The International Labour Organization Presentation by Rudi Delarue, , Brussels Director of the ILO Brussels Office (liaison office to EU and Benelux countries)

The International Labour Organization Specialised UN agency but tripartite decision making system Key milestones for ILO 2008 Declaration on social justice for a fair globalisation: formalises decent work agenda and provides tools for its implementation What ILO does and functioning Some key issues in 21st Century and overall ILO priorities Addressing current financial, economic and employment crisis International labour standards and other instruments: underpin decent work agenda Decent work Agenda: also a development agenda; part of 1 UN Strengthening knowledge basis ILO Brussels Office: mandate, partners, priorities

Specialised UN agency but founded before UN The only tripartite organization in the UN family Employers’ and Workers’ representatives have an equal voice with that of Governments Founded in 1919, emerged with League of Nations from the Treaty of Versailles Became first UN specialized agency in 1946 Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland 182 Member States 2500 staff at HQ and 40 field offices (including 2 liaison offices: Brussels to EU and New York to UN) International Training Center in Turin, Italy Nobel Peace Prize in 1969

Key milestones for ILO 1919 Constitution 1944 Declaration of Philadelphia : Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining 1951 : Committee on freedom of association (CFA) 1977: MNE Declaration June 1998: ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work and follow-up system 2004: World Commission on Social Dimension of Globalisation 2005 UN MDG Summit: DW 2006 Maritime labour Convention January 2008: DW as MDG 1 B target June 2008: ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation: DW agenda

Historical Roots Humanitarian Conditions of workers -- more numerous and exploited with no consideration for their health, family lives or advancement – was becoming less acceptable. Political Without improvement in their condition, these workers would create social unrest and revolution. Economic Because of its inevitable effect on the cost of production, any industry or country adopting social reform would find itself at a disadvantage vis-à-vis its competitors. Intensification of globalisation

Key update of mandate in June ILO Declaration on social justice for a fair globalisation : the decent work agenda Most important update since 1944 Philadelphia Declaration Broader and of a different nature than 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work 1944, 1998 and 2008 Declarations: texts of a “constitutional nature“

2008 ILO Declaration on social justice for a fair globalisation : the decent work agenda Decent work agenda consists of 4 pillars: Full and productive employment (including sustainable enterprises) Rights at work (including fundamental rights at work enshrined in 8 Conventions and the 1998 Declaration) Social Protection (social security, labour protection) Social Dialogue and Tripartite Consultation gender and non discrimination also cross cutting issues

What the ILO Does… Formulates international policies and programmes to promote rights at work, improve working and living conditions, promote voice, enhance employment opportunities (including sustainable enterprises). Adopts international labour standards: conventions (binding after ratification) and recommendations (to serve as guidelines for national authorities in putting policies into action). ILO Membership includes obligations (freedom of association, collective bargaining) and also the 1998 Declaration on fundamental rights and principles at work and the June 2008 Declaration Implements technical cooperation programmes and projects to assist countries in making these policies effective in practice. Conducts training, education, research and publishing activities to help advance all of these efforts.

ILO Functioning : International Labour Conference Held annually in Geneva Each member country sends four delegates Two from government One each representing workers and employers Employer and worker delegates may express themselves and vote independently of their governments Growing importance of regional coordination (and in particular EU)

ILO Functioning: Governing Body Meets three times a year in Geneva An executive council that makes policy and budget decisions and elects the Director-General Fifty-six members 28 government 14 workers 14 employers Growing importance of regional coordination (and in particular EU)

Some key ILO Issues in the 21st Century The number of unemployed and underemployed workers (informal economy) around the world has never been higher Half the world's workers living below US$2 a day poverty line: DW as MDG 1B Current crisis: estimation rise in global unemployment from 190 to 210 million and increase of those living under 1 and 2 US $: ILO response to crisis, G 20 but also larger framework Nearly two million work- related deaths each year: safe work campaign Only one in five people in the world have adequate social security coverage: campaign on extending social protection coverage and preparatory work on basic social security schemes (possibly new instrument in 2011) Nearly 250 million children are engaged in child labour: IPEC Strong increase of request for Technical cooperation but zero growth budget 90 % of TC depends on extra budget funding (donors)

Some key ILO Issues in the 21st Century Increasing ratification of all 8 CLS (80% of countries but with exception of US, China, India ) but application challenges: technical cooperation and capacity building if political will in country concerned is present For most people, globalisation not meeting their simple and legitimate aspirations for decent jobs and a better future for their children: reform of global governance, DW and fair globalisation as MDGs, trade and DW Excessive inequalities (recent 2008 ILO World of Work report on financial globalisation and Global wage report): importance of DW, governance Need to strengthen labour market institutions (labour administration, labour market data, employment and skills services, social security institutions) and labour market actors (social partners) Sustainable enterprises including issue related to global supply chain and CSR Greening the economy: employment and social dimension of climate change

Financial and economic crisis ILO has reacted immediately indicating that it is not only a crisis on Wall Street but on all streets Coordinated and integrated approach at global, regional and national level November 08 ILO Governing Body discussed initial ILO responses

Financial and economic crisis Policy proposals by ILO Office to ILO GB relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_ pdf relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_ pdf relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_ pdf relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_ pdf ILO GB Officers joint statement with 6 points: relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_ pdf relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_ pdf Next steps EU Economic recovery Plan: very much in line with ILO responses

Overall ILO Priorities Strategic objectives guiding programme and budget… To promote and realize standards, and fundamental principles and rights at work To create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection and of labour protection To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue Implementation of 2008 Declaration: key tool is decent work country programmes (as part of UNDAF)

ILO Priorities - EUROPE Upcoming European Regional ILO Meeting, 9/2-13/2/09, Lisbon Decent work challenges and outcomes in Europe

International Labour Standards 188 Conventions (of which 78 Convention are up to date including the key 2006 consolidation of maritime labour conventions) and 199 Recommendations Conventions are international treaties requiring ratification by member states Recommendations are non-binding instruments setting out guidelines for national policy and action Covering a wide variety of work-related subjects Underpins DW agenda

ILO supervisory system Regular ILO Supervisory system (ILO committee of independent experts on application of conventions and recommendations, ILO tripartite committee on application of conventions and recommendations) Freedom of association committee (also competent for freedom of association and collective bargaining even if country has not ratified Conventions 87 and 98) Special procedures: art. 24, 26, 33 (art 33 is most far reaching in international system with exception of UN Security Council Resolution) 1998 Declaration has a specific follow-up system of a promotional nature; integration in 2008 Declaration follow-up

Key ILO Conventions: 8 CLS conventions No. 29, Forced Labour Convention, 1930 No. 87, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 No. 98, Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 No. 100, Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 No. 105, Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 No. 111, Discrimination (Employment and Occupation Convention, 1958 No. 138, Minimum Age Convention, 1973 No. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999

Other important conventions Priority conventions: tripartite consultation (C. 144), labour inspection (C. 81), employment policy (C. 122) Framework Convention on health and safety at work (C. 187 and Convention 155) Conventions on minimum wage fixing and wage protection Consolidated Maritime Convention of 2006 (consolidates over 60 conventions) Skills development Employment agencies Social security (C 102)

Other ILO instruments (not labour standards) and frameworks the 1977 (amended in 200 and 2006) Declaration on Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (key CSR instrument together with OECD Guidelines): specific follow-up system Codes of conduct (such as HIV-AIDS at work; data protection; smoking and alcohol at work) ILO rights based non binding multilateral framework on labour migration (2004 ILC and 2006 framework as endorsed by ILO GB ) Remark: 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work and 2008 Declaration are texts of a constitutional nature with specific follow-up systems New approaches: 2007 action plan on sustainable enterprises and 2008 action plan on skills development

The ILO’s Decent Work Agenda Decent work in a globalizing world Based on the ILO’s four strategic objectives… Employment Rights Protection Dialogue …the Decent Work Agenda is a powerful tool to attain the goals of the Millennium Declaration Relevant for both industrialised and developing countries

The ILO’s Decent Work Agenda Strong support by EU since 2005 EU social agenda February 2005 and renewed social agenda of July 2008 (DW for all both in EU and outside) EU Consensus on Development of December 2005 ad eligible for EC ODA (DCI Regulation) Communication on DW of May 2006, Council of Ministers Conclusions of December 2006, EP resolution of May 2008 and EESC opinion of January 2008 Strong tool to address financial, economic and employment crisis ILO Governing Body officers Declaration of November 08 ILO and EU approach on addressing crisis in line (see e.g. EC communication of ; see also EU informal European Council common position of to G20 Summit) Not only G 20 but also UN including specialised agencies

Promoting Employment and Income Opportunities Research and contributions to the global dialogue on effective employment strategies Programme on Skills, Knowledge and Employability Job Creation and Sustainable Enterprises Development Small enterprise development to create employment Cooperatives Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy Social Finance, microfinance

Social Protection for All Promoting safety and health at work Working to expand social security coverage Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All Socio-economic security Conditions of Work and Wages Protection of migrant workers ILO Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work

Strengthening Tripartism and Social Dialogue The ILO helps governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations… Establish sound labour relations Adapt labour laws to meet changing economic and social needs Improve labour administration (should get more attention in context of development and demand driven ODA) GOAL: Promote social dialogue as a means of action that is essential to the success of all ILO objectives

Gender Initiatives Bureau for Gender Equality Works to promote equality between women and men throughout the organization Disseminates information about gender issues in the world of work to ILO staff, constituents, and the international community Gender Promotion Programme Help ensure that policy-makers have readily and easily accessible information and data to be able to conduct gender analysis Help them design and implement gender-sensitive and responsive policies and programmes

Strengthening knowledge basis More integrated follow-up of each DW pillar (follow- up system of 2008 declaration) Measuring DW Policy coherence initiatives and studies (e.g. ILO-IILS report on inequalities; broader outreach) Interplay between trade and DW (cooperation WTO secretariat and ILO- new bilateral trade agreements such as EU- thrid countreis refer to ILO assistance) Green jobs initative (recent joint UNEP-ILO-ITUC- IOE study)

ILO Brussels Office Mandate, objectives and key partners Priorities

ILO Brussels Office Mandate, objectives and key partners Representation to EU institutions and Benelux countries Pro-active approach Advocacy (newsletter, joint initatives with social partners, with relevant other non state actors such as those dealing with development and social protection and social inclusion), EU social partners and relevant other NSA Universities, institutes, CSR related activities

ILO Brussels Office Priorities: Promotion of DW and fair globalisation in EU internal and external policies ILO- EU partnership: exchange of letters of 2001 and partnership in the field of development EC important donor EU as global actor also DW in EU (e.g. ratification and application of up to date ILO Conventions) Short term priorities: ILO Europe 8th regional meeting in Lisbon, th anniversary ILO (week of 27 April 2009) Reponse to crisis Improving ratification of up to date conventions by Belgium and Netherlands and by other EU MS

ILO Brussels Office 3 Benelux countries and social partners are important actors and donors for ILO Belgium (and Flanders) as donors: 1.8 % (0.5% Flanders) of total extra budget ILO funding: PRODIAF, STEP, Conflict prevention in Great Lakes (Flanders: eg. ITC Turin; South Africa) NL: 10.3 % of total extra budget ILO funding

To find out more… For labour standards see more in particular also ILOLEX