ILO Workers' group calls on WTO to promote basic labour rights

Geneva, November 9 2001 (ACTRAV Info): The Workers' group of the Governing Body of the UN's International Labour Organization (ILO) says in a statement adopted today (November 9) in Geneva that "the Doha Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation can enhance sustainable and equitable economic and social development, social dialogue and decent work, by ensuring that the WTO plays its full part in promoting, for all workers in all countries, their fundamental rights". The Declaration refers to ILO Conventions on freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, on freedom from discrimination in occupation and employment, on freedom from all forms of forced labour and on freedom from child labour.

In its Declaration, which was sent to WTO Director General Mike Moore, the ILO Workers' group stresses that labour is not a commodity and that the Doha meeting should instruct the WTO to engage in constructive dialogue with the ILO to give meaning to the commitments of the 1996 Singapore WTO Ministerial regarding core labour standards.

The ILO Workers' group also expressed support for the proposals made by the international trade union movement at the current conference in Doha. The international trade union movement is holding a global day of action to coincide with the opening of the Doha meeting.

The ILO Governing Body which is presently meeting in Geneva will discuss, next week, a proposal by the ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia, to set up a world commission of eminent personalities which would provide a forum for all the institutions concerned to discuss the social dimensions of globalization.

The Governing Body is the ILO executive body. It is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers). It meets three times a year, in March, June and November.