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ILO GOVERNING BODY CONCLUDES 295TH SESSION/ Friday 31, March 2006 ILO/06/10
CONSIDERS LABOUR SITUATION IN MYANMAR AND BELARUS, AS WELL AS GLOBALIZATION
AND MIGRATION ISSUES
GENEVA (ILO News) − The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) concluded its 295th session here following discussions by tripartite delegates on issues ranging from respect of basic labour rights in Myanmar, Belarus, Colombia and other countries, to issues pertaining to globalization and migration.
The Governing Body’s Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization discussed the 2005 UN World Summit outcome and follow-up, the link between growth, investment and employment and the idea of an ILO Forum on Decent Work for a Fair Globalization to be held in 2007.
Addressing the Working Party on Monday, 27 March, Mr. Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid said “it is not work which is lacking but the financial resources to promote it”. The Commissioner called for closer cooperation between the ILO and the European Union to promote “decent work for all”.
The Governing Body requested the Director-General to begin the preparatory work for the promotion of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The Convention which was adopted by a special maritime session of the International Labour Conference in February 2006 provides a comprehensive labour charter for the world’s 1.2 million seafarers and establishes a socio-economic floor to global competition in the maritime sector that handles 90 per cent of the world’s trade.
The Governing Body meeting also considered ILO activities in the field of employment promotion and social protection. As a follow-up to the Resolution concerning youth employment adopted by the 93rd session of the International Labour Conference in June 2005, the Governing Body examined plans for ILO action on youth employment.
The Governing Body considered the question of the observance by the Government of Myanmar of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29). It expressed its profound concern at the continued lack of any meaningful progress towards abolishing forced labour. It was also concerned that persons who had complained about the use of forced labour were being prosecuted and asked for their immediate release. The Governing Body decided that the International Labour Conference this year would review further action to be taken to effectively secure the compliance by Myanmar with this convention as well as ways to ensure that no action would be taken against persons or their representatives who complained about forced labour. The Governing Body also urged that all remaining possibilities to resolve the issue be pursued.
Migration
The Governing Body’s Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues recommended that the GB take note of the Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration and authorize the Director-General to publish it. The Multilateral Framework, which is part of a plan of action for migrant workers agreed by constituents at the International Labour Conference in 2004, was adopted by a Tripartite Meeting of Experts held in Geneva on 31 October-2 November 2005.
The Framework includes 15 principles under nine sections, which relate, among others, to decent work, means for international cooperation, the protection of migrant workers, management of labour migration, social integration and inclusion, and labour migration and development. Under each principle, guidelines have been elaborated to help put them into practice. There are two annexes to the Framework. Annex I includes a list of international labour instruments relating to migrant workers referred to in the Framework. Annex II is a compilation of examples of best practices in labour migration policies drawn from both countries of origin and destination. The compilation would be periodically updated to take account of new policies and programmes.
The framework is one of the seven elements of the plan of action, being carried out at present. In the context the plan of the action, the Office will promote the utilization of the framework in the formulation and implementation of labour migration policies.
Freedom of association
The Governing Body also approved the 340th and 341st reports of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association. At its March meeting, the Committee examined 37 cases. Altogether there are currently 122 cases before the Committee. The Committee drew special attention to the cases of Belarus, Colombia, Myanmar and Nepal.
In the case of Belarus, the Committee examined measures taken by the government to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the ILO in 2004 taking note of the report of a mission to the country in January 2006.
The Committee expressed its deep concern that, rather than making good faith efforts to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, the Government was on a path to eliminating all remnants of an independent trade union in Belarus, apparently hoping that in this way there in effect would be no further sources of complaint.
The Committee therefore reiterated its previous recommendations and urged the Government in the strongest of terms to take appropriate and concrete measures immediately so as to ensure that workers may form and join organizations outside the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB) freely and without pressure or intimidation on the part of enterprise management or the public authorities.
As regards the recent initiative to draft a new Trade Union Law, the Committee expected the government to transmit any new drafts of the Law to the ILO for advice in terms of their conformity with international labour standards and the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry before placing them before the Parliament for adoption.
Acknowledging the efforts made by the Government of Colombia to improve protection for trade union officials and to move the investigations of the cases forward, the Committee urged the Government to take all possible measures to put an end to the acts of violence against trade union officials and to continue vigorously the investigations that have already begun.
The Committee also requested the Government to keep it informed of the progress made by the specialized sub-unit within the National Public Prosecutor’s Office which deals with cases of human rights violations involving trade unionists, as well as the entry into force of the Law on Justice and Peace and any impact that this Law might have on the various cases of murder and violence that are pending.
It also urged that consideration be given to the possibility of setting up an ILO office in Colombia in order to facilitate dialogue between the Government, the social partners and the Committee on Freedom of Association on the steps to be taken to continue to combat and ultimately eliminate the existing situation of impunity, as well as to ensure more effective implementation of freedom of association.
In the case of Myanmar, the Committee once again urged the Government to enact legislation guaranteeing freedom of association to all workers and employers and to explicitly protect workers’ and employers’ organizations from any interference by the authorities, including the army.
The Committee also urged the Government once more to institute an independent inquiry into the alleged murder of Saw Mya Than, to ensure the immediate release of Myo Aung Thant from prison, and to refrain from all acts of anti-union discrimination against seafarers who engage in trade union action.
The Committee once again reminded the Government that it may avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office for the realization of concrete steps towards ensuring respect for freedom of association in law and in practice.
The Committee also considered alleged violations of trade union rights in Nepal after the February 2005 state of emergency, leading to a climate of fear, which has forced many of the members, activists and leaders of the Nepali trade union movement to go into exile.
The allegations also concerned arrests of several trade union leaders, unwarranted searches of trade union offices, the suspension of all public sector unions, the banning of the activities of the Nepal Government Employees’ Organization (NEGEO) through an amendment to the Civil Service Act and acts of harassment and intimidation against teachers’ unions.
The Committee requested the Government to carry out an independent inquiry into the allegations of ill-treatment of detainees, arrest and threats of arrest, and if the allegations of continued threats of arrest are confirmed, to take steps to ensure that trade union leaders may freely exercise their trade union rights.
Finally, the Committee requested the Government to examine the possibility of a direct contacts mission to the country in order to promote the full implementation of freedom of association.
* * *
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 and takes decisions on ILO policy, the agenda of the International Labour Conference and the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference.
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.
Annual Report 2005 22 February 2006
http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/company/docs/ecgforum/ecgf-annual-report-2005_en.pdf
European Corporate Governance Forum
http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/company/ecgforum/index_en.htm
Mergers and acquisitions in the financial sector: Commission asks for industry's views on how to improve supervisory approval process. Document Number: IP/06/320 (Date:16/03/2006)
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/320&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN
Company law: Commission welcomes European Parliament agreement on Directive to simplify the formation, maintenance and alteration of companies’ capital: Document Number: IP/06/312 (Date: 14/03/2006)
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/312&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN
Supporting SMEs: Commission tables initiative to facilitate transfer of businesses. Document Number: IP/06/307 (Date 14/03/2006)
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/307&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN
Business transfers – 690,000 companies and 2.8 million jobs at stake every year. MEMO/06/122 (Date:14/03/2006)
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/122&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID"): Commission sends formal drafts for "level 2" implementing measures to Parliament and ESC: Document Number: IP/06/121 (Date: 06/02/2006)
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/121&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN
FAQ on MiFID: Draft implementing: Document Number: MEMO/06/57 (Date: 06/02/2006)
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/57&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN
Consultation by the European Commission: DRAFT CONVENTION ON EXCLUSIVE CHOICE OF COURT AGREEMENTS
The Commission would like to receive replies to the questions, the full list of which is given at the end of the Consultation Paper document, from all interested parties. Replies and other comments should be sent by 15 November 2004 to: European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Home Affairs, Unit C.1, B - 1049 Brussels, Fax: + 32 (0) 2 299 64 57, e-mail: jai.coop.jud.civil@cec.eu.int
Consultation Paper DRAFT CONVENTION ON EXCLUSIVE CHOICE OF COURT AGREEMENTS http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/news/consulting_public/gp_15112004/consultation_paper_en.pdf
Annex to the Consultation Paper: HAGUE CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW Special Commission on Jurisdiction, Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (21 to 27 April 2004)
DRAFT ON EXCLUSIVE CHOICE OF COURT AGREEMENTS http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/news/consulting_public/gp_15112004/doc_travail_en.pdf
New streamlined funding for European Social Fund and social policy
Document Number: IP/04/928 Date: 15/07/2004
The Commission has adopted a package of proposals designed to streamline and target spending on EU employment and social policy. The new European Social Fund (ESF) for 2007-2013 will link funding with policies to boost employment and strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Employment Strategy (EES). With less red tape, simpler rules and more decentralisation to the Member States, it will be both easier to manage and better equipped to tackle the new challenges arising from enlargement, the ageing population and globalisation. It will be complemented by a new programme that will rationalise funding for other actions supporting the Commission's employment and social policy.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/928&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN
In the framework of the Best Procedure, the Enterprise Directorate-General carried out a benchmarking project on "Restructuring, bankruptcy and a fresh start".
On the basis of the conclusions from the Seminar on Business Failure and the Study" Bankruptcy and a fresh start", it benchmarks the legal and social consequences of business failure.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/failure_bankruptcy/best-report-en.pdf
Commission proposes to advance the principle of gender neutrality in the supply of goods and services: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2003/nov/equality_en.html
Event: A seminar on "EU Food Law: What's in, What's out, What's in a name ?" is organised by the European Institute of Public Administration in Luxembourg, 26-27 January 2004. See detailed information in the "event" section of our website.
The joint October-November bulletin of the International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN), "Post-Cancun, the FTAA, and Gender Mainstreaming in Trade Policy", is available at the following website:
http://www.igtn.org/Bulletins/Bulletins.html
Sex discrimination outside the workplace Hearing
European Parliament, Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities 10 September 2003 please find some personal notes regarding the EP hearing in the members' area
News on cross-border mergers:
Document Number: IP/03/1564 Date: 2003-11-18
Company law: Commission proposes Directive on cross-border mergers
europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/1564|0|RAPID&lg=EN
Document Number: MEMO/03/233 Date: 2003-11-18
Commission proposal for a Directive on cross-border mergers - frequently asked questions
europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=MEMO/03/233|0|RAPID&lg=EN
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