ILO LIAISON OFFICE – BRUSSELS
NEWSLETTER NO. 3/2004
The ILO at the European Parliament
In terms of social welfare and workers' rights, the European Social Model is largely based on the universal principles and standards of the ILO. In the context of expanding globalisation, the two organisations have in recent years seen a consolidation of their cooperation and convergences and have launched several joint programmes focussed on important topics such as social dialogue, migration and child labour. The ILO is also holding talks with the European Commission with a view to the creation of a 'strategic partnership' between the two organisations on development and humanitarian aid.
Against this background, the European Parliament organised a hearing followed by a discussion with the ILO on 16 March to highlight the ILO's work in the fight against poverty in the countries of the South. Mr Don Skerrett, ILO Executive Director for the Regions and Technical Cooperation gave a presentation on the action taken by the ILO in the context of its 'decent work' programme to the European Parliament's Committee on Development and Cooperation. Mr Skerrett stressed the key importance of employment as a means of guaranteeing a decent income for everyone and as an essential tool in the fight against poverty.
The speech given by Mr Skerrett to the European Parliament can be viewed by
clicking here.
Forced labour in Russia
Russia has been a player in the filed of international migration of workers since the early 1990s as a
sending, receiving and transit country.
The estimated number of illegal immigrants in Russia currently varies between 3.5 and 5 million. Most come from other former USSR Countries and South East Asia and mainly work in construction and in domestic service. A study published this month by the ILO condemns the serious exploitation of many of these workers, including phenomena such as mandatory unpaid overtime, compulsion to perform tasks to which they have not consented, wages paid late (if at all), sexual exploitation and more. The study stresses the fact that this situation is being exacerbated by growing xenophobia, widespread corruption and links between law enforcement agencies and criminals.
A summary of the ILO study in English and a press release on this topic are available by
clicking here.
Eliminating child labour will generate seven times as many benefits as costs
The ILO study indicating that the elimination of child labour will generate seven times as many
benefits as costs is now available on the ILO website by
clicking here.
This study, conducted by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), reports that child labour
– which affects one in every six children in the world – could be eliminated and replaced by universal education by
2020 at an estimated cost of US$760 billion. This is the first integrated study into the costs and benefits of
eliminating child labour conducted worldwide. It compares the costs and benefits - not with a view to justifying
action to eliminate child labour, which is already called for by the ILO in its Conventions Nos. 138 and 182, but
with a view to gain a better understanding of the economic implications of these international commitments.
The ILO estimates that 246 million children around the world work. Of these, 179 million - one in every eight children - are exposed to the worst forms of child labour, which endanger their physical, mental or moral well-being. According to the study, during the first five years, the costs would almost certainly exceed returns, but the trend would be reversed and become positive as the beneficial effects of improved education and health took hold. By 2020, costs would be far outweighed by the returns on the investment, leaving a positive balance of US$60 billion.
AIDS is affecting more and more women
On International Women's Day on 8 March, the ILO issued a reminder that almost half of all people living with
HIV/AIDS are women, and women are now becoming infected at a faster rate than men.
In a number of countries in Africa and in the Caribbean, infection rates among young women under 24 years are two
to six times higher than among young men. This situation is partly because women are the victims of different types
of discrimination: many women experience economic dependence and sexual subordination in their personal relationships
and at work, and so cannot demand safe sex or refuse unsafe sex. This situation is dealt with in greater depth in a
press release issued by the ILO on women, AIDS and the world of work, which can be accessed by
clicking here.
The ILO believes that governments, employers' associations and trade unions have a vital role to play in changing
attitudes and practices in the world of work and society at large. To help these groups in this work, the ILO
published a "Code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work" in 2001 (available by
clicking here).
The catastrophic proportions of the epidemic in many countries make the measures recommended in this code of
practice even more relevant.
The European Commission and the social dimension of globalisation
The former acting European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Margot Wallström, and Trade Commissioner
Pascal Lamy have welcomed in a recent press release the report published by the World Commission on the Social
Dimension of Globalisation, which they see as a contribution towards keeping globalisation more in check. The
European Commission now plans to carefully examine the World Commission's analysis and specific proposals and
to consider the possible implications for the EU's external and internal policies. The European Commission believes
that this report will be of considerable help in drawing up a new Communication on this matter. The report by the
World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, set up by the ILO, is available by
clicking here.
Programme of the ILO Training Centre in Turin
The new timetable of courses run by the ILO's International Training Centre in Turin can be accessed by
clicking here.
Forthcoming training courses will cover subjects as diverse as gender equality in the world of work, corporate social responsibility, SME development, international labour standards and information technology.
Recent publications
The following recent ILO publication may be of particular interest to our readers:
Guide on international labour standards
Published by the ILO International Labour Standards Department
The aim of this teaching material is to increase awareness and improve understanding of the ILO conventions and
recommendations that are deemed most important for meeting current needs in the world of work. Its chapters take
up particular subjects (freedom of association, equality of opportunity and treatment, working time, maternity
protection, etc.) and contain a summary of these instruments. The accompanying CD ROM contains the electronic
version as well as other documents, such as the full text of all ILO standards as well as relevant documents
produced by the Governing Body. You can order your copy from our office by contacting Ms Andry by telephone on
+32 (0)2 736 59 42 or by e-mail at andry@ilo-org.be.
Programme of meetings in 2004
Please
click here to obtain a list of meetings planned by the ILO in 2004.