Workers' Group Members on Social Protection

Mr. J. Zellhoefer, Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues of the Governing Body of the ILO, recalled that there had been a number of very serious disasters in the chemical sector, including Bhopal and Basel. He said that discussion at the Meeting was facilitated by the excellent preparatory work by the Office. This first tripartite meeting on voluntary initiatives was important since it showed the willingness of trade unions and employers to discuss voluntary codes of conduct. Discussions on codes of conduct were under way in other ILO fora, and information on them needed to be freely exchanged. Moreover, other sectors should adopt this approach. The Workers' group welcomed the fact that for the first time in recent years the Employers' group had tabled a resolution on employment creation. He further noted the Meeting's concerns about the particular needs of women workers in the industry. He also recalled that, for the first time, specific organizations -- ICCA and ICEM -- had been named in the conclusions, which expressed intentions to formalize a dialogue on the meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives on the subject of responsible care. This was a good example of social dialogue.

Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues, 276th Session of the Governing Body of the ILO, November 1999

Mr. M. Blondel, Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Programme, Financial and Administrative Committee of the Governing Body of the ILO, wished to stress that the Workers' group would like to see the ILO concern itself more with matters concerning health, safety, the environment and repercussions of HIV/AIDS on work -- it being understood that it would not take the place of other international organizations dealing with these issues. The speaker was referring once again to these matters because when reading the document, he felt that he had a different interpretation from that of Mr. Marshall. For instance, he had understood the following in paragraph 90: the increasing challenge to guarantee labour protection, especially in developing countries, may be attributed to the fact that there were those who felt that the lack of social contributions, social security schemes and solidarity were justified because they resulted in even lower production costs, free competition and liberalism that would be boosted by this situation. Returning to table 11, the speaker did not share the enthusiasm which consisted of saying that "international labour standards related to working and employment conditions and social security are widely ratified and effectively applied". He was sure that countries not having a social security system outnumbered those who had one worthy of its name. From this standpoint, a number of references should be made to the relevant standards. It was one of the workers' organizations' major concerns to ensure that social security schemes were established in all countries, in accordance with Conventions Nos. 87 and 98. It was for this reason that the speaker did not want paragraph 90 to be amended. He did, however, share the concerns of the Employers' representative with respect to prevention. The speaker then went on to comment on the concept of flexibility and on working conditions in the informal sector. He stated that he had no difficulties in linking labour flexibility and working conditions in the informal sector. It was obvious that if the informal sector applied standards and regulations, it would become part of the formal sector. Although they understood that the Employers might have some concerns on this matter, the Workers did not feel that the document should be amended on this point. In concluding, the speaker stated that all his comments had been connected with standards. Whether it was a matter of multidisciplinary activities or of regions, he had wanted to demonstrate that there was a certain tendency to overlook standards. The Workers failed to understand why the posts of experts on these issues in Budapest, Cairo and Yaoundé had still not been filled. Budgetary resources had been allocated for these posts which remained unfilled. When decisions were taken they should be implemented.

276th session of the Governing Body of the ILO, November 1999