Impact and people

2008

  1. The Multinational Enterprises Declaration

    01 April 2008

    The story of the ILO’s Multinational Enterprises Declaration goes back more than three decades from before 1977, when it was formally adopted, to the end of the 1960s when the activities of multinationals were first beginning to attract serious attention – and, from some quarters, serious criticism.

  2. Multinationals and socially responsible labour practices: Better business - Looking back, looking forward

    01 April 2008

    A major international forum in Geneva has marked the 30th anniversary of one of the first initiatives by the international community to put the social dimension into globalization. Andrew Bibby reports on a key tool to encourage multinational businesses to adopt socially responsible labour practices.

  3. Getting out of the mud: how the ILO helps typhoon victims in the Philippines

    27 March 2008

    In 2006, the Bicol region of the Philippines was hit by two typhoons affecting more than 200,000 families. A recent ILO mission to the country revealed that 30 per cent of the workers concerned were unemployed and many more in precarious jobs. Last February, the ILO opened a livelihood center in the region which is part of a capacity building programme for the victims. ILO staff member Minette Rimando reports from Manila.

  4. International Women's Day 2008 - Smart women, right decisions: a recipe for decent work

    06 March 2008

    More and more women are entering the labour markets around the world, according to a new report published by the ILO to coincide with International Women’s Day. However, women continue to bear the brunt when it comes to vulnerable employment. Investing in decent work for women is not only right, but smart, says the ILO. Here are two stories that prove so.

  5. International Women’s Day 2008 – Financing for gender equality and empowerment of women: Report from Ethiopia

    06 March 2008

    The ILO annually celebrates International Women’s Day with a unique theme focusing on women in the world of work. This year’s focus will be on promoting Decent Work and the empowerment of women, under the slogan “Investing in Decent Work for Women: Not just right, but smart”. Among the global events to be held around Women’s Day are a series of activities in Ethiopia. ILO News reports.

  6. Promotion flyer: In Defence of Labour Market Institutions: Cultivating justice in the developing world

    28 February 2008

  7. Executive summary: In Defence of Labour Market Institutions: Cultivating justice in the developing world

    28 February 2008

  8. Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking, 13-15 February 2008 - Passport wanted: combating human trafficking and forced labour

    12 February 2008

    The biggest ever international conference on human trafficking represents a unique opportunity to forge a global alliance against this form of modern slavery. At least 2.4 million people are victims of trafficking for the purpose of forced labour around the world generating an estimated US$32 billion in annual profits. A recent study by the ILO and the Portuguese Government shows how the search for a better life can lead to labour exploitation and human trafficking of people in both developing and developed countries.

  9. Coming out of crisis in Africa: the role of social dialogue

    11 February 2008

    Over the last 10 years, the ILO’s Regional Programme for the Promotion of Social Dialogue in French-speaking Africa (PRODIAF) has helped more than 20 African countries to promote social dialogue between governments, employers and workers and prevent social conflict. Putting particular emphasis on countries coming out of crisis, the programme enters its third phase this year. ILO Online spoke with Johanna Walgrave, acting director of the ILO’s Social Dialogue Sector.

  10. Hope for Haiti’s restavecs: South-South cooperation against child labour

    01 February 2008

    About 600 miles off coast Florida and only a two hour plane ride from Miami, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere where an estimated 300,000 children work as child labourers. Last month, the Brazilian government announced a programme to fight child labour in Haiti to be coordinated by the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO-IPEC). The programme is part of a major new initiative to promote South-South cooperation in the fight against child labour worldwide.