Press releases

November 2000 

• ILO Urges Support for Workers in Palestinian territories
  24 November 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - The ILO Director-General, Mr. Juan Somavia, warned today of an "evolving humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories resulting from the closure of frontiers, the explosive growth of unemployment and the inability of many workers to meet their families' basic needs".
• ILO GOVERNING BODY CONCLUDES 279th SESSION Committee on Freedom of Association cites Guatemala, Ethiopia
  21 November 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO), which concluded its 279th session on Friday opened the way for the full implementation of a resolution of the International Labour Conference, adopted in June of this year, aimed at compelling the Government of Myanmar (Burma) to comply with Convention No. 29 on forced labour. Myanmar (Burma) ratified Convention No. ...
• ILO worst forms of child labour Convention comes into force
  17 November 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - The global campaign against the worst forms of child labour receives a powerful new boost on Sunday, 19 November, the date when the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Convention No. 182 comes into force as international law.
• ILO Governing Body opens the way for unprecedented action against forced labour in Myanmar
  17 November 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Measures to compel the Government of Myanmar (Burma) to meet its obligations to eliminate forced labour in the country will go forward, following deliberations by the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Governing Body at its 279 th session which concluded here today.
• ILO Director-General highlights need for "Decent Work", insists on employment as the best means of social inclusion and urges comprehensive employment policies to underpin globalization
  10 November 2000 - TURIN, Italy (ILO News) - "The key to solving problems of social exclusion and poverty is employment," Mr. ...
• Youssou Ndour named Honorary Ambassador of the Campaign against Child Labour
  08 November 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Youssou Ndour - the internationally acclaimed musician, singer and songwriter - was today named Honorary Ambassador of the ILO Global Campaign Against Child Labour. Mr. Ndour, of Senegal, received the award in appreciation of his commitment towards raising public awareness in the worldwide struggle against child labour.
• ILO Governing Body to Convene 279 th Session Forced Labour, Freedom of Association and Globalization on Agenda
  02 November 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Forced labour in Myanmar (Burma) and the contribution of freedom of association to social and economic development are among the agenda items of the 279th session of the International Labour Office (ILO) Governing Body which gets under way in Geneva on Thursday, 2 November and is scheduled to meet until Friday, 17 November.

October 2000 

• ILO mission en route for Myanmar (Burma) as November deadline approaches for Myanmar's compliance with ILO Convention on forced labour
  19 October 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - An ILO technical cooperation mission left Geneva today en route for Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) to examine steps taken by that country's Government on implementing the recommendations of a 1998 Commission of Inquiry, which found the use of forced labour to be "widespread and systematic".
• Global employment levels in textile, clothing and footwear industries holding stable as industries relocate
  16 October 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Employment in the production of textiles, clothing and footwear remained stable at approximately 30 million jobs during the 1990s, after suffering a global decline of 16% during the 1980s.
• ILO report examines mental health in the workplace in Finland, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom and United States
  10 October 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - An ILO study of mental health policies and programmes affecting the workforces of Finland, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom and United States shows that the incidence of mental health problems is increasing, with as many as one in ten workers suffering from depression, anxiety, stress or burnout, which lead, in some cases, to unemployment and hospitalization.

September 2000 

• ILO "core" conventions ratifications surge past 1 000 mark
  22 September 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - The campaign to promote universal observance for its eight core Conventions passed an important milestone this week when the International Labour Office received notification from the Governments of Austria, Ecuador, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Togo that they had ratified ILO Conventions on child labour and the rights of workers to organize free trade unions and engage in collect ...
• ILO sectoral meeting to examine sustainable agriculture in a globalized economy
  18 September 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - The impact of globalization on the lives and livelihoods of millions of agricultural workers will be examined by tripartite delegates from 26 countries at a meeting to be held at the International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva from 18-22 September 2000.

June 2000 

• ILO workshop to examine strategies for helping the working poor
  29 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Methods of improving the livelihoods, well-being and empowerment of poor, working people will be at the centre of an ILO-sponsored workshop entitled Including the Excluded in the World Economy organized on the occasion of the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly (Copenhagen +5).
• International Labour Office announces new social development programme
  28 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - In a new initiative to implement the Programme of Action of the World Summit on Social Development (Copenhagen 1995), the International Labour Office (ILO) today announced the immediate launch of a new programme aimed at promoting sustainable human development at the local and national level.
• Children's Day at Geneva 2000
  27 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - The ILO, in partnership with several institutions, has organized several events focusing on the global campaign to eliminate child labour on Wednesday, 28 June, as a Children's Day for Geneva 2000.
• ILO Director-General calls for "renewed solidarity", says global economy excludes, hurts too many workers
  26 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Addressing the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in Geneva today, Mr. Juan Somavia, the Director-General of the ILO, told delegates that "the benefits of the global economy have not reached enough people".
• Most of World Lacks Unemployment Insurance
  21 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Seventy-five per cent of the 150 million people unemployed around the world lack any unemployment insurance protection, says a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO).
• Special ILO Representative for cooperation with Colombia to be appointed by Director-General
  16 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) today asked Director-General, Juan Somavia, to appoint a Special Representative for cooperation with Colombia to assist in and verify the actions taken by the Government, and employers' and workers' organizations to implement ILO Recommendations following widespread acts of violence against trade unionists over t ...
• International Labour Conference adopts new Convention and Recommendation on Maternity Protection
  15 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Delegates to the International Labour Conference (ILC), which concluded today, voted to adopt a new international Convention on Maternity Protection by a vote of 304 for, 22 against, 116 abstentions. The new Convention will enter into force after receiving two ratifications by ILO member States.
• International Labour Conference adopts Resolution targeting forced labour in Myanmar (Burma)
  14 June 2000 - GENEVA (ILO News) - Delegates to the International Labour Conference (ILC) today voted to take action to compel the Government of Myanmar (Burma) to comply with ILO Convention No. 29 on forced labour. Burma ratified Convention No. 29 in 1955.