PARIS - The French National Assembly invited the ILO Director-General to Paris on 14 October, to share his vision of globalization and its social consequences, with the Commissions of Foreign Affairs, Culture, Family and Social Affairs. Speaking to about 30 Parliament members from the combined Commissions, Juan Somavia said that they were particularly well-placed to express the feelings inspired by a globalization characterized by delocalization, unemployment, precariousness, and threats to cultural identity and dignity. Right now, more than a million people survive on less than one euro a day, and almost half the world live on less than two euros, he said, adding that globalization's principle failing is its structural inability to reverse the trend of unemployment and to create decent jobs. Mr. Somavia proposed building solidarity similar to that forged by the European Union, with structural funds and a "creative convergence" between the various economic, social and environmental policies promoted by international organizations. In order to sustain this necessary debate, the ILO has created a World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization which will return its conclusions at the beginning of next year.
Director-General presents "Working out of Poverty" Report
TURIN - "Un lavoro decente per tutti è la strada maestra per uscire dalla povertà" ("Decent Work for All is the main route out of poverty"). With those words in Italian, the ILO Director-General opened the Second European Roundtable on Poverty and Social Exclusion, organized by the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in October, and inaugurated by Italian Minister of Labour, Roberto Maroni. The Director-General encouraged European employment and social affairs ministries, as well as the social partners, to create market opportunities for decent work, promote socially inclusive growth and pursue social dialogue. In the afternoon, Mr. Somavia, during a roundtable organized by the Turin Centre, presented the report, "Working out of Poverty", to Minister Maroni and other national leaders.