. The June 2010 session of the International Labour Conference will hold a first discussion on a new international labour standard for a domestic workforce that is growing worldwide. ILO Online spoke with Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO’s Conditions of Work and Employment Programme, about working conditions of domestic workers, and how they can be improved.

2. 

   The State of Child Labour Today

   07 May 2010

   In 2006, the ILO’s second Global Report on Child Labour showed that significant progress was being made in the fight against child labour . Encouraged by the positive trend, the ILO established a visionary target – to eliminate child labour in its worst forms by 2016. Four years on, the third Global Report paints a different picture: child labour continues to decline, albeit at a slower pace. The report warns that if countries carry on with business as usual the 2016 target will not be met. ILO Online spoke to Constance Thomas, Director of the ILO International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), about the state of child labour today.