News

November 2003

1. ILO Governing Body establishes Commission of Inquiry to examine violations of trade union rights in Belarus Latest report of ILO Committee on Freedom of Association cites Belarus, Cuba, Zimbabwe, others

   20 November 2003

   Constitution against the government of Belarus for non-observance of the fundamental freedom of association Conventions Nos. 87 and 98, the Governing Body decided to establish a special Commission of Inquiry to examine violations of trade union rights in the country.

2. Seventh European regional meeting to be held in Budapest

   19 November 2003

   Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) decided today to hold the Seventh European Regional Meeting in Budapest (Hungary) in February 2005 following Hungary's candidature.

3. Xth ILO African Regional Meeting, Addis Ababa 2-5 December Delegates to examine how to fight poverty, create jobs

   18 November 2003

   Xth African Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) is to hammer out priorities for action for the 53 ILO African member States and create a platform of support for the Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation in Africa to be convened by African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Burkina Faso in 2004.

4. ILO Governing Body convenes 288th session: Social dimension of globalization, freedom of association in Belarus and forced labour in Myanmar on the agenda

   06 November 2003

   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.

October 2003

1. ILO reports strong job growth in the chemical industries in East Asia

   24 October 2003

   ILO report issued here today.

2. New Guidelines for ship-breaking adopted

   15 October 2003

   breaking industry has taken a decisive step toward improving the safety and health of thousands of workers who perform one of the world's most hazardous occupations.

3. 

   New ILO book attracts attention on women seafarers

   03 October 2003

   According to the new study, "the potential of women seafarers has, in general, attracted remarkably little attention from commentators and policy-makers". It says women represent between 1 and 2 per cent of the world's 1.25 million seafarers serving on some 87,000 ships.

September 2003

1. Timor-Leste Becomes 177th ILO Member State

   29 September 2003

   Timor-Leste's membership became effective on 19 August. The country has been a member of the United Nations since 27 September 2002.

2. 

   New ILO study highlights labour trends worldwide: US productivity up, Europe improves ability to create jobs

   01 September 2003

   US productivity accelerated in 2002, surpassing Europe and Japan in terms of annual output per worker for the first substantial period since WWII and widening the productivity gap with the rest of the world, according to a new study by the International Labour Office (ILO) published on US Labor Day.

July 2003

1. ILO Body updates minimum wage for seafarers

   08 July 2003

   Committee of the Joint Maritime Commission (JMC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) today agreed to extend the validity of the current ILO minimum wage for seafarers of $465 to 31 December 2004. That figure became applicable on 1 January 2003. It also agreed to increase this minimum wage to $500 effective 1 January 2005