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GB.274/16
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SIXTEENTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA
Report of the Director-General
Contents
Sir Frank Leslie Walcott
1. The Director-General announces with deep regret the death, on 24 February 1999, of Sir Frank Leslie Walcott, former Worker member of the Governing Body.
2. Sir Frank Leslie Walcott was General Secretary of the Barbados Workers' Union from 1945 to 1991. He was a former President of the Caribbean Congress of Labour and a member of the Executive Board of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) from its inception in 1953 until his retirement in 1991. He was also a Vice-President of the ICFTU.
3. Sir Frank attended the International Labour Conference from the 1950s onwards and became a member of the Governing Body in 1969. There he was systematically re-elected until his retirement. In 1976 Sir Frank chaired the World Employment Conference. On account of his special interest in combating apartheid, he was a member of most of the ILO's anti-apartheid committees.
4. Recognizing his sterling work for improving the quality of life of people in Barbados, the Government of Barbados granted him the status of National Hero, an honour received by only nine other persons. The Government of Barbados also accorded him a state funeral, which took place on 8 March 1999.
5. Members of the Governing Body and ILO officials will remember him as an historic figure who defended with great vigour the interests of workers and who promoted the principles and ideals of the ILO not only when participating in the work of the Organization, but also in his activities in Barbados and other parts of the world.
6. The Governing Body will no doubt wish to request the Director-General to convey its sympathy to the family of Sir Frank Leslie Walcott, the Barbados Workers' Union and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
II. Progress in international labour legislation
Ratifications of Conventions
7. Since the preparation of the document submitted to the 273rd Session of the Governing Body, the Director-General has registered the following 40 ratifications of international labour Conventions, bringing the total number registered on 8 February 1999 to 6,599:
Bahrain
Ratification registered on 14 July 1998
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Benin
Ratification registered on 10 November 1998
Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161)
Brazil
Ratification registered on 23 September 1998
Holidays with Pay Convention (Revised), 1970 (No. 132)
Ratification registered on 24 September 1998
Seafarers' Annual Leave with Pay Convention, 1976 (No. 146)
Cape Verde
Ratification registered on 1 February 1999
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention,
1948 (No. 87)
Chile
Ratifications registered on 1 February 1999
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention,
1948 (No. 87)
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
Hungary
Ratification registered on 28 May 1998
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
India
Ratification registered on 17 November 1998
Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122)
Republic of Korea
Ratification registered on 4 December 1998
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
Ratification registered on 28 January 1999
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
Latvia
Ratification registered on 12 November 1998
Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147)
Oman
Ratification registered on 30 October 1998
Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
Portugal
Ratification registered on 20 May 1998
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Ratifications registered on 21 October 1998
Minimum Age (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 5)
Minimum Age (Sea) Convention, 1920 (No. 7)
Minimum Age (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 10)
Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11)
Workmen's Compensation (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 12)
Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 (No. 16)
Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19)
Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26)
Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)
Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Convention, 1949 (No. 94)
Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 (No. 95)
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
Holidays with Pay (Agriculture) Convention, 1952 (No. 101)
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108)
The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines stated that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines accepts the obligations arising under the above-mentioned Conventions which had been applicable to its territory.
Slovakia
Ratification registered on 24 September 1998
Protection of Workers' Claims (Employer's Insolvency) Convention, 1992 (No. 173)
Sri Lanka
Ratification registered on 27 November 1998
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
United Republic of Tanzania
Ratification registered on 16 December 1998
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
Thailand
Ratification registered on 8 February 1999
Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
Turkey
Ratifications registered on 30 October 1998
Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
United Arab Emirates
Ratification registered on 2 October 1998
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
Zambia
Ratification registered on 4 January 1999
Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176).
Denunciation of a Convention
Belgium
8. The Director-General registered, on 18 November 1998, the denunciation by Belgium of the Contracts of Employment (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939 (No. 64). The text of the communication concerning the denunciation by Belgium of this Convention reads as follows:
(Translation)
Whereas the international Convention concerning the Regulation of Written Contracts of Employment of Indigenous Workers was adopted by the International Labour Conference at its Twenty-fifth Session on 27 June 1939, and
Whereas the Kingdom of Belgium is a State Party to the said Convention under Article 23 thereof,
The Government of the Kingdom of Belgium hereby denounces ILO Convention No. 64 concerning the Regulation of Written Contracts of Employment of Indigenous Workers, adopted at Geneva on 27 June 1939, in accordance with Article 24 thereof.
In witness whereof I, Erik Derycke, Minister of Foreign Affairs, have signed the present Instrument of denunciation and sealed it with the seal of my Department.
Constitution of the International Labour Organization
Instrument of Amendment, 1997
9. Since the 273rd Session of the Governing Body, the Director-General has received the following ratifications/acceptances of the instrument:
- Cyprus: Ratification, 12 October 1998
- Jordan: Ratification, 6 January 1999
- Kuwait: Ratification, 2 October 1998
- Namibia: Ratification, 27 January 1999
- Nepal: Ratification, 30 September 1998
- Malaysia: Acceptance, 9 November 1998
- Saudi Arabia: Acceptance, 16 November 1998
- Sri Lanka: Ratification, 27 November 1998
- Thailand: Ratification, 8 February 1999
- Zambia: Ratification, 23 December 1998.
10. Article 4.2(d) of the Staff Regulations states:
Vacancies in the Director and Principal Officer category shall be filled by the Director-General by transfer in the same grade, promotion or appointment. Such promotions or appointments, other than to vacancies in technical cooperation projects, shall be reported to the Governing Body with a short statement of the qualifications of the persons so promoted or appointed.
11. The following appointments and promotions are accordingly reported to the Governing Body:
Mr. A. Bronstein (Argentina)
Appointed Director of the ILO multidisciplinary team (CAMAT) in San José in October 1996 and promoted to D.1 with effect from 1 March 1998. Born in 1945. Graduated as a lawyer from the University of Buenos Aires and holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Paris I. Joined the ILO's Labour Law and Labour Relations Branch (LEG/REL) in July 1974. Appointed Chief of the Labour Law Section within LEG/REL in April 1988.
Mr. W. Dudley (Malaysia)
Appointed Deputy Director in the ILO Regional Office in Bangkok in February 1998 and promoted to D.1 with effect from 1 March 1999. Born in 1941. Holds a Certificate in Journalism from the Regent Institute of Journalism in London, a Certificate in Industrial Safety Theory and Practice from the Industrial Training College in Malaysia, a Diploma in Labour Economics and Industrial Relations from the University of Malaysia and a Diploma in Rubber Technology from the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia Training Centre. Joined the ILO in July 1976 as an ILO Expert on Population Education for the Plantation and Urban Sector Projects in Colombo. Transferred to Suva, Fiji as Labour and Population Expert, South Pacific in March 1980. In July 1987, was appointed Director of the ILO Office in Dhaka. Then in July 1991, was appointed Director of the ILO Office in Islamabad.
Mr. M. Henriques (Denmark)
Appointed Chief of the Entrepreneurship and Management Development Branch (ENT/MAN) in January 1998 and promoted to D.1 with effect from 1 March 1999. Born in 1953. Holds an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Polyteknisk Laereanstalt, Copenhagen, and an MBA from Harvard University. Joined the ILO in September 1982 as an Associate Expert in Management Development in Bangkok. Appointed Regional Adviser in Management Development in the Regional Office in Bangkok in April 1986. Transferred in January 1993 to the Entrepreneurship and Management Development Branch (ENT/MAN) in Geneva as Head, Management Development Section. From April 1993, appointed Head, Small Enterprise Development Section.
IV. Publications and documents
12. The items listed below are publications sold at ILO headquarters and do not include non-sale publications or publications produced by commercial and governmental publishers. Approximately 400 items are documented each year as being published globally.
International Labour Conference
13. The following report for the 87th Session (1999) of the International Labour Conference has been issued in English, French and Spanish:
Report III(1A): Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.
14. The following report for the 87th Session (1999) of the International Labour Conference has been issued in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic and Chinese:
Report V(2): Maternity protection at work.
15. The following report for the 88th Session (2000) of the International Labour Conference has been issued in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic and Chinese:
Report VI(1): Safety and health in agriculture.
Sectoral Activities Programme
16. The following reports have been issued in English, French and Spanish:
The Note on the Proceedings of the Tripartite Meeting of Export Processing Zone-Operating Countries.
The Note on the Proceedings of the Joint Meeting on Terms of Employment and Working Conditions in Health Sector Reforms.
The Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Human Resource Development in the Public Service in the Context of Structural Adjustment and Transition.
The Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Issues in Small-scale Mines.
The Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Managing the Privatization and Restructuring of Public Utilities.
The Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Voluntary Initiatives affecting Training and Education on Safety, Health and Environment in the Chemical Industries.
Periodical publications
17. The following issues have been published or are in the press in the languages indicated:
International Labour Documentation: No. 1/1999 (trilingual).
International Labour Review: Vol. 137, 1998/3 and 1998/4 (in English and French); Vol. 117, 1998/1 and 1998/2 (in Spanish).
Official Bulletin: Vol. LXXXI, 1998, Series A, Nos. 1 and 2; Vol. LXXXI, Series A, General Index for 1997 (in English, French and Spanish).
Supplement to the Bulletin of Labour Statistics 1998/4 (trilingual).
Non-periodical publications
18. The following volumes have been issued or are in the press in the languages indicated:
The Asian financial crisis. The challenge for social policy (in French and Spanish).
Employment-intensive infrastructure programmes: Capacity building for contracting in the construction sector (in English).
Employment-intensive infrastructure programmes: Labour policies and practices (in English).
Les entreprises multinationales dans l'industrie du textile-habillement en Tunisie: l'impact économique et social (in French) (November 1998).
Guidelines for the use of the ILO international classification of radiographs of pneumoconioses, Occupational and Health Series No. 72 (1998 revised edition) (in English) and revised radiographs.
Improve Your Business -- Basics (in English).
Improve Your Business -- Basics -- Trainer's guide (in English).
Improving working conditions and productivity in the garment industry (in English) (November 1998).
Labour dispute resolution: An introductory guide, published by ILO EASMAT (in English).
Le secteur informel en Afrique face aux contraintes légales et institutionnelles (in French) (January 1999).
Social exclusion: An ILO perspective, Research Series No. 111 (in English) (December 1998).
Technical and ethical guidelines for workers' health surveillance, Occupational and Health Series No. 72 (in English, French and Spanish) (January 1999).
Violence at work (in French).
Agreements with commercial and non-profit-making
publishers and distributors
19. The following agreements have been signed since the 273rd Session of the Governing Body:
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Global labour flexibility: Seeking distributive justice (original English edition) |
Macmillan Press Ltd., United Kingdom | |
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World Employment Report 1998-99. Employability in the global economy. How training matters (reprint) |
Bookwell, India | |
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Enterprises and jobs: Jobs in the network enterprise. ILO Enterprise Forum Discussion Paper (reprint) |
Open University, Hong Kong, China | |
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Implication for enterprises and the ILO of a changing world economy. ILO Enterprise Forum Discussion Paper (reprint) |
Open University, Hong Kong, China | |
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Guidelines for conducting pre-sea and periodic medical fitness examinations of seafarers (reprint) |
The Swedish Club, Sweden | |
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Consérvation des légumes à petite échelle (reprint) |
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, Netherlands | |
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ILO international classification of radiographs of pneumoconioses (reprint) |
University of Rochester School of Medicine, United States | |
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Design, monitoring and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes and projects. A training manual (adaptation) |
Makerere University, Uganda | |
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Project preparation and appraisal. Material for management training in agricultural cooperatives: Trainer's manual (adaptation) |
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Management of alcohol- and drug-related issues in the workplace. An ILO code of practice (Finnish edition) |
Ministry of Labour, Finland | |
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Management consulting. A guide to the profession, third (revised) edition (Korean edition) |
Guru Consulting Press, Republic of Korea | |
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Safety, health and welfare on construction sites. A training manual (Korean edition) |
Korea Industrial Safety Corporation, Republic of Korea | |
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How to read a balance sheet. An ILO programmed book, second (revised) edition (Polish edition) |
Polish Scientific Publishers, Poland | |
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World Employment Report 1998-99. Employability in the global economy. How training matters (Polish edition) |
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Poland | |
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An outline of recent developments concerning equality issues in employment for labour court judges and assessors (Portuguese edition) |
Ministério Publico do Trabalho, Brazil | |
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ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 86th Session, Geneva, 18 June 1998 (Romanian edition) |
National Trade Union Bloc, Romania | |
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International research project on job retention and return to work strategies for disabled workers. Key issues (Spanish edition) |
Fundación ONCE, Spain | |
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Productivity and quality management. A modular programme (Tamil edition) |
Madurai Productivity Council, India | |
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Statistics for emerging labour markets in transition economies: A technical guide on sources, methods, classifications and policies (Ukrainian edition) |
Research Institute of Statistics, Ukraine | |
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The Asian financial crisis. The challenge for social policy (microform) |
Congressional Information Service Inc., United States | |
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Future of urban employment (microform) |
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The sex sector: The economic and social bases of prostitution in South-East Asia (microform) |
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Violence at work (microform) |
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World Employment Report 1998-99. Employability in the global economy. How training matters (microform) |
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Children at work: Health and safety risks (microform and CD-ROM) |
Barbour Index, United Kingdom | |
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Safety in the use of radiofrequency dielectric heaters and sealers: A practical guide, OSH No. 71 (microform and CD-ROM) |
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LABORDOC (International Labour Documentation Database) (CD-ROM) |
Info Nordic AB, Sweden | |
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I am a child (video) (Japanese TV broadcast) |
Higashi-Izu Town Office, Japan | |
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ILO social budget model (software programme) |
Population Analysis and Studies Centre, Ethiopia | |
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The ILO pension model (software programme) |
Varma-Sampo Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Finland | |
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The ILO pension model (software programme) |
Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale, Morocco | |
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Labour Law Documents (ILO English translation of German legislation) (Internet hosting) |
Universität des Saarbrücken, Germany | |
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International Labour Conventions and Recommendations (migration-related) (Internet hosting) |
International Organization for Migration, Switzerland | |
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Projects with people. The practice of participation in rural development (Intranet access) |
The World Bank, United States | |
Geneva, 10 March 1999.
Point for decision: Paragraph 6.