ILO: long labour market recession worsens social outlook in many countries

A new report by the research arm of the International Labour Organization (ILO) says a long “labour market recession” is worsening the social outlook in many countries. The new study entitled “World of Work Report 2010 – from one crisis to the next?” acknowledges that three years into the crisis, the global economy has resumed growing, with some countries witnessing encouraging signs of employment recovery – significantly in emerging economies in Asia and Latin America.

China, labour unrest and role of unions

An interesting analysis of these days’ wave of labour unrest in China and of the potential role of freedom of association and collective bargaining.

By Anita Chan*

Workers of several factories in Guangdong province have been drawing global attention over the past couple of weeks. First, there were reports of workers jumping to their deaths in a factory of Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer. Around the same time, some 2,000 workers went on a two-week strike at a Honda component manufacturing factory, halting production in four Honda assembly plants.

ILO warns of new threats to global economic and jobs recovery from debt crisis and financial instability

Growing instability in financial markets and the sovereign debt crisis in Europe may put global economic and jobs recovery efforts at risk, according to a report by International Labour Office Director-General Juan Somavia to be discussed at the ILO’s annual conference.

New ILO report on labour and social trends in the 10 Asean countries

A new report on labour and social trends in the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be released by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific next week. The report has been prepared for participants attending the 2nd ASEAN Human Resource Conference, being held in Hanoi on Tuesday 25th May.

World day for Safety and Health at work, emerging risks and new patterns of prevention

Since 2003, on 28 April, the International Labour Organization (ILO) observes World Day for Safety and Health at Work, stressing the prevention of accidents and illnesses at work, capitalizing on its traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue. This year, under the theme “Emerging risks and new patterns of prevention in a changing world of work”  the day will draw attention on the current global challenges and the new context of occupational safety and health practice.

ILO reports for G20 Employment and Labour Ministers meeting

In preparation for the G20 Employment and Labour Ministers meeting to be held in Washington D.C. on 20-21 April at the U.S. Department of Labor, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has produced a series of background reports on the evolving employment situation in the context of the global financial crisis, including: a statistical overview, a package of country briefs with statistical updates, a review of employment and social protection policies, all available online at: www.ilo.org/jobcrisis

The role of Global Jobs Pact in accelerating recovery in employment

The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) examined the effect given to the Global Jobs Pact at its meeting on 11-26 March and took a number of decisions regarding fundamental rights at work. Governing Body members held several sessions to discuss the effect given to the Pact adopted by the ILO’s International Labour Conference in June 2009 to address the employment and social effects of the economic and financial crisis, including a meeting of its Working Part on the Social Dimension of Globalization.

ILO warns “early exit” from stimulus measures could prolong jobs crisis

An “early exit” from support measures adopted in response to the global economic crisis could postpone a jobs recovery for years and render the fledgling economic upturn “fragile and incomplete”, a new report by the research arm of the International Labour Organization (ILO) says.

ILO Governing Body calls for comprehensive crisis response, long-term sustainable development based on global jobs pact

The Governing Body of the International Labour Office called for an “employment oriented” response to the global economic crisis based on policy measures set out in the ILO’s Global Jobs Pact. In their conclusions, Governing Body members said “A more balanced economic growth pattern must not lose sight of the need to urgently address large-scale unemployment, underemployment and rising income inequality. These issues deserve the same high level political priority that has been given to the rescue of financial institutions.”