ILO LIAISON OFFICE – BRUSSELS
NEWSLETTER NO. 5/2004
International Labour Conference
The 92nd session of the International Labour Conference will be opened on 1 June in Geneva and will run until
17 June. The Conference is responsible for adopting internationally recognised labour standards and monitoring
their application.
Delegates examine social developments in the world, focusing on the report presented each year by the Director-General
of the ILO. This year, the Conference will look in detail at the situation
of migrant workers. The conclusions of this debate will guide the action taken by the ILO in future years to guarantee
a fair approach to migrants in the globalised economy. Human resources and vocational training will be among the key
topics tackled by delegates in addition to working conditions in the fishing sector and the report on the social
dimension of globalisation. The Global Report covering the Follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work will also be closely examined by the delegates (see below).
The reports and documents presented at the Conference this year are available by
clicking here and the
Conference Guide can be viewed by
clicking here.
Encouraging signs for the respect of fundamental rights
Since the adoption of the Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998), the role of the
Conference has been to examine the global report prepared by the ILO in the context of the monitoring
procedure established by the Declaration.
Working on a four-year cycle, it examines the global reports covering each of the five fundamental rights in turn
(freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of
all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; the elimination of discrimination
in respect of employment and occupation). This year, as in 2000, the global report is focusing on freedom of
association. Entitled 'Organising for Social Justice', this report was presented in Brussels on 24 May during a
round table that brought together the leaders of Belgian, European and international trade unions.
It is available by
clicking here; the press release accompanying its publication can be viewed by
clicking here.
The report indicates that there have been "positive and encouraging" developments since the last evaluation
published in 2000, particularly via an increase in ratifications of international fundamental labour standards
and the heightened awareness they bring about. However, killings, detentions and violence against workers and
employers seeking to organise still remain common in too many countries. The ILO offers its help to all countries
wishing to ratify the conventions and apply them more effectively.
Stop child domestic labour
12 June marks the third World Day against Child Labour, an initiative launched by the ILO to highlight the
global movement working for the elimination of child labour, particularly in its worst forms.
The World Day acts a catalyst boosting support for this movement. This year the chosen theme is child domestic workers
accompanied by the publication of a new report entitled 'Stop Child Domestic Labour'
(available from 11 June on the ILO site at www.ilo.org/childlabour).
Given the hidden nature of this activity, it is very difficult to determine the number of child domestic workers,
but the ILO estimates that amongst some 246 million children who are working in the world, more girls under 16 years
old are employed in domestic service than in any other form of work. The situation for these children working in
individual homes is not enviable: in contrast to other workers, they live behind closed doors where no-one
can witness the abuse they suffer or the oppression they face.
Restructuring taking into account social aspects
Company restructurings and redundancies are always a painful experience. Strengthened by its tripartite structure,
the ILO is in a privileged position and is able to offer advice on managing restructuring whilst taking into
account social aspects. This is the aim of a new document published by the ILO that can be downloaded free by
clicking here. Its authors start by
explaining the effects of staff reductions on individuals, the company and the community, and then go on to describe
the options open to an employer before taking this action. Using real case studies of restructuring managed as
painlessly as possible in a series of companies in Europe, the United States and Africa, they demonstrate that
it is possible to limit the social damage whilst protecting the company's future.
Fighting discrimination against older female workers
When looking for a job, older female workers often face two barriers: their gender and their age. The ILO's
GENPROM programme (Gender Promotion) recently published a guide to the employment of older women in Estonia.
Its guidelines can be adapted to other European countries faced with the same problem. It will be particularly
useful for awareness-raising or training workshops on this issue. This guide is available free of charge in PDF
format by
clicking here.
Did you know?
The name International Labour Organisation is used to describe the organisation in the form of its tripartite
structure (governments, employers and workers) whilst the International Labour Office is used to describe its
secretariat. The International Labour Office is therefore responsible for applying the Organisation's decisions,
promoting its international standards and helping to monitor their application.
New publications
The following recent ILO publications may be of special interest to our readers:
- The Global Seafarer. Living and working conditions in a globalized industry 2004, 224 pp., ISBN 92-2-112713-3, €22
This publication gives a broad overview of the effects of globalisation on the maritime industry and the
life of sailors. The sailors' labour market is changing rapidly following the internationalisation of ship
registration, the increased number of multinational crews, the introduction of smaller crews and other features.
These changes are causing challenges in several areas, including recruitment practices, trade union activity and
collective bargaining. This study also examines issues relating to the wages, contracts and working hours of sailors.
It can be ordered by
clicking here.
- Healthy beginnings: Guidance on safe maternity at work by J. Paul
In a decent work context, women workers need to be protected during maternity – protected from losing their jobs
and protected from any risks to their health or that of their babies. This guide looks at maternity protection in
the workplace, focusing on measures that can be taken to ensure a healthy beginning for both the mother and her
child. This is not a medical guide – it is designed for general use, mainly in workplaces in the formal economy.
It can be downloaded free by
clicking here.
Programme of meetings
Click here
for a list of meetings planned by the ILO in 2004.