The International Labour Organization's efforts towards a Fair Globalization
Organized by the government of Poland and the ILO
19 October 2004, Warsaw
The Director-General made an official visit to Poland on 18–20 October for high talks with the government and representatives of workers and employers. He met with the President of the Republic, Mr Aleksander Kwasniewski, the Primer Minister, Mr Marek Belka, and other high-level officials including Mr Jerzy Hausner, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Labour; Mr Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr Kristof Pater, Minister of Social Policy; Mr Wieslaw Szczuka, the Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Finance; Mr Kulpa, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Labour; and Mr Ryszard Jarzembowski, the Vice-Marshal (Speaker) of the Senate. Mr Somavia highlighted in his interventions that the Commission that wrote the ILO Constitution in 1919 had a member from Poland, while the ILO played a major role in the democratization process of Poland by giving its full support to the legitimacy of the Solidarnosc Union based on respect for Convention No. 87 on the freedom of association, which Poland had ratified in 1957.
On 19 October, the ILO Director-General addressed a tripartite conference on “Welfare state reform: A vision for Poland and the ILO’s quest for a fair globalization”. This conference was part of the national follow-up to the landmark report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, published in February 2004.
The conference was organized by the Ministry of Social Policy, opened by the President of Poland followed by Mr Somavia, and attended by tripartite representatives, academics and journalists. A highlight of the conference was the announcement by Mr Kwasniewski that Poland will establish an international prize to honour individuals and organizations involved in the struggle for freedom of association. The prize will bear the name of Jacek Kuron, co-founder and main activist of the Polish democratic opposition since the 1960s. The award shall be established under the patronage of the ILO. The idea was appreciated by Mr Somavia, who said that by establishing the Jacek Kuron Award, Poland refers to one of the most important symbols of the fight in our history. He also stressed that “much has happened to Poland since the epic changes of 1988 and 1989. Transition is too modest a word. A historic transformation is closer to the reality.”
The Director-General also attended a special session of the Presidium of the Tripartite Commission for socio-economic issues and cooperation with the ILO on 20 October, headed by Mr Hausner.
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia meeting with Prime Minister Marek Belka, Poland.
Mr Somavia is with Jacek Kuron's widow at the round table
Opening speech of
the President of the Republic of Poland Mr. Aleksander Kwasniewski [pdf file]
Statement of Mr. Juan Somavia, the Director-General of the ILO [pdf file]
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| ILO Film |
| Fully fit at work |
Film about the advantages of employing persons with disabilities. As this ILO film (Fully Fit at Work) shows, not only may people with disabilities be more productive, they may actually be more skilled in some jobs than non-disabled people. Produced for the ILO by the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing.
Watch the film online in Polish with English subtitles. Duration: 21 min 11 sec
If the video is not displayed, download the free RealPlayer™
Press release in English and
Polish |
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Bulgaria: helping businesses to enter the formal economy
GENEVA (ILO Online) - In 2003, a new regulation was introduced in Bulgaria, whereby it became compulsory for employers to register all labour contracts. In addition, as many employers and enterprises are unaware about the new regulations, there is a strong need now to inform them on how to conform with the new system. The ILO's Bureau for Employers' Activities (ACT/EMP) supports the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) - the largest Bulgarian employers' organization, to help companies moving from informality to formality. ILO on line spoke with Henrik Moller and Jean-Marie Standaert, both from ACT/EMP, who assist BIA in making this happen. |
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A package for social and economic progress
The Albanian pilot of the One UN Programme will make use of the experiences of the International Labour Organization (ILO) gained in the field. As the only tripartite organisation within the United Nations system, the ILO plays a key role in involving social partners in the recently launched UN reform process.
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