All ILO Newsroom content
April 2020
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International Labour Review, Vol. 159 (2020), No. 1
Back to the future: A continuity of dialogue on work and technology at the ILO
22 April 2020
Concerns about technological unemployment are not new. Specifically, policy debates surrounding automation processes in the 1960s reflected both optimism and concerns about the job-destroying potential of technology. Studying the archives, and in particular the information collected by the Bureau of Automation, shows that many of today’s policy proposals were originally raised at the ILO during that period, even though they were never translated into regulatory policy. This article thus suggests that reopening this past dialogue may reveal useful insights for addressing current challenges, and enable us to achieve the world of work we wish to see in the future.
July 2015
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© Arne Hoel / World Bank 2022
Labour reforms
Cutting back workers' protection does not lead to stronger growth
20 July 2015
A recent ILO flagship report looks at the employment impact of labour reforms.
September 2012
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Statement
Promoting longer life and ensuring work ability
19 September 2012
Address by Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Director for Employment (ILO), at UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Ministerial Conference on Ageing - Vienna, Austria.
October 2010
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Video interview
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia highlights the courage of the 33 Chilean miners
13 October 2010
With the rescue team still at work, ILO Director General Juan Somavia spoke with ILO TV and emphasized the strength and courage of the 33 trapped Chilean miners, their families and the Chilean people who together made possible what seemed so impossible.
June 2008
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News
Flexicurity for decent work: A labour market policy approach
05 June 2008
The search for a better combination of flexibility and security regarding employment, income and social protection is a major challenge within the European Union. Denmark has been a pioneer in implementing a system of “flexicurity” in its labour market. Today, the country has the second lowest unemployment rate among OECD countries, with high levels of competitiveness, job mobility as well as of workforce training. However, the Danish experience shows that the right balance regarding decent work is not to be found by companies or the public sector alone, but through social dialogue. While the ILO International labour Conference is underway, a panel discussion will address the issue of "Flexicurity for Decent Work: a labour market policy approach" with the participation of ILO experts and tripartite delegates from Denmark. Anne Mette Skipper met with one of them, the Danish Minister for Employment, Claus Hjort Frederiksen. Download the interview (in english)
January 2006
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Article
Which is best for the economy: employment stability or employment flexibility?
20 January 2006
A recent article in the ILO's International Labour Review analyzes the relationship between employment stability and productivity in six major sectors in 13 European countries. According to the authors, both, extensive and short job tenure can produce adverse affects on productivity. They propose a policy of "protected mobility" on the labour market, together with active labour market policies seeking to combine both flexibility and security. ILO online spoke with Peter Auer, co-author of the article.
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Article
The Lego experience: "Putting flexibility and security together"
13 January 2006
Workers who are facing layoffs may want to know why employees at Danish toymaker Lego don't worry too much if their jobs are outsourced. It has to do with what the International Labour Office and others call "flexicurity". ILO Online reports from the Lego toy factory in Denmark.