What's new

• New ILO-publication Pension Reform in Central and Eastern Europe - in times of crisis, austerity and beyond - (pdf 1,63 MB) A decade after the major reform in the 1990s, pension systems in the Central and Eastern Europe are now facing imminent challenges under the pressure of the financial consolidation in the aftermath of the global economic crisis. In the long-term, the pension systems need to restore their financial sustainability in the face of rapid and severe demographic changes. At the national level, each country has taken a different approach to tackle these issues. The publication consolidates the national efforts through case study of eight CEE countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Poland and Romania). The publication reviews the performance of the current pension system in particular during the period of the global economic crisis, and outline, through comparative analysis, possible solutions to the challenges which these countries are facing in common in the short- and long-term. In addition to the issues of benefit adequacy and financial sustainability, particular attentions are paid to the need to fight against undeclared work and the importance of social dialogue in the process of pension reform. - ILO DWT and Country Office for Central and Eastern Europe, 2011

• Ninth European Regional Meeting during the first half of 2013 in Oslo In its 312th Session the Governing Body of ILO decided to hold the Ninth European Regional Meeting during the first half of 2013, in Oslo, Norway. The proposed agenda of the Meeting is to discuss, on the basis of the Report of the Director-General, progress made by the countries of the Region between 2009 and 2012 towards achieving crucial outcomes determined by the Eighth European Regional Meeting, e.g. analysing and tackling the impact of the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent crises in employment, labour market and social policies in line with the Decent Work Agenda. - ILO GB reports, November 2011

• EU Commissioner László Andor calls for stronger focus on jobs as Europe faces "turbulent and tough times" The European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor, called for a reinforced focus on job creation as Europe struggles to stave off the worsening economic outlook. - ILO News, 14 November 2011

• Federal Chancellor of Germany and leaders from five international organizations call for coordinated policy action to restore confidence and improve growth and employment prospects In a joint statement issued ahead of the next G20 Summit in Cannes on 3-4 November, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, and the heads of five international agencies, including ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, have called for increased international efforts to restore confidence to the world economy and carry out the structural policies needed to move towards a path of strong, sustainable and balanced growth. - ILO Press release, 6 October 2011

• ILO High-level brainstorming conference: Geneva, 3-4 October 2011 "Europe is at stake" - European Brainstorming Conference calls for socially responsible fiscal consolidation and more political willingness to cooperate among European countries Europe is not paying enough attention to the social and economic risks of a prolonged jobs crisis, warned a high-level conference organized by the ILO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and the International Institute for Labour Studies. - ILO Press release, 6 October 2011 Further information about the conference

• Innovation economy and labour market: conference in Moscow "The Russian Federation got out of the crisis and we expect the economic growth rates next year to be no lower than those this year" - Russian Deputy Health and Social Development Minister Maxim Topilin said in his opening remarks to the conference on Employment and Labour Market Strategies in Russia in the Context of Innovation Economy. The conference took place in Moscow on September 15 and was organized by the Russian Health and Social Development Ministry and the International Labour Organization. - ILO Moscow, 15 September 2011