(GENEVA) - From 18-20 September 2007 over 200 participants from 65 countries met to discuss global and national efforts towards making international standards for Decent Work a practical reality. The Conference was organized by the ILO in partnership with the German and Portuguese governments, ISSA, WHO, IALI and other international organizations, with sponsorship from German organizations Basi, Messe Düsseldorf, BAD, DGUV, Fraport and TÜV Rheinland.

The conference brought together experts from all over the world to address the challenges of making decent work a practical reality for millions of workers worldwide. Particular emphasis was given to the need to modernize and revitalize national systems for safety and health at work such as the labour inspectorates, as well as the need for effective social dialogue between all stakeholders, including those in the supply chain.

In the Opening Session, Dr. Toru Itani, ILO Director of Labour Protection, referred to the economic, political and social challenges of implementing standards for Decent Work in practice, and the need to work in wider partnerships to ensure that such standards do indeed become a national reality. Speaking on behalf of the EU presidency, Mr. Fernando Medina, Secretary of State for Employment, Portugal, addressed the need for effective national policies and programmes for labour inspection, giving his own country as an example, while Ms. Lenia Samuel, Deputy Director, DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission, affirmed the EU's commitment to Decent Work through the European Social Agenda. Other presentations focused on the effective prevention of accidents and ill health at work and the role of national and international organizations in achieving this.

Professor Michael Piore, Massachusetts Institute of Technology then reviewed how recent international political and economic pressures had brought about greater governmental activity in the world of work, observing that this might indicate more of a reaction against the failures of neo-liberal ideology than a true commitment to progress. Other speakers explained how the concepts of Decent Work were being promoted both nationally and internationally, through the ILO's Decent Work Country Programmes, through national policies and programmes and through social dialogue.

In later sessions, speakers discussed various initiatives for promoting such standards and the value of effective labour inspection systems in reducing occupational injuries and ill health. Representatives from the Americas, Europe and Asia described how the challenges of implementation were being addressed in their countries and regions.

Sammy Nyambari, Director of ARLAC

The benefits of investing in occupational health and safety were also reviewed, with reference not only to direct employees but also those in the supply chain. Positive benefits included increases in productivity and staff motivation as well as reductions in workplace accidents and ill health.

The last main session focused on prevention and social security, with speakers from both international and national organizations demonstrating the vested interest that all stakeholders had in improving the health and safety of workers. The value of moving beyond compliance-based programmes to performance-based ones was also discussed, as was the need to integrate prevention and insurance within corporate culture.

Finally, a Round Table discussion provided the opportunity for panel members and participants to review issues raised during the conference. Emphasis was again given to the need for effective partnerships and for national systems, notably labour inspectorates, to be modernized and adequately resourced if Decent Work was to be become a national reality.

In concluding the conference, Dr. Sameera Al-Tuwaijri, Director of the ILO's SafeWork programme called for stronger political commitment to making Decent Work a national reality, for more of a culture of prevention and for wider partnerships in expanding both labour inspection and occupational safety and health services.

Participants from South-East Asia at the event