ILO - BRUSSELS
NEWSLETTER N°. 5/2007
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New global table on discrimination in the workplace
Despite major progress, the magnitude of inequality in terms of both incomes and opportunities and the persistent problem of widespread discrimination
in the workplace are prompting mounting concern, according to a new ILO report entitled "Equality at work: Tackling the challenges".
The report provides an overview of workplace discrimination, highlighting advances and setbacks in the fight against discrimination, from its more
traditional forms – based on gender, race or religion – to its newer incarnations based on people's age, sexual orientation, health or HIV status.
One of the report's main themes is the continuing gap between men and women where employment and salaries are concerned. For example, it shows that
in the European Union, there remains a 15% difference between the average hourly wages earned by men and women.
Click here to read the report, or
here to read the press release
covering the main issues it raises. For a summary of the situation regarding workplace discrimination in Europe,
click here.
Disabled workers are often more productive
One form of workplace discrimination denounced in the ILO report concerns disabled people. The ILO website publishes a report showing that, contrary
to certain preconceived ideas, disabled people often are not only more productive than their able-bodied counterparts, but are sometimes more qualified
for some jobs. The report in question covers Sri Lanka, where a network has been set up, with help from the ILO, to put organisations that assist the
disabled in touch with the business world, in a bid to develop job opportunities for disabled individuals. In one of Sri Lanka's biggest banks, where
millions of rupees are counted and sorted by deaf and dumb people, experience has shown that these disabled workers are three times more productive
and efficient than others employed by the same service … To read the report,
click here.
Genetic testing can give rise to discrimination
Another report on workplace discrimination published on the ILO website concerns genetic testing. The practice of having such tests carried out
is becoming increasingly widespread and can result in the unfavourable treatment of candidates for vacancies who happen to be associated with risks
that have nothing to do with the requirements of the job or their skills. Genetic tests of this kind have been criticised by courts in some countries
and have triggered a wide-ranging debate on their legitimacy. For example, in Germany a young teacher was refused a permanent job after undergoing a
medical examination which revealed that some of her relatives had suffered from Huntington's disease, a rare degenerative disorder. According to the
ILO report, her case is not unique, and these concerns have led to the adoption of legal measures in several EU Member States.
Click here to read that report.
Luxembourg helps Ghana improve its social security system
In the context of the ILO’s “Global Social Trust”, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg has launched an international solidarity fund, based on voluntary
contributions, which is to provide targeted aid to Ghanaian families with no access to healthcare. This initiative is the first of its kind, and is
possible thanks to a partnership with the Luxembourg trade union OGB-L and the trade union solidarity NGO Solidarité Syndicale. The idea is to ask
Luxembourgers to pay a modest €5 per month into the fund. The sums collected by the Luxembourg partners will then be transferred to a district of
Ghana and benefit the most vulnerable individuals, the priority recipients being the poorest pregnant women and mothers of small children. Ghana
was chosen as the partner country because the local authorities are trying to provide social protection for the entire population there. When
introducing this health insurance system, the ILO already teamed up once before with a Ghanian mutual benefit insurance company, thanks to funding
provided by the governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. This social partnership between Luxembourg and Ghana is a long-term project
that will gradually spread across the entire country as more and more Luxembourg donors sign up to the scheme.
Click here to find out more.
International Nurses Day: quality workplaces mean quality patient care
In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified a deficit in the global health workforce, including a critical shortage of nurses, as a
priority item for action. The reasons for the health care and nursing crisis are varied and complex, but dangerous and unhealthy work environments
are key among them.. On International Nurses Day, on 12 May 2007, the ILO issued a press release on this problem. In it we learn, for example, that
at least one in eight healthcare workers receives a needle stick injury potentially exposing them to serious or fatal infections. More than 100,000
needle stick injuries occur in UK hospitals each year. To read the press release,
click here.
The ILO is teaming up with the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the WHO and Public Services International (PSI) to address the problem.
Their Joint Programme on Workplace Violence in the Health Sector was launched in 2000 and has since carried out a series of research activities
and published framework guidelines and an accompanying training manual. These documents and further information are available by
clicking here. We would also like to point out that there
is a brochure on ILO Convention 149 on nursing personnel. To read it,
click here.
Towards better social dialogue in the electronics sector
The industry manufacturing electronic components for computers is one of the most dynamic and innovative sectors in the global economy,
employing 18 million people worldwide. On 18 April, a tripartite meeting organised by the ILO adopted conclusions aimed primarily at promoting
social dialogue in this sector. To read them,
click here. To read the report drawn up by the ILO to serve as a
basis for debate – a report we presented back in February –
click here. Please also note that an article published on
the ILO website sums up the main points of the report. To read that article,
click here.
Did you know?
One current buzzword is corporate social responsibility (CSR), meaning the way in which companies take account of how their activities impact
on society and apply the principles and values they have adopted, both when applying their internal methods and procedures and in their dealings
with other actors. CSR is a voluntary initiative driven by companies and entails activities that are deemed to go further than merely complying
with the law. To help you learn more about CSR, a section of the ILO website lists the international labour standards governing it and also enables
you to search for key words associated with CSR, as well as providing access to Labordoc books and articles and also to the database of the ILO
Library on the world of work. To access this CSR resource guide
click here.
Scheduled meetings
Click here for a list of scheduled ILO meetings in 2007.
NB:
Click here for a list of reports and documents presented
to the 96th International Labour Conference, to be held from 30 May to 15 June 2007.
Contact us
For more information on the ILO's activities, please contact the :
ILO Brussels
Rue Aimé Smekens 40
B -1030 Brussels
Belgium
Tel.: + 32 02 736 59 42
Fax: +32.02 735 48 25
E-mail: brussels@ilo.org
Website : www.ilo.org/brussels
