Purpose of the Meeting

At its 274th (March 1999) Session, the Governing Body of the International Labour Office decided that the purpose of the Meeting would be: to exchange views on labour practices in the footwear, leather, textiles and clothing industries, using a report prepared by the Office as the basis for its discussions; to adopt conclusions that include proposals for action by governments, by employers' and workers' organizations at the national level and by the ILO; and to adopt a report on the discussion. The Meeting adopted a set of conclusions and a resolution.

Composition of the Meeting

The meeting was attended by Government representatives from Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Portugal, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, by 20 employer representatives and 20 worker representatives. A representative of the Government of Mexico was present at the sittings.

Representatives of the following intergovernmental organizations attended as observers: Arab Labour Organization, International Textiles and Clothing Bureau (ITCB), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), and World Trade Organization (WTO).

In addition, representatives from the following international non-governmental organizations attended as observers: European Apparel and Textile Organization, European Observatory for Textiles and Clothing, European Trade Union Federation for Textiles, Clothing and Leather, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, International Federation Textile and Clothing, International Federation of University Women, International Organization of Employers, International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation, World Confederation of Labour, World Federation of Trade Unions.

Contents of the Report

Trends and recent developments in TCF industries

• The changing structure of production and trade
• Textiles, clothing, footwear: a world employer
• Long-term trends in employment
• Women workers in TCF industries
• Globalization and stability of employment
• Labour costs, wages and hours of work

Labour practices and fundamental principles and rights at work

• Child labour in the TCF industries: Some progress but "could do better"
• Freedom of association and effective recognition of the right of Collective bargaining: Globalization and social dialogue
• Discrimination: targeting migrant workers and women
• Forced labour: Clandestine workshops, "sweatshops" and debt Bondage
• Labour practices in EPZs: Towards improved social dialogue?
• Private voluntary initiatives: Business ethics and the promotion of fundamental rights at work

Globalization, technological change and training practices

• Competitiveness, technology and training needs: The case of the industrialized countries
• Countries in transition and developing countries: relative technological Stagnation but a high level of training needs

Summary and suggested points for discussion

The suggested points for discussion which covered the themes developed in the report were discussed in plenary sittings.

Panel discussions

Three topics - social dialogue, decent work and safe work and voluntary private initiatives - were further elaborated in panel discussions.

Note on the proceedings

After the meeting, the ILO published a Note on the Proceedings (pdf, 263k) including a summary of the principal speeches, debates, panel and roundtable discussions, and adopted conclusions and a resolution.

Contact address for more information

Mr Jean-Paul Sajhau
Sectoral Activities Department
International Labour Office
4 route des Morillons,
CH-1211 GENEVE 22, Switzerland
Tel: (++41 22) 799 6467; Fax: 799 7967;
e-mail: sajhau@ilo.org or sector@ilo.org