August 2005

1. News

   West African government, employer and labour leaders adopt new "roadmap" for migrant labour

   01 August 2005

July 2005

1. Article

   Decent food at work: Raising workers' productivity and well-being

   28 July 2005

   In the workplace, the main concerns of employers and trade unions seem to be safety, wages and job security. The question how do workers eat while at work is not always given much thought, according to a new ILO study. Too often the workplace meal programme is either an afterthought or not even considered by employers. But access to healthy food is as essential as protection from workplace chemicals or noise. The study demonstrates that good nutrition at work is good business leading to gains in productivity and worker morale, prevention of accidents and premature deaths, and reductions in health-care costs. Adequate nourishment can raise national productivity levels by 20 per cent and a 1 per cent kilocalorie (kcal) increase results in a 2.27 per cent increase in general labour productivity.

2. Article

   "Female future": employers' organizations address gender equity

   20 July 2005

   From Norway to New Zealand, via Croatia, Kenya, Jamaica, Malaysia and the Philippines, there is almost universal recognition that equality and educational opportunities for men and women and a better balance between work and family life are vital elements in achieving equality in employment. Though the situation of women varies considerably between countries, a new ILO study on employers' organizations addressing gender equity reveals that almost everywhere more could be done to promote effective gender equality in practice.

June 2005

1. Article

   93rd International Labour Conference Working hours around the world: balancing flexibility and protection

   13 June 2005

   In today's fast-moving world of virtual offices, home work and globalized commerce, are international labour standards on working time still needed? Yes, according to a study prepared by an ILO Commission of experts and delegates at the Organization's annual Conference. The Commission, an independent body monitoring the application of ILO standards, has concluded that international labour standards limiting working time are still necessary to contribute to fair competition between countries in a globalized world. Still, it is also clear that ILO Conventions Nos. 1 and 30 don't fully reflect modern realities in the regulation of working time and are viewed by an increasing number of countries as prescribing overly rigid standards. A panel of delegates to the Conference recently discussed the world of diversification, decentralization and individualization of working hours around the world.

May 2005

1. Article

   Fighting forced labour in Latin America

   18 May 2005

   The ILO estimate of the number of victims of forced labour in Latin America and the Caribbean is 1.3 million. Brazil has taken the lead in addressing the problem through its 2003 National Action Plan for the Eradication of Slavery, including the liberation of workers and measures to fight impunity. In 2004, countries like Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay also made important commitments against forced labour.

2. Article

   Global Report on Forced Labour In Asia: debt bondage, trafficking and state-imposed forced labour

   18 May 2005

   With an estimated 9.5 million, the Asia and Pacific region claims the highest number of people among the estimated 12.3 million victims of forced labour in the world today. The region is struggling against both traditional and newer forms of forced labour. An 8.1 million people are trapped in forced labour by means other than trafficking, primarily through debt bondage. But the region is also home to state-imposed forced labour in Myanmar. ILO online reviews the tragic reality of forced labour in Asia.

3. Article

   Forced labour in Africa: between poverty and tradition

   13 May 2005

   The ILO estimate of the number of victims of forced labour in sub-Saharan Africa is 660,000. In this region, the figure reflects the stubborn survival of traditional forms of servitude, but also relates to extreme poverty, a high incidence of child labour, and a context of severe political violence. Where armed conflicts and ethnic tensions have flared, nations have been confronted with the forced recruitment of child soldiers, abductions, and enslavement of whole segments of their population. ILO online draws a picture of forced labour in Africa.

4. Article

   Modern forms of slavery in industrialized countries

   11 May 2005

   A new report by the ILO estimates that more than 12 million people worldwide are victims of forced labour. But this modern day form of slavery is not restricted to developing countries, and can also be found in industrialized countries, where approximately 360,000 people are forced to work. Two examples of this practice are migrant workers in the German meat industry, and fruit pickers in Florida, United States.

5. Article

   Africa: insecurities compound poverty

   11 May 2005

   JOHANNESBURG - Africa has suffered greater economic insecurity and instability than any other region of the world during the past decade and half. According to a recent ILO report presented at last month's annual meeting of the African Union Labour and Social Affairs Commission, among the 23 African countries for which adequate data are available, 19 fall in the category "much-to-be-done", facing tremendous challenges in terms of policy reforms, building capacity and delivering results. An interview with Guy Standing, Director of the ILO Socio-Economic Security Programme.

April 2005

1. Article

   World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2005 Promoting construction safety in Cambodia: Prevention is far better than cure

   25 April 2005

   There are annually at least 60,000 fatal accidents on construction sites around the world, according to an ILO report published for World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2005. The focus of this year's World Day to be held on 28 April is on the prevention of work-related accidents and ill-health, particularly in the construction sector. Phnom Penh-based journalist Bronwyn Sloan reports from construction sites in Cambodia.