News

December 2008

1. Belgium continues partnership with ILO to extend social security and promote social dialogue

   15 December 2008

   On 9 December 2008, the Minister of Development Cooperation of Belgium, Mr. Charles Michel, signed an agreement with the International Labour Office (ILO) for a new grant of €6 million and €2.4 respectively to extend social security to vulnerable populations and promote social dialogue in French-speaking Africa.

2. 

   Brazil becomes first donor country from the South to ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account

   10 December 2008

   The Government of the Federal Republic of Brazil will contribute US$ 300,000 to the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA), becoming the first donor country from the South to do so. Brazil's contribution will support field programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean promoting fundamental principles and rights at work.

3. 

   ILO Director-General calls on G20 to address the social implications of the global economic crisis

   10 December 2008

   Speaking in the Vatican on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Director-General of the International Labour Office Juan Somavia called on leaders of the G20 "to address the social implications of the financial crisis."

4. 

   Countries approve ground-breaking means to measure today’s world of work

   05 December 2008

   The 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians ended with the adoption of new international statistical standards on child labour and working time as well as new guidelines for the measurement of decent work, labour underutilization and volunteer work.

5. 

   ILO and Luxembourg sign long-term cooperation agreement

   04 December 2008

   The government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, represented by its ministry in charge of development cooperation, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have signed a long-term general framework agreement to promote the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and finance ILO projects and programmes in different countries.

6. 

   Preserving health of workers after accidental exposure to HIV: ILO and WHO present new guidelines on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV infection

   04 December 2008

   National authorities are strongly urged to provide HIV post-exposure prophylaxis as part as their national HIV policy, according to a new set of joint guidelines presented today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

7. Economic crisis to impact on HIV/AIDS response says the ILO ahead of International Conference on AIDS and STI in Africa

   02 December 2008

   Experts from the International Labour Organization (ILO) will address the potential impact of the global economic crisis on HIV/AIDS in the workplace during a series of events to be held at the 15th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), which opens tomorrow (3 December) in Dakar, Senegal.

8. 

   YEN launches a grant scheme in the Mano River Union to promote youth employment

   01 December 2008

   On December 1, 2008, the Youth Employment Network (YEN) will launch a competitive grant scheme for youth led organizations in the Mano River Union (Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone). Applicants can apply for grants between USD 2’000 and 50’000.

9. 

   ILO and Germany sign two supplementary agreements

   01 December 2008

   The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have signed two supplementary agreements to promote the ILO’s Decent Work Country Programmes and the Global Labour University in South Africa.

November 2008

1. 

   ILO warns of cuts in real wages for millions of workers in 2009 – Declines follow decade in which wages failed to keep pace with economic growth

   25 November 2008

   The global economic crisis is expected to lead to painful cuts in the wages of millions of workers worldwide in the coming year, according to a new report published today by the International Labour Office (ILO).