Memorandum

At its 89th Session, the Conference decided to include this item on the agenda of the 90th Session, for a second discussion with a view to the adoption of a Recommendation.

In accordance with article 39, paragraph 6, of the Standing Orders of the Conference, the Office communicated the text of a proposed Recommendation to governments, asking them, after consulting the most representative employers’ and workers’organizations, to make amendments to, or suggestions or comments on the text (Report IV (1), International Labour Conference, 90th Session, 2002). The final report consists of two volumes: Report IV (2A) includes summaries of replies received and Office commentaries and Report IV (2B) contains the proposed Recommendation to be submitted to the 90th Session as a basis for discussion.

The absence of reliable information on the incidence of occupational accidents and diseases and on dangerous occurrences and incidents is a major obstacle to reducing work-related deaths and injuries worldwide, and to taking preventive action at enterprise and national level. Some countries have notification requirements, but their scope and contents are often limited. Few countries provide for recording at enterprise level. In other countries, the situation is worse still. For such data to be internationally comparable, recording and notification systems must be harmonized. The list of occupational diseases, Schedule I to the Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121) also requires revision, and a mechanism for regularly updating this list is needed.

The Office has prepared two reports as a basis for this item, which will be dealt with under the single discussion procedure. The first report (Recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases and ILO list of occupational diseases, Report V (1), International Labour Conference, 90th Session, 2002) was accompanied by a questionnaire to which governments were asked to reply, stating reasons in each case. The second report consists of two volumes: Report V (2A) includes summaries of replies received and Office commentaries and Report V (2B) contains the proposed Protocol and Recommendation to be submitted for discussion.

The informal economy has expanded with unanticipated rapidity throughout the world. In developing countries structural adjustment programmes, economic reform and demographic growth lie behind this expansion. In developed countries it is encouraged by the use of such cost efficient strategies as outsourcing and subcontracting. Globalization has reduced the relevance of national boundaries in the search for cheap and flexible labour. It is therefore crucial for the ILO, governments and the social partners to work together to contain the adverse impacts of this process.

In the context of a general discussion, the Conference will have before it a report, (Decent work and the informal economy, Report VI, International Labour Conference, 90th Session, 2002), clarifying the concepts of the informal sector, informal economy and informal employment. The lack of legal and social protection, representation and rights at work which characterize informal employment are prevalent in many countries and, far from being residual or temporary phenomena, are an inherent part of the current path of globalization, dynamic production systems and changing work organization. The report stresses that unless the root causes of informality are addressed, there can be no sustainable move towards recognized, protected, decent work, and it sets out an integrated strategy to deal with these causes.

A set of suggested points for discussion will be included in the report.

Under Article 45bis of its Standing Orders, adopted in June 1997, the Conference may be called to consider the withdrawal of obsolete Recommendations. The Governing Body, at its 277th Session (March 2000), decided to place on the agenda of the 90th Session of the Conference an item concerning the withdrawal of twenty Recommendations, which it considered outdated and no longer pertinent. They include: the Unemployment Recommendation 1919 (No. 1); the Labour Inspection (Health Services) Recommendation, 1919 (No. 5); the Unemployment (Agriculture) Recommendation, 1921 (No. 11); the Vocational Education (Agriculture) Recommendation, 1921 (No. 15); the Hours of Work (Hotels, etc.) Recommendation, 1930 (No. 37); the Hours of Work (Theatres, etc.) Recommendation, 1930 (No. 38); the Hours of Work (Hospitals, etc.) Recommendation, 1930 (No. 39); the Employment Agencies Recommendation, 1933 (No. 42); the Unemployment (Young Persons) Recommendation, 1935 (No. 45); the Public Works (International Co-operation) Recommendation, 1937 (No. 50); the Public Works (National Planning) Recommendation, 1937 (No. 51); the Inspection (Building) Recommendation, 1937 (No. 54); the Vocational Education (Building) Recommendation, 1937 (No. 56); the Labour Inspectorates (Indigenous Workers) Recommendation, 1939 (No. 59); the Control Books (Road Transport) Recommendation, 1939 (No. 63); the Night Work (Road Transport) Recommendation, 1939 (No. 64); the Methods of Regulating Hours (Road Transport) Recommendation, 1939 (No. 65); the Rest Periods (Private Chauffeurs) Recommendation, 1939 (No. 66); the Employment Service Recommendation, 1944 (No. 72); and the Public Works (National Planning) Recommendation, 1944 (No. 73).

The Office has prepared two reports on the withdrawal of these instruments. The first Report (VII (1)), International Labour Conference, 90th Session (2002)), contains a questionnaire to which governments were asked to reply, stating reasons in each case. These replies are summarized in the second report (VII (2)), which contains the final proposal submitted to the Conference on the subject. Under paragraph 3 of article 45bis mentioned above, the Conference may either decide to examine this report and the proposal it contains directly in plenary sitting, or refer it to its Selection Committee.

D. Plenary sitting