News

February 2005

1. Sports footwear sector outpaces the retail and apparel sectors in meeting code of conduct obligations, says new ILO study

   04 February 2005

   The sports footwear industry, often criticized for alleged violations of fundamental labour standards, has made greater progress in implementing worker-friendly codes of conduct than the apparel and retail sectors, according to a just published ILO study.

January 2005

1. ILO Tsunami Response ILO calls for integrated employment strategy for tsunami reconstruction Says estimated 1 million people lost livelihood

   19 January 2005

   The International Labour Office (ILO) today urged that "employment-intensive" job creation strategies be integrated into the humanitarian and reconstruction response to the earthquake and Tsunami disaster in Asia that destroyed the livelihoods of an estimated 1 million persons in Indonesia and Sri Lanka alone.

2. ILO tripartite meeting to discuss automotive industry trends

   07 January 2005

   Auto parts suppliers are playing an increasingly important role in the automotive industry, according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO). Their current share of up to two-thirds of the value added of a car is expected to reach 75 per cent among some manufacturers, the report says.

3. ILO Tsunami Response Statement by the ILO Director-General on the response to the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean Area

   04 January 2005

   The International Labour Office (ILO) today released the following statement by Director-General Juan Somavia regarding the role of the ILO in the response to the earthquake and tidal wave in the Indian Ocean Area:

December 2004

1. ILO welcomes the State of Microcredit Summit Campaign report 2004 "Microloans making a macro difference"

   16 December 2004

   The Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO) has welcomed the publication of a new report by the Microcredit Summit Campaign 2004, saying the success of microfinance is crucial to job creation and poverty reduction worldwide.

2. International Employment Conference on Iraq adopts Plan and Declaration on combatting massive unemployment

   14 December 2004

   An International Conference on Employment in Iraq adopted a Declaration here today underlining the crucial role of employment in the reconstruction and development of Iraq where some 30 per cent of the adult workforce and 50 per cent of youth are unemployed.

3. ILO launches electronic library collection of over 1,000 publications

   10 December 2004

   The International Labour Office today announced the availability of a new electronic library that will simplify access to essential ILO publications on globalization, HIV/AIDS, fighting poverty and other issues concerning the world of work.

4. World scouting to work with ILO against child labour

   10 December 2004

   The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) have agreed to cooperate at enhancing children's participation and youth empowerment to eliminate child labour though the participation of the Scouts in the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO/IPEC).

5. UN General Assembly adopts Resolution on World Commission Report on Fair Globalization

   07 December 2004

   The International Labour Office (ILO) today welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a Resolution on the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization as a means of providing further impetus to the pursuit of a fair globalization.

6. Half the world's workers living below US$2 a day poverty line ILO says new policies for promoting productivity growth and decent jobs could improve outlook for working poor

   07 December 2004

   Half the world's workers - some 1.4 billion people - are trapped in grinding poverty unable to earn enough to lift themselves and their families above the US$2 a day poverty line, but this figure could be reduced if policies zero in on improving labour productivity and creating jobs, says a new study by the International Labour Office (ILO).