Impact and people
2009
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India’s barefoot solar engineers fight climate change and poverty
04 September 2009
The year 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the ILO’s gender equality action plan, and the end of a year-long global ILO campaign on gender equality and the world of work. One of the themes of the campaign was the linkage between climate change and the role of women in the world of work. Mandy Cunningham, a freelance journalist, reports from Rajasthan, India where women are at the forefront of what the ILO calls Green Jobs; jobs which are created as a result of economies adapting to climate and environmental change.
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Social protection for all: From large-scale poverty to decent societies
02 September 2009
The global recession has increased unemployment and poverty across the world. A new publication "Building decent societies", edited by Peter Townsend, makes the case for the development of comprehensive social security systems in all countries, notwithstanding their levels of wealth, as a measure towards alleviating desperate conditions of poverty, the reversing growing inequality and encouraging economic growth. ILO Online provides questions and answers on social security and our societies today.
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Power for the powerless; the woman behind India's ‘Gentle Revolution’
31 August 2009
The year 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the ILO’s gender equality action plan, and the end of a year-long global ILO campaign on gender equality and the world of work. One of the themes of the campaign was “Social dialogue at work: voices and choices for women and men”. ILO Online reports from India where the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has helped women and men to make their voices heard since 1971.
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Gonaives: Preparing for the next big storm
26 August 2009
Come hurricane season, the citizens of Gonaives in northern Haiti brace for the worse. Five years ago, Hurricane Jeanne ripped through its shores sending walls of water and mud down the surrounding slopes and changing the face of the city forever. A project managed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has been helping local residents organize themselves to build erosion control networks to protect the city from mudslides and heavy run-off. But as ILO Online reports, the challenge does not stop at the hillsides.
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By cooking and cleaning, Cambodia’s Mr. Mom sweeps away poverty
21 August 2009
The year 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the ILO’s gender equality action plan, and the end of a year-long global ILO campaign on gender equality and the world of work. One of the themes of the campaign was the issue of harmonizing employment and family commitments for both women and men. Karen Emmons, a freelance journalist, reports from Cambodia where an ILO training programme helps to bring about the necessary change in attitudes.
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Facing the global jobs crisis: Migrant workers, a population at risk
13 August 2009
The global economic crisis is posing new challenges for the world's 100 million migrant workers. They may face reduced employment and migration opportunities, worsening living and working conditions and increasing xenophobia. Although no massive return of migrant workers has been observed so far, the crisis is having repercussions on their earnings and the remittances they send home. Ibrahim Awad, Director of the International Migration Programme at the International Labour Office, published a new study entitled "The global economic crisis and migrant workers: Impact and response". Interview with ILO Online.
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Community tourism: respecting nature, local culture and indigenous peoples’ rights while on vacation
07 August 2009
Indigenous peoples throughout the world share a common experience of marginalization and discrimination. The non-recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights to their traditional lands, territories and resources has impaired their opportunity to engage in traditional occupations. The lack of access to credit, marketing facilities and other resources, further threatens their livelihoods and way of life. In this context, new forms of community-based activities are crucial as a basis for alternative livelihood strategies. ILO Online reports from Guatemala.
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International Labour Conference 2009: World leaders support ILO “Global Jobs Pact”
01 August 2009
The Pact received strong support from heads of State and government, vice-presidents, ministers of labour, workers and employers and other economic and labour leaders participating in an ILO Jobs Summit on 15–17 June. The summit provided a first-of-its-kind opportunity to discuss policies that are being implemented at national and international levels to address the global jobs crisis.
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From the right to “combine” to the right to organize
01 August 2009
From about 1750 onwards, workers had started to organize in Europe. Governments and employers reacted quickly, and laws and regulations were adopted to restrict such activities.
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The crisis in the construction industry
01 August 2009
The construction industry has been severely hit by the economic crisis. The ILO calculates that at least 5 million construction workers lost their jobs during 2008.