Press releases

May 2007 

• ILO announces recipients of first decent work research prize
  23 May 2007 - The International Labour Organization today announced the recipients of the first annual ILO Decent Work Research Prize, decided by a jury of eminent international experts in labour and social policy issues.
• New ILO Global Report on Equality at Work 2007 - Despite major progress, workplace discrimination persists and is taking on new forms
  10 May 2007 - Despite major advances in fighting discrimination at work, mounting inequalities in income and opportunities and significant and persistent forms of workplace discrimination are causing growing concern, according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO) published today.

April 2007 

• Media Advisory: ILO to launch major comprehensive new report on discrimination in the world of work
  30 April 2007 - The International Labour Office (ILO) is to issue a major new report on 10 May on the state of discrimination in the world of work.
• World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2007: Amid worldwide events, ILO says most accidents at work could be prevented if standards are respected
  27 April 2007 - Countries around the world are to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work this year, amid a new call by the International Labour Office (ILO) for applying internationally-agreed labour standards as a primary tool for reducing work-related accidents and illnesses that take some 2.2 million lives each year.
• Regional Meeting adopts Decent Work Agenda in Africa 2007-15: Sets ambitious targets to be achieved by 2015
  27 April 2007 - Faced with a continental challenge of growth that is failing to create enough better quality jobs to stop rising unemployment and an increasing number of people living in poverty, top worker, employer and government representatives of the ILO's African member States today adopted a sweeping new "Decent Work Agenda in Africa 2007-15".
• UNDP Administrator calls for urgent measures to create new jobs and reduce widespread poverty in Africa: Decent Work "at the heart of development"
  26 April 2007 - UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis, speaking at the ILO's 11th African Regional Meeting here, has called for poverty reduction strategies that "fully integrate the employment dimension," adding that "Decent Work is at the heart of development and has to be also at the heart of the United Nations various work on development."
• XIth African Regional Meeting opens with calls for continent-wide mobilization for decent work: 10,000 African women and men added each day to growing ranks of extreme working poor
  24 April 2007 - Noting that "growth with few good jobs is not politically sustainable", ILO Director-General Juan Somavia today called for a new development approach in Africa which "puts people at the centre of development and judges the success of economic and social policy according to what happens to people at work."
• 11th ILO African Regional Meeting, Addis Ababa, 24-27 April - Despite upturn, African economies still lack enough decent jobs: Governments, employers and workers to discuss new "policy portfolio" for reducing poverty, creating decent work
  23 April 2007 - Widespread economic growth and increased productivity in Africa has been insufficient to reduce the growing numbers of unemployed and working poor, according to new analyses prepared by the International Labour Office (ILO).
• ILO statement on appeal hearing for murder of Chea Vichea
  18 April 2007 - The ILO issued today the following statement concerning a decision of the Cambodian Appeals Court on 12 April 2007.
• ILO launches new "Global Social Trust" in Luxembourg to provide health insurance and pension funds for the most vulnerable in Ghana: New fund launched in partnership with OGB-L ONG Solidarité Syndicale
  17 April 2007 - The International Labour Office (ILO) today launched an unique international solidarity fund, the Global Social Trust to provide health insurance and pension coverage to the most vulnerable in Ghana.
• ILO meeting to discuss changing labour force requirements in the electronic components manufacturing sector
  13 April 2007 - More than 70 senior representatives of labour and employers organizations, along with governments, gather here on 16-18 April for the first major global tripartite discussion on emerging labour and social issues in the booming electronic components manufacturing sector that generates more than a trillion dollars in exports each year.

March 2007 

• ILO Governing Body concludes 298th Session: Considers ILO budget, labour situation in Myanmar, Belarus and other countries as well as trade and employment policy
  30 March 2007 - The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) concluded its 298th session here today following wide-ranging discussions among its worker, employer and government constituents on the Organization’s budget, the labour situation in Myanmar, Belarus and other countries as well as trade and employment policy.
• ILO welcomes EU decision to step up fight against HIV/AIDS
  14 March 2007 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) today welcomed a declaration by Ministers of Health from the European Union (EU) on HIV/AIDS, saying it contains provisions that give greater recognition to the role of the workplace in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
• ILO Governing Body opens 298th session: Labour situation in Belarus and Myanmar will be discussed, along with ILO budget, trade and employment
  08 March 2007 - The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) will address a range of issues at its 298th session beginning here today, including basic labour rights in Myanmar and Belarus, trade and employment, wages around the world, UN reform and the latest report of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.
• Global Employment Trends for Women 2007: ILO study warns on the feminization of working poverty
  07 March 2007 - More women then ever before are in work, but a persistent gap in status, job security, wages and education between women and men is contributing to the "feminization of working poverty", according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO) issued for International Women's Day.
• International Women's Day 2007: ILO to celebrate working women who have been "breaking boundaries and driving change"
  01 March 2007 - The International Labour Office (ILO) will mark International Women's Day this year with a range of events designed to celebrate working women who have been "breaking boundaries and driving change".

February 2007 

• ILO concludes Understanding with Myanmar
  26 February 2007 - The International Labour Office (ILO) announced today that it has concluded an Understanding with the Government of Myanmar designed to provide, as previously requested by the International Labour Conference and the ILO Governing Body, a mechanism to enable victims of forced labour to seek redress.
• ILO, UNDP join forces to promote growth for decent jobs
  09 February 2007 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have agreed to strengthen their collaboration and partnership in a major new effort to bolster UN actions designed to reduce poverty and create more decent work.

January 2007 

• Global Employment Trends 2007: Global unemployment remains at historic high despite strong economic growth; Modest gains in reducing working poverty
  25 January 2007 - The number of people unemployed worldwide remained at an historical high in 2006 despite strong global economic growth, the International Labour Office (ILO) said in its annual Global Employment Trends released today.
• Brunei becomes 180th ILO Member State
  23 January 2007 - Brunei Darussalam has become the 180th Member State of the International Labour Organization (ILO) following receipt in Geneva of a letter from Mr. Pehin Dato Adanan Yusof, Minister of Home Affairs, stating on behalf of the Government that Brunei formally accepts the obligations of the ILO Constitution.