VOICE OF THE
WORKERS ISSUE 31 August 2014
Contents
The Social Justice Target World War I was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. There were 16 million deaths and 20 million wounded in a war that shook the world. The world was still in the throes of the second industrial revolution, otherwise known as the Technological Revolution. This was a time when railroads were built, and large scale iron and steel production, together with the widespread use of machinery in manufacturing became standard, powered by steam and electricity. It was with this backdrop that the International Labour Organisation was born. The ILO started out, “to pursue a vision based on the premise that VOICE OF THE
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universal, lasting peace can be established only if it is based on social justice.” This could be achieved through effective tri-partite dialogue. With the participation of the actors of the real economy, namely government, business and labour, the ILO sought to find integrated solutions that benefitted workers, ensured economic growth, in full respect of the environment. These were seen to be essential factors to lasting peace on the world. What a truth this is. What was a vision in 1919 is stil very relevant today. In countries where this balance is non-existent, there is a state of pilotical or economic
95 years young
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The Quest for Social Justice
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ILO-EU Relations
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The International Labour Organisation
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Enhancing Human Work
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Editor’s note josef Vella dictatorship, with often stunted growth and high levels of general poverty. Aspects such as the decent work agenda, human rights and worker dignity, employment creation, good working conditions and working to beat inequality, are still of relevance to the world today. The ILO has helped in no small way, to be a beacon for many countries to adopt the tri-partite dialogue on a national and local level. This has helped stakeholders to realise that there cannot be one without the other, and the balance between needs and aspirations of these stakeholders is essential to the common wellbeing. 1
editorial
The ILO’s Decent Work Agenda is about work being at the centre of people’s lives. Rather than adopting the myopic view of work just being the provider of monetary income, the ILO believes that work is central to people’s lives because it opens up opportunities for social and economic advancement, and contributes to better individuals, familiies and communities. Decent work is the culmination of the needs and aspirations of workers
throughout their lives. This is why unions place great importance on the ILO. As a United Nations Agency, it is in a position to pursue the labour agenda globally. As much as the ILO strives for better understanding and dialogue among the social partners, the UHM believes that this tool is essential also locally. We need to keep up efforts at increasing the communication commitment at
MCESD level, making sure that a balance is struck between the needs and aspirations of not just social partner representatives, but also at grassroots level. Euripides once stated, “ The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man”. We have much to learn from the wisdom and vision of the men and women contributing to the ILO.
95 years young This Maltese stamp, dating back to 1969, commemorated the first fifty years of the International Labour Organisation. It was also the year that the ILO was awarded the Nobel Prace Prize for its contribution to world peace through effective tripartite dialogue. The vision and policies of the ILO throughout the years are of continued relevance even in the 21st century. The technological, economic and social scenario may have changed, but the essentials to providing decent work for all have remained the same: creation of emoloyment, equal pay, meeting worker needs and aspriations, good conditions of work, and others. The principles of effective dialogue and the balance between social partners continues to be relevant today. Our challenge is to develop this dialogue further to make it more effective. VOICE OF THE
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T h e
Quest Social Justice f o r
T h e I L O ’ s m i s s io n The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity. Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent work and the economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress. Its tripartite structure provides a unique platform for promoting decent work for all women and men. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
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The ILO’s Objectives Promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work Create greater opportunities for women and men to decent employment and income Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue
Some facts about the ILO The ILO was founded in Paris in March, 1919. In the wake of the First World War, diplomats from 27 countries met and developed the Paris Peace Treaties. The treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I and the constitution of the ILO was embedded in this treaty.
The ILO is made up of 185 member states, and is the only United Nations agency that includes the social partners: governments, empoloyers as well as worker representatives.
The International Labour Office, from where the ILO is managed, employs around 2700 officers from over 150 nations. The ILO was winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on its 50th anniversary in 1969.
Watch the video on the history of ther ILO
What they said
“Working for social justice is our assessment of the past and our mandate for the future.” Juan Somavia Director General, ILO
“The establishment in 1919 of the International Labour Organisation stemmed from the political desire to create common international rules for reducing unhealthy competition between countries on working conditions and terms. The tripartite system has proved its strength and viability”.
“From its very inception, the International Labour Organization showed its commitment to serve humanity by placing itself at the service of social justice”. Angela Merkel German Chancellor
Tarja Halonen President of Finland VOICE OF THE
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MEUSAC
ILO-EU Relations The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a United Nations (UN) agency which deals with labour issues, particularly international labour standards and the principle of decent work for all. Such foundational values are also practised in the European Union (EU) since both share the same fundamental principles; with cooperation dating back to 1958 with the establishment of the ILO office in Brussels for the EU and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg). Since then, conventions, frameworks and co-funding of projects continued to enforce this longstanding and productive partnership. The EU actively participates in the ILO debates and negotiations which deal with an array of issues
ranging from frameworks for action and the supervision of labour standards to the support of ILO standards through the mobilisation of the internal and external policies and actions, such as development, policy dialogue and trade. During the last decade, cooperation on common genuine goals including social justice and the combining of economic and social progress has led to a considerably intensified cooperation, both within and outside the EU, with a clear example being that of the recently launched campaign entitled, ‘Red Card to Child Labour’. This initiative aims at reducing child labour worldwide. Other topics which are high on the agenda of discussions
include: working conditions and wages; employment creation and youth employment; labour migration and trafficking; child labour; the protection of the rights of indigenous communities; the promotion of gender equality and also green jobs. The cooperation between the ILO and the EU is instrumental for rebuilding social dialogue and labour standards particularly in the countries which were hit by the economic crisis or lack fundamental freedoms and rights. The ratification of core labour standards has increased significantly during the last decade. However, more efforts are essential in order to strengthen the applications of such standards in practice.
MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE
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MCESD
The International Labour Organisation The International Labour Organisation was established post First World War with the aim of promoting global peace with a focus on social justice. The ILO is the sole survivor from the conditions set at the Treaty of Versailles and has lived through the major events of the 20th and 21st century making it one of the eldest and most reliable organisations globally. Since the post Second World War era, the organisation has developed and has proven to be a global driver of the belief that social and economic development can grow if it is based on the principle of social cohesion amongst others. The objectives of the UN organisation are namely promoting good quality work for all, providing further opportunities for work, social protection for all and strengthening social dialogue. This organisation achieves its aims by promoting tripartite dialogue between National Governments, Employers’
Groups and Trade Union organisations thus ensuring that each stakeholder has an equal voice in establishing social and economic policies. It formulates international labour standards based on the principle of equal and decent work for all. The main areas of work for this organisation include preparing research studies on topics of global interest which may lead to international policies promoting good working conditions and enhancement of employment opportunities. It also promotes partnerships as an essential tool in achieving its aims worldwide as well as social dialogue.
There are various themes that are discussed within this organisation. These include Globalisation, youth employment, green jobs, social and economic development, cooperatives and gender equality amongst others. This diverse portfolio ensures that major stakeholders play a key role in the discussions that are at the forefront of the global agenda. MCESD members play an active role in the organisation and attend meetings and conferences annually as well as give contribution to the subject matter being discussed.
MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE
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CIA
Enhancing Human Work
The unique tripartite structure of the ILO gives an equal voice to workers, employers and governments to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes. The key issues currently face by the organization are: • Youth employment • Post 2015 Development agenda • Social protection The ILO concept note #1 for the post-2015 development agenda is focus on Jobs and livelihoods In the current weak and turbulent international economic environment, job creation is the most pressing global development priority. The desire for employment and livelihoods with rising incomes, dignity and respect is a development goal that speaks directly to people all over the globe. Work by the ILO and others over recent years demonstrates that policy decisions can have real impact on its achievement and that it is a goal that can be measured.
Campaigns
More information are available here: http://goo.gl/iVOpq8
Red Card to Child Labour Campaign has been launched by ILO in 2014 On 12 June, World Day Against Child Labour, the ILO’s Red Card to Child Labour Campaign kicked-off with an original song, ‘Til Everyone Can See, by Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger and violinist Ann Marie Simpson, with featured artists Travis Barker, Minh Dang, Dominic Lewis, LIZ, Pharrell Williams, and Hans Zimmer. Join the fight. Get the song. http://goo.gl/rgsglS
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Tools
Decent Work 4 Youth Platform The ILO’s programme dedicated to youth employment operates through a global network of specialists working across the world. In order to support youth employment ILO has created an interactive on-line platform to engage young people and find solutions to the youth employment crisis. We hope you will share this tool with young people and that they will utilize it and feel encouraged to join a growing community who desire decent work for all. You can access to the platform here: www.decentwork4youth.org
Events
The International Labour Organization (ILO) was founded in 1919 and its main aims is to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
Global Dialogue Forum on Wages and Working Hours in the Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industries The Forum will take place on the 23 - 25 September 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. Tripartite participants will discuss ways to address wages and working hours in the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industries, taking into account the national contexts and the related international labour standards, with a view to adopting points of consensus that would inform future policy development. http://goo.gl/k6DLT7 The employment injury schemes and the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases The general objective of the course is to strengthen the capacity of employment injury institutions for the management of the occupational accidents and diseases and the promotion of the prevention approach on occupational safety and health (OSH). The course will take place on the 13 - 24 October 2014 at the International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin, Italy. Deadline for applications: 5 September 2014 For more information and registration please check the following page: http://goo.gl/UBTEUG
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Courses
Information and news
The ILO has always been at the forefront of a long list of initiatives at tripartite level, with the principal aim of fostering social justice throughout the world. The Brussels Office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori has gathered a number of initiatives and training on different issues that are part of the ILO’s remit.
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Operational Programme II - Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Project part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 72.25% EU, 12.75 MT, 15% Private Funds Investing in your future VOICE OF THE
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