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Child labour
The ILO's 2006 Global Report on Child Labour suggests an overall decline in the number of children working in transition economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Economic growth and poverty reduction linked with political commitment to combating child labour have led to significant progress. The ratification rate of both of the ILO Child Labour Conventions has been encouraging. Nine of 10 CIS countries have ratified the both fundamental ILO Conventions No. 138 and No. 182.
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Employers’ Activities
Employers play a key role in creating jobs, increasing national wealth and improving working conditions. Strong and independent employers’ organizations (EOs) set up and functioning according to the standards and principles of freedom of association are vital for tripartite social dialogue on labour and social issues.
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Employment
In Eastern Europe and Central Asia GDP levels have by and large returned to pre-transition levels, and some countries are experiencing high levels of economic growth. However, this growth is being driven by a very few industries or sectors, notably natural resources, and has so far not raised employment levels significantly.
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Gender Equality
Just as the countries of the region are at different stages of economic development, they also have different contexts and challenges concerning equality between women and men. However, there are some common trends reflecting the status of men and women on the labour market and their expected roles, based on values and traditions in society and within the family.
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HIV/AIDS
In the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 1.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. The growth rate of identifiable HIV cases in a number of the countries of the region is high. Russia witnesses a particularly intensive rise of the epidemic: the prevalence rate exceeds 1%.
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International Labour Standards
Development of international standards governing conditions of work and employment was the reason for the creation of the ILO and remains its main means of action. International labour standards derive their authority from their adoption by the International Labour Conference, a body in which governments, employers and workers from virtually all countries of the world are represented.
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Labour migration
Labour migration is an increasingly important social and economic phenomenon in the region. The largest country, the Russian Federation, is a significant destination for migrants from both Central Asia and the South Caucasus, with 1.9 million migrant workers having been registered since the implementation of the new Russian immigration legislation in 2007.
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Occupational safety and health (OSH)
Safe working conditions are a basic human right and a fundamental part of Decent Work. The ILO estimates that over 2.3 million workers in the world die each year from work related accidents and diseases, and four per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product are lost due to accidents and poor working conditions.
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Workers activities
Trade unions in Eastern European and Central Asian countries withstood the shocks of transition in the early 1990s, with most emerging intact but with significantly reduced membership.
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Social Security
Social security is the basic protection to ensure access to health care and support for families with children, as well as to guarantee income security, in case of old age, unemployment, sickness, invalidity, work injury, maternity or loss of a breadwinner.
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