The 96th annual conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded after holding extensive discussions on new approaches to promoting sustainable enterprises and decent work

 

GENEVA (ILO News) – The 96th annual conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its 15-day run here today after adopting a comprehensive new set of labour standards for the fishing industry and holding extensive discussions on new approaches to promoting sustainable enterprises and decent work.

The International Labour Conference, the annual gathering of more than 3,000 delegates representing governments, and workers and employers from the ILO’s 180 member States, also launched a new partnership aimed at eliminating child labour in agriculture and considered a number of issues regarding adherence to international labour standards.

In a wide-ranging analysis of the role of Decent Work in promoting sustainable development, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia called for the strengthening of the ILO’s capacity on a number of fronts. He urged delegates to consider a new “Green Jobs Initiative” to support sustainable development and called for new approaches to dealing with trade and employment, labour market analysis and the reduction of “global decent work deficits”.

“This Conference has reconfirmed the great demand for decent work in all regions. We conclude with a message that is tuned for the times: Decent work lies at the heart of sustainable development”, Mr. Somavia said. “We have heard from leaders from every corner of the globe who have underscored the priority of making the global goal of decent work a local reality.”

The Conference hosted seven eminent guest speakers, including H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, H.E. Mr. John Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the African Union, His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, His Royal Highness Felipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias, and H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

The Conference was presided over by Mr. Kastriot Sulka, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of Albania. Conference Vice-Presidents were H.E. Mr. Carlos Antonio da Rocha Paranhos (Governments) from Brazil, Mr. Michel Barde (Employers) from Switzerland and Mr. Marc Blondel (Workers) from France.

Delegates gave overwhelming support to new standards designed to improve the conditions of millions of men and women working in the fishing sector. The new standards contain provisions designed to ensure that workers in the fishing sector have improved occupational safety and health and medical care at sea; that sick or injured fishers receive care ashore; receive sufficient rest for their health and safety; have the protection of a work agreement; and have the same social security protection as other workers.

The Convention, to be known as The Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 and the Recommendation will come into effect when they are ratified by 10 (including eight coastal nations) of the ILO’s 180 member States (for further details see ILO press release ILO/07/37).

The Conference also adopted a programme and budget for the 2008-09 biennium of US$ 641.7 million. The budget level is at the same level as that recommended by the Governing Body and represents no change in real terms for the next biennium.

The Conference also examined proposals to strengthen the governance of the ILO and its capacity to service constituents. In this regard, it called for the possible consideration at next year’s International Labour Conference of an authoritative document, which could take the form of a Declaration or other suitable instrument.

In a ceremony today here in the plenary, the ILO awarded its first annual Decent Work Research Prize to Nobel peace laureate and former South African President Nelson Mandela and to the eminent academic and specialist in social security, Professor Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Professor Emeritus on Economics and Latin American Studies of the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (for further details see ILO press release ILO/07/38).

 

Further information:
http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_083100

 

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