Joint Meeting on Public Emergency Services: Social Dialogue in a Changing Environment

Geneva 27-31 January 2003

Particularly since the attack on the World Trade Center in New York in September 2001, increasing attention has been given to the vital role of workers in public emergency services, without whom society cannot function. Theirs is the most dangerous job, next to that of military personnel in combat. They often have to risk their own lives to save others. The role of these workers is constantly adjusting under the impact of changes in technology and in the nature of industrial activities, as well as increasing crime and violence. Very broad categories of workers may be involved in emergency and rescue services for the public, depending on the nature and the magnitude of an incident. However, this meeting covered only the front-line emergency workers such as firefighters, police and emergency medical service (EMS) workers to allow the discussions at the Meeting to focus on more narrowly defined topics.

The purpose of the Meeting was to review the following issues concerning emergency services: trends in working conditions; safety and health; human resource planning; coordination structures; the state of social dialogue; and rights at work. It was also to elaborate a set of guidelines for addressing the issues raised above and, in particular, best practice for safeguarding the health, rights and interests of workers dealing with emergency situations using a report prepared by the ILO, Public emergency services: Social dialogue in a changing environment (pdf, 1.3MB), as a basis for the discussions.

The Meeting was composed of 89 participants, among whom were 44 delegates and advisors from 28 governments; 5 private sector employers' representatives; and 29 workers' representatives and advisors. In addition, there was a representative of the ILO's Governing Body and 10 observers representing international non-governmental organizations present at the meeting.

The Meeting adopted a set of Guidelines on social dialogue in public emergency services in a changing environment (pdf, 48k). The Note on the Proceedings is available in pdf format (295k).

Contact address for more information

Ms. Nona Iliukhina,
Public Service Sector Specialist,
International Labour Office,
4 route des Morillons,
CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland
Tel: 41.22 799-7169; Fax: + 41.22 799-7046
E-mail: iliukhina@ilo.org or e-mail: sector@ilo.org