Press releases

May 2006 

• ILO Meeting of Experts to discuss new Code of Practice on coal mine safety
  08 May 2006 - In an effort to modernize safety and health regulations in underground coal mines, representatives of workers, employers and governments meet here on 8-13 May to discuss a draft Code of Practice for one of the world's most hazardous occupations.
• Sixteenth American Regional Meeting of the ILO comes to an end Government, employer and worker delegates announce the start of a Decade of promoting decent work in the Americas
  08 May 2006 - The Sixteenth American Regional Meeting of the ILO concluded today with the announcement by governments, employers and workers of the start of a Decade of promoting decent work in the Americas.
• New ILO Report shows marked decline in child labour worldwide Believes its worst forms can be eliminated in 10 years
  04 May 2006 - Child labour, especially in its worst forms, is in decline for the first time across the globe, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said today, in a new, cautiously optimistic report entitled The end of child labour: Within reach.
• Sixteenth American Regional Meeting of the ILO opens in Brasilia
  04 May 2006 - The Sixteenth American Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organization opened here Wednesday with a call by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia for "a decent work decade" to be launched to "improve prospects for democratic governance and security in the hemisphere".
• Formal work deficit affects 126 million Latin Americans ILO proposes an Agenda for the Hemisphere to generate decent work Issue to be discussed at the Sixteenth ILO American Regional Meeting
  02 May 2006 - Latin America faces a formal employment deficit of 126 million jobs, International Labour Organization Director-General Juan Somavia said today, while presenting "An Agenda for the Hemisphere" which contains recommendations on how to generate decent work over the coming decade. ...

April 2006 

• World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2006 New Focus on HIV/AIDS Pandemic
  27 April 2006 - On Friday 28 April, government, worker and employer representatives will observe World Day for Safety and Health with over 100 events worldwide - from the Caucasus to the Caribbean, from Armenia to Addis Ababa. The special theme of this year's observance calls attention to HIV/AIDS as an occupational safety and health issue.
• Media Advisory: ILO to launch major new report on child labour
  21 April 2006 - A global report providing new estimates of the number of child labourers worldwide and regionally, and analyzing progress to date in the struggle against child labour, is to be released on 4 May by the International Labour Office (ILO) here and around the world.
• ILO to hold American Regional Meeting in Brasilia: "Creating decent work is a political priority", says ILO Director-General Juan Somavia
  20 April 2006 - - Tripartite delegates from 35 countries will meet at the 16th American Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Brasilia, Brazil on 2-5 May to discuss strategies for addressing persistent unemployment and precarious labour markets in the region.

March 2006 

• ILO Governing Body concludes 295th Session Considers labour situation in Myanmar and Belarus, as well as globalization and migration issues
  31 March 2006 - 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.
• Media Advisory ILO Governing Body opens 295th Session
  16 March 2006 - The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) will hold its 295th session here on 16-31 March and discuss a wide range of subjects including forced labour in Myanmar, the global jobs crisis, youth employment and globalization issues.
• ILO celebrates International Women's Day Champion female athletes urge women to step up fight for social justice
  08 March 2006 - Top female athletes in boxing, track and field and tennis today urged women around the world to take their struggle for social justice to new heights, as the International Labour Office (ILO) marked International Women's Day here and globally with events focussing on women in sports and the world of work.

February 2006 

• ILO adopts sweeping new charter for maritime sector: New Convention will guarantee "quality shipping" worldwide
  23 February 2006 - The International Labour Organization today overwhelmingly adopted a comprehensive new labour standard for the world's maritime sector, in what ILO Director-General Juan Somavia called a landmark development in the world of work.
• ILO Director-General says new maritime Convention on track to make "labour history"
  20 February 2006 - A new consolidated maritime labour Convention, to be voted here on Thursday by the International Labour Organization's Maritime labour Conference, reflects "labour history" in the making by providing a modern approach to addressing decent work and a fair globalization, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said today.
• International Women's Day 2006 to focus on women in sport
  17 February 2006 - The International Labour Office (ILO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are to host a range of events for International Women's Day on 8 March, including a round-table discussion on women in sports featuring international sports personalities and the presentation of the IOC's annual "Women in Sport" awards.
• 33 tons of warm clothing collected by ILO personnel for Pakistan quake victims
  09 February 2006 - Thirty-three tons of warm clothes collected locally under an initiative launched by a group of staff of the International Labour Office left the ILO building today bound for Pakistan quake victims.
• ILO opens 94th International Labour Conference, Maritime Session
  07 February 2006 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) began consideration today of a draft Convention on maritime labour standards, which if adopted will represent the most sweeping and comprehensive global legal instrument ever forged regarding the world's shipowners, seafarers and maritime nations.
• ILO to adopt 'bill of rights' for seafarers
  06 February 2006 - The first Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference of the 21st century scheduled here between 7-23 February 2006 will consider a major new international labour instrument, the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
• 94th (maritime) session of the International Labour Conference 7-23 February 2006
  01 February 2006 - The 94th (Maritime) Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) opens here on 7 February and will discuss a sweeping new maritime convention that consolidates international law on the working conditions of the world's 1.2 million seafarers. It is without doubt the most far-reaching international Conference on maritime labour issues held since the founding of the ILO in 1919.

January 2006 

• ILO Director-General warns of "unprecedented jobs crisis" Hails World Economic Forum focus on jobs creation
  25 January 2006 - The world is facing an "unprecedented global jobs crisis of mammoth proportions", the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) said today in a statement issued for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place here.
• ILO annual jobs report says global unemployment continues to grow, youth now make up half those out of work
  24 January 2006 - The number of people unemployed worldwide climbed to new heights in 2005, as robust economic growth failed to offset an increase in people seeking work - especially among the vast and growing legion of jobless youth, the International Labour Office (ILO) said in its annual Global Employment Trends released today.