All ILO Newsroom content

March 2011

  1. Video

    Director-General Juan Somavia says ILO Ready to Assist in Egypt and Tunisia

    21 March 2011

    Referring to the situations in Egypt and Tunisia the ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia, said it is “a time when all actors of society are called upon to exercise their responsibilities so that they will be on the right side of history being made in front of your eyes by the peaceful, popular expression of the people’s will”, adding that “we at the ILO must be ready to assist them”. The Director-General spoke to the ILO Governing Body introducing a high-level discussion on Challenges and Change in the Arab World. Panel participants included H.E. Dr. Ahmed El-Borai, Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt; Mr. Habib Yousfi, President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA); and Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT).

  2. Video

    Michelle Bachelet on Social Protection Floors as a Response to Demands for Social Justice

    21 March 2011

    Mrs Michelle Bachelet, Chairperson of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group and Executive Director of UN Women, discusses how the implementation of social protection floors can offer an effective response to the increasing demands for social justice in many countries. Mrs Bachelet was the key speaker during a workshop organized at the International Labour Office about the Social Protection Floor (SPF). She was also in Geneva to chair the second meeting of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group.

  3. News

    President Rousseff and President Obama to develop cooperation projects promoting the ILO Decent Work Agenda

    19 March 2011

    The Presidents of the two largest democracies and two largest economies of the Western Hemisphere “expressed the interest of both countries in strengthening their dialogue to promote the Decent Work Agenda, with a view to developing projects in cooperation with the ILO (…).”

  4. News

    ILO Director-General welcomes US-Brazil Memorandum of Understanding to promote Decent Work through South-South and Trilateral Cooperation

    19 March 2011

    The Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Mr. Juan Somavia, has welcomed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Governments of Brazil and of the United States to promote South-South and Trilateral Cooperation around the ILO's Decent Work Agenda.

  5. Statement

    Joint Statement by President Rousseff and President Obama (from whitehouse.gov)

    19 March 2011

    Brazilian and American presidents expressed together "the interest of both countries in strengthening their dialogue to promote the Decent Work Agenda, with a view to developing projects in cooperation with the ILO."

  6. Statement

    “The crisis in Bahrain must be solved through national dialogue” Statement by the ILO Director-General

    15 March 2011

  7. Video

    Director-General Juan Somavia Voices the ILO's Commitment to the Process of Transition in Egypt

    14 March 2011

    Mr. Juan Somavia, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), concluding an official visit to Egypt, expressed ILO support for the establishment of freedom of association and other labour market and economic reforms in the country. On the last day of his visit Mr. Juan Somavia met with the Prime Minister, Mr. Essam Sharaf and the Minister of Finance, Mr. Samir Radwan, and visited Tahrir Square.

  8. Statement

    Declaration of the Egyptian Minister of Manpower and Migration on "The Freedom of Association" In Egypt

    12 March 2011

  9. Press Briefing

    Egyptian Minister of Manpower and Migration issued statement granting Freedom of Association in Egypt

    12 March 2011

    In an official statement, the Egyptian Minister of Manpower and Migration, H.E. Mr. Ahmed El Borai, announced that freedom of association, which guarantees that all trade unions will be registered and can freely pursue their legitimate activities will be recognised in Egypt. (In Arabic)

  10. Press Conference

    ILO Welcomes Egyptian Statement on Freedom of Association

    12 March 2011

    During an official visit to Egypt, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Mr. Juan Somavia, welcomed the statement of the Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt, H.E Dr. Ahmed El Borai on trade union rights. The Director-General was in Cairo at the invitation of the government to examine the labour and social situation of the country and the manner in which the ILO can best provide support and assistance during the transitional period and beyond.