Violations of labour rights
Following a complaint under Article 26 of the ILO Constitution against the Government of Belarus for non-observance of the fundamental freedom of association Conventions Nos. 87 and 98, which was lodged by workers' delegates to the June 2003 Session of the International Labour Conference, the Governing Body decided to establish a special Commission of Inquiry to examine violations of trade union rights in the country.
In doing so, the Governing Body followed the recommendation of its Committee on Freedom of Association. For the seventh time, the Committee noted in its report that serious attacks have been and continue to be made on all attempts to maintain a free and independent trade union movement in Belarus.
The procedure under Article 26 has, on a number of occasions, been invoked in the case of persistent violations and disregard for the decisions of the ILO supervisory bodies. It has earlier been used by the Organization only on ten occasions.
In its report, the Committee on Freedom of Association also cited two other urgent cases, Cuba and Zimbabwe, for infringements of the principle of freedom of association and violations of trade union rights. The Committee also dealt, among other issues, with freedom of association rights of undocumented workers in the United States, and collective bargaining issues in Denmark and Sweden.
The Governing Body also discussed the current state of negotiations between the ILO and Myanmar (Burma) on action for eliminating forced labour in that country. A joint plan of action had been agreed upon last May, but its implementation has been hindered by the uncertainties of the situation in the country. This plan of action includes the establishment of a facilitator for potential victims of forced labour who seek a remedy.
Employers, workers and governments expressed grave concern about the lack of substantive progress in the elimination of forced labour. The proposal was made to return to using the special measures decided by the International Labour Conference in 2000, in order to ensure the compliance of Myanmar with its obligations under the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29). However, the Governing Body decided to request that the ILO make an urgent evaluation of the situation in Myanmar regarding the prospects for implementing the joint plan of action.
A report will be made to the Governing Body in March 2004, which then will decide on further steps.
Make globalization a positive force
H.E. Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, spoke to the Governing Body Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization, on 17 November. Ms. Halonen was the first head of state ever to address the executive body of the ILO.
"In order to make globalization a positive force for people, it is important that the rules governing it are fair," the Finnish President said. "We have today a global economy, but not a global society. The governance and rules are clearly lagging behind economic developments."
President Halonen identified "a crucial role for the ILO to promote and ensure a situation where basic rights at work are effectively respected all over the world, without exception".
President Halonen and H.E. Benjamin Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, are the co-Chairs of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, established in 2002.
The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Office (the Office is the secretariat of the Organization). It meets three times a year, in March, June and November. It takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the agenda of the International Labour Conference, adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference, and elects the Director-General.
It is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers). Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States). The other Government members are elected by the Conference every three years.