Press releases

June 2004 

• State, Government, tripartite leaders urge a fair globalization: Provide strong political endorsement of World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization
  07 June 2004 - Heads of state and government and tripartite leaders from across the globe, addressing the 92nd International Labour Conference, today voiced strong political support for the conclusions of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization as a foundation for new, more coherent policies aimed at making globalization fair.
• ILO Director-General cites four key challenges for building a fair globalization: Says labour organization faces "defining moment"
  07 June 2004 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) faces a "defining moment" in its quest for a fair globalization, Director-General Juan Somavia said today in an address to tripartite delegates representing 177 member States at the 92nd International Labour Conference.
• Note to correspondents: ILO releases 93 country survey on labour migration
  04 June 2004 - The International Labour Office (ILO) today published a comprehensive new survey on labour migration that provides, for the first time, detailed information on migration laws, policies and practices in 93 countries.
• International Labour Conference opens: ILO is key to a fair globalization, Director-General says
  01 June 2004 - General of the International Labour Office, Juan Somavia, declared today as the ILO opened its 92nd annual International Labour Conference.
• Unemployment, poverty grips Palestinian workers
  01 June 2004 -

May 2004 

• Media Advisory World Day against Child Labour ILO to launch new study, world events planned
  31 May 2004 - With rap music and pinwheels, marches and solemn statements, many organizations - including children's groups - will mark the third World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June this year with a specific focus on efforts to eliminate child domestic labour.
• 92nd International Labour Conference opens on 1 June Delegates to shape ILO role for fair globalization, discuss freedom of association, migration, and update labour standards
  28 May 2004 - Heads of States and government, ministers of labour and senior representatives of workers and employers meet here on 1-17 June at the annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) to craft a new role for the tripartite labour body in shaping a fair and equitable globalization for all.
• Note for the media: 92 nd International Labour Conference, 1-17 June 2004
  26 May 2004 - 92nd International Labour Conference (ILC) will take place from 1-17 June 2004 in the Palais des Nations, 8-14 avenue de la Paix, Geneva, Switzerland. The ILC is the annual tripartite Conference of the International Labour Organization's 177 member States. ...
• ILO marks 150th ratification of 1999 Convention on the worst forms of child labour
  24 May 2004 - The world's fundamental international standard for combating the worst forms of child labour, International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182, has received its 150th ratification, putting it within sight of achieving universal ratification by all of the Organization's 177 Member States.
• 86 million migrant workers active in global economy, says new ILO report
  21 May 2004 - Close to half of all migrants and refugees worldwide - or some 86 million adults - are economically active, employed or otherwise engaged in remunerative activity, according to a new report released today by the International Labour Office (ILO).
• ILO report sees encouraging trends in fundamental rights at work although serious violations persist
  18 May 2004 -
• Note to correspondents: ILO Conference to discuss challenges of globalization and EU accession
  13 May 2004 - High-level representatives of workers, employers and governments from the Nordic and Baltic States and Poland are to meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 14 May to discuss regional aspects of globalization and EU accession issues.

April 2004 

• China Employment Forum concludes with focus on decent work for all
  30 April 2004 - China and the International Labour Organization (ILO) today adopted a joint statement aimed at forging greater cooperation to create more and better jobs, describing "full and decent employment" as the key to continued development in the world's most populous country.
• China Forum to address employment, migration issues: Unprecedented meeting to consider strategy for meeting challenges of globalization
  27 April 2004 - Faced with growing labour market imbalances - including high rural unemployment, underemployment and increasing rural-to-urban migration - China this week is hosting an unprecedented China Employment Forum, jointly implemented with the International Labour Organization (ILO), aimed at promoting decent work amid rapid economic change.
• World of work to mark World Day for Safety and Health
  27 April 2004 - Workers, employers, governments and safety and health departments around the world, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), will observe the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April in an effort to highlight the need for a new "safety culture" to reduce or prevent occupational accidents and disease that take an average of 6,000 lives every day of the year.
• ILO Director-General addresses special meeting of African heads of State A major step towards the Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Reduction in Africa
  23 April 2004 - Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO), has welcomed “encouraging signs of political clarity and convergence of views” expressed by African leaders meeting here to examine new anti-poverty strategies ahead of the African Union Extra-Ordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Reduction scheduled for September in Burkina Faso.

March 2004 

• ILO takes major step to ensure security of seafarers
  26 March 2004 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) today took a major step toward strengthening security measures on the high seas and in world ports by adopting a new "biometric" identity verification system for some 1.2 million maritime workers who handle 90 per cent of the world's trade.
• ILO Governing Body concludes its 289th Session, discusses globalization, forced labour and seafarer security
  26 March 2004 - The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its 289th session today following a wide-ranging debate welcoming the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization.
• ILO Governing Body welcomes report of World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization
  25 March 2004 - Employer, worker and government representatives at the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) today welcomed the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization as a "balanced" and "coherent" analysis of the social impact of globalization.
• ILO Governing Body's 289th session to discuss "fair globalization", Myanmar and other issues
  11 March 2004 - Worker, employer and government representatives will hold a wide-ranging debate on the social dimension of globalization at the 289th session of the ILO Governing Body, from 11-26 March. The ongoing session is the first to be held under the second mandate of ILO Director-General Juan Somavia who was re-elected for another five-year term in 2003.