GENEVA (ILO News) – The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) is to hold its 288th session on 6-21 November, during which it will consider a host of current labour issues ranging from the social dimensions of globalization to questions related to freedom of association in Belarus and forced labour in Myanmar.
During the current session, the Governing Body will also discuss a new code of practice on violence in the service sectors. Delegates will consider other issues including technical cooperation for the occupied Arab territories, the agendas of International Labour Conferences in 2005 and 2006 as well as a review of possible reforms in the functioning of the ILO's decision-making bodies.
A special guest speaker for the 288th session, H.E. Ms. Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, will address the Governing Body during a session of its Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization on 17 November. The sessions of this special committee dealing with issues of globalization are regularly attended by governments which are not members of the Governing Body as well as by representatives of key intergovernmental organizations.
President Halonen and H.E. Mr. Benjamin Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, are the co-chairs of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization established in 2002. The World Commission was established to generate innovative ideas and policies to make globalization more inclusive and widen the sharing of its benefits. The Commission will make its recommendations and suggest ways in which the potential of different actors may be mobilized in its Report which will be released in 2004.
The Working Party will also discuss reports on "Corporate social responsibility and international labour standards" and "Policies and social partnerships for good governance".
Review of labour standards, other issues
Regarding Belarus, the Governing Body will consider a complaint under Art. 26 of the ILO Constitution against the government for non-observance of the fundamental freedom of association Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 which was lodged by workers' delegates to the June 2003 session of the International Labour Conference. Under Art. 26 of the ILO Constitution, the Governing Body may consider establishing a special Commission of Inquiry to examine the situation in a member State.
The Governing Body will also consider a report regarding the extent to which action by the ILO and the government of Myanmar have advanced the goal of eliminating forced labour in that country. Efforts to carry out a joint plan of action have been delayed by the situation provoked by the violent confrontations in that country at the end of May 2003 at which time the opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was detained.
The Governing Body Committee on Employment and Social Policy will consider progress reports on pilot projects under the Global Social Trust and the ILO Decent Work Programme. The Global Social Trust is an innovative concept in which individual contributors in donor countries are brought together with recipient countries to extend sustainable social security provision.
A report on HIV/AIDS and Decent Work and the future direction of the ILO/AIDS programme from awareness-raising to action will be discussed by the same Committee. It will also discuss a paper on active labour market policies containing recommendations for developed, developing and transition countries.
The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Office (the Office is the secretariat of the Organization). It meets three times a year, in March, June and November. It takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the agenda of the International Labour Conference, adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference, and elects the Director-General.
It is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers). Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States). The other Government members are elected by the Conference every three years.
Print
Email
