ILO Chief to visit Russian Federation on 15-19 July agenda to cover jobs, social protection, WTO impact, AIDS and child labour
15 July 2002
GENEVA (ILO News) - The Director-General of the International Labour Office Juan Somavia begins a five-day official visit to the Russian Federation on 1 5 July where he is expected to hold talks with high-level government, worker and employer representatives on a wide range of economic and social issues critical to one of the ILO's largest members.
The ILO Director General will discuss a number of issues relevant to the work of the ILO in Russia including job creation, poverty reduction, harmonizing labour standards, the growing child labour problem, a worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic and the social impact of globalization and of Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Talks are also expected to focus on employment and enterprise promotion, gender mainstreaming and the lack of social protection.
"The Russian Federation is at a crossroads in development," Mr. Somavia said before leaving Geneva. "Unless restructuring can be seriously addressed as part of a plan for entering WTO the Russian economy could face a down turn due to overseas competition. The ILO is committed to working with our social partners in Russia in support of these vital reforms."
Among the officials Mr. Somavia is expected to meet are the Russian Deputy-Prime Minister, Mrs. Matvienko, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ivanov, the Minister of Labour, Mr. Pochinok, the Minister of Economy and Trade, Mr. Gref and the Mayor of Moscow, Mr. Louzhkhov. He will also meet with representatives from the Co-ordinating Council of Employers, trade unions, the State Duma (Russian Parliament).
As the former Soviet Union, Russia became a member of the ILO in 1934. The ILO already has a wide range of technical cooperation activities in the Russian Federation, including assistance in preparation of new labour and employment legislation, socially responsible enterprise restructuring, promotion of social and labour protection schemes, strengthening of occupational safety and health, consolidating social dialogue as a permanent process and projects with street children.
The ILO Director General will discuss a number of issues relevant to the work of the ILO in Russia including job creation, poverty reduction, harmonizing labour standards, the growing child labour problem, a worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic and the social impact of globalization and of Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Talks are also expected to focus on employment and enterprise promotion, gender mainstreaming and the lack of social protection.
"The Russian Federation is at a crossroads in development," Mr. Somavia said before leaving Geneva. "Unless restructuring can be seriously addressed as part of a plan for entering WTO the Russian economy could face a down turn due to overseas competition. The ILO is committed to working with our social partners in Russia in support of these vital reforms."
Among the officials Mr. Somavia is expected to meet are the Russian Deputy-Prime Minister, Mrs. Matvienko, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ivanov, the Minister of Labour, Mr. Pochinok, the Minister of Economy and Trade, Mr. Gref and the Mayor of Moscow, Mr. Louzhkhov. He will also meet with representatives from the Co-ordinating Council of Employers, trade unions, the State Duma (Russian Parliament).
As the former Soviet Union, Russia became a member of the ILO in 1934. The ILO already has a wide range of technical cooperation activities in the Russian Federation, including assistance in preparation of new labour and employment legislation, socially responsible enterprise restructuring, promotion of social and labour protection schemes, strengthening of occupational safety and health, consolidating social dialogue as a permanent process and projects with street children.