GENEVA (ILO News) - The 289th Session of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) took a major step towards strengthening security measures on the high seas and in world ports, by adopting a new "biometric" identity verification system. The decision will affect some 1.2 million maritime workers who handle 90 per cent of the world's trade, allowing for the use of a "biometric template" to turn two seafarer's fingerprints into an internationally standardized 2-D barcode on the Seafarers' Identity Document (SID). The new measure is essential for the implementation of the revised Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 2003 (No. 185) (Note 4), adopted by the International Labour Conference last June, and aimed at providing a more rigorous response to the need for increased security among seafarers in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. (See ILO press release ILO/04/12 at www.ilo.org/communication)
The situation in Myanmar
The Governing Body examined the current situation in Myanmar and the projected joint Plan of Action against the use of forced labour. This plan has been in suspension since the end of May last year. The Governing Body noted that there had been positive developments, and that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader, was in favour of implementing the plan.
However, the Governing Body said recent convictions for high treason of three persons in Myanmar for contacts with the ILO were considered to have cast serious doubt on the credibility of the Government's cooperation with the ILO. Representatives of the ILO have met with these persons and consider that they have been condemned on unsound grounds and thus should be released, noting that under no circumstances should anyone be prosecuted for contacts with the ILO.
The Governing Body expected that this matter would be settled by the Government of Myanmar rapidly. It also wished to clarify how the proposed system of a Facilitator, who would help potential victims of forced labour, could function with the safeguards and confidentiality needed. In the light of such steps and clarifications, the Officers of the Governing Body will consider further steps regarding the Plan of Action.
International Labour Conference will receive a report on the developments up to the end of May 2004.
Committee on Freedom of Association reports
The ILO Committee on Freedom of Association examined 31 of the more than one hundred cases which are currently before it regarding infringements of the principle of freedom of association and violations of trade union rights. The Committee cited a number of countries from both the developed and developing worlds alike. Among other cases, the Committee:
- Noted with deep concern that since the last examination of Colombia, it has received complaints of the murder of an additional 59 trade unionists, bringing the total for 2003 to 70 murders. While noting the Government's extensive reply to the allegations, the Committee stressed the extreme gravity of this case, requesting the Government to do everything in its power to institute investigations into all the acts of violence, to put an end to the intolerable situation of impunity and to punish effectively all those responsible
- Drew the special attention of the Governing Body to the case of Venezuela, marked by repression of trade unions and their members; in particular, a detention order against the President of the Venezuelan Workers' Confederation (CTV) and promotion of a parallel trade union confederation by the authorities, and the dismissal of more than 19,000 workers due to trade union activities. The Committee deeply deplored the murder of the member of the Federation of Construction Workers just after the end of the celebrations on 1 May 2003, and urged the Government to institute an independent investigation, without delay, into alleged instances of detention and torture
- Reviewed a case concerning the imprisonment of workers' leaders in China, saying that it regretted that the Committee's previous recommendations for their release and a review of the sentences had not been acted upon. The Committee considered this a serious case where a labour conflict had led to lengthy prison sentences under charges of subversion. As on earlier occasions, the Government was urged to agree to receive a direct contacts mission
- Noted the total absence of a legal basis for freedom of association in Myanmar and the alleged repression of any worker engaged in any trade union activity or expressing a labour grievance. It called for legislation ensuring freedom of association to all workers, including seafarers, and to all employers, and suggested that the Government would accept technical assistance from the ILO in this respect
Note 4 - The Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 2003 (No. 185) can be found using the directory on the ILO Conventions page at http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm and the ILO Maritime Labour Standards page at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/sectors/mariti/standards.htm