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ILO Governing Body concludes 288th session

Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) concluded its 288th session today following two weeks of discussion over issues ranging from the social dimension of globalization to a new code of practice on workplace violence in the services sector and labour rights in Belarus, Myanmar and other countries.

Press release | 21 November 2003

GENEVA (ILO News) – The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) concluded its 288th session today following two weeks of discussion over issues ranging from the social dimension of globalization to a new code of practice on workplace violence in the services sector and labour rights in Belarus, Myanmar and other countries.

H.E. Ms. Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, spoke to its Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization on 17 November. Ms. Halonen was the first head of state ever to address the Governing Body of the ILO.

"The current course of globalization must change", she said. "The present situation is not ethical, nor politically feasible. Too few share its benefits. Too many have no voice in its design and no influence over its course."

"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 the 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. Mr. 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 Commission is currently finalizing a major report on globalization which will be issued in 2004.

Violations of labour rights

Following a complaint under Art. 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 others, 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 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 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's Forced Labour Convention (No. 29). However, the Governing Body decided to request that the ILO makes 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.

New ILO Code of practice on workplace violence in services sectors

Faced with violence at work as a threat to productivity and decent work the Governing Body adopted a new "Code of Practice on Workplace Violence in Services Sectors" (Note 1).

The initiative responds to the needs of millions of workers that are potentially affected by violence in services sectors in both industrialised and developing countries, and both the public and private sectors. The Code will provide general guidance to develop practical responses to violence at work, to promote dialogue, consultation and negotiation among governments, employers and workers and to draft national laws, policies and programmes of action.

The Code was discussed at the ILO in Geneva from 8 to 15 October by 36 experts representing governments, employers and workers. The code will be disseminated widely by the ILO, and social dialogue activities will be encouraged to put the code into practice around the world.

ILO codes of practice are not intended to replace national laws or regulations or accepted standards. They are primarily designed as a basis for prevention and protective measures.


Note 1 - Code of practice on workplace violence in services sectors and measures to combat this phenomenon. Meeting of Experts to Develop a Code of Practice on Violence and Stress in services: A Threat to Productivity and Decent Work (8-15 October 2003), International Labour Office, Geneva, 2003.