INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR JOB STRATEGY TO BOOST GOALS OF 1995 WORLD SOCIAL SUMMIT

Press Release
DEV/2223
SOC/4519

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR JOB STRATEGY TO BOOST GOALS OF 1995 WORLD SOCIAL SUMMIT

NEW YORK, 9 November (DESA/DPI) -– Recognizing that serious obstacles have blocked improvement in the global employment situation -– in some developing countries and countries with economies in transition the situation has worsened -– the International Labour Organization (ILO) has proposed a number of measures aimed at generating new, quality jobs that will help people work their way out of poverty.

The new strategies were endorsed at an ILO International Consultation on follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, held in Geneva from 2 to 4 November. The ILO recommendations are a major input into the process for furthering implementation of the Social Summit.

At the Social Summit, which was held in Copenhagen in 1995, countries pledged to work towards the goal of eradicating poverty, full employment and full social integration for all people. While there have been job gains in several countries, the ILO estimates that there are still 150 million unemployed people in the world, and more than 750 million underemployed people, more than 40 per cent of whom are young workers.

The ILO recommendations followed a series of regional meetings held in Bangkok, Abidjan, Geneva and Beirut earlier this year. The ILO is a tripartite organization comprised of representatives of governments, workers and employers.

With a central role in the campaign for full employment, the representatives to the ILO discussed issues ranging from job creation in small and medium enterprises, labour market flexibility, employment protection and security, employment-intensive public works, youth employment, targeted programmes for vulnerable groups and the reconciliation of family and work life.

The ILO found that strong economic growth remains necessary for job creation and called for sound economic policies that promote greater investment and that foster greater competitiveness and enterprise development. It also called for an increased flow of international resources, in the form of debt reduction, foreign direct investment and increased levels of official development assistance.

But new, specific initiatives were needed as well and the ILO also recommended that new operational activities should be developed within a framework

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of an employment strategy that takes into account global and national dimensions. In particular, this employment strategy should:

-- Help promote the ILO's core conventions that cover the prohibition of forced labour and child labour, the freedom of association, the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively and the principle of non-discrimination;

-- Promote an education and training culture that allows people to obtain quality jobs in a knowledge-based economy;

-- Design and extend social safety nets;

-- Support people in the informal sector to assert legal rights, obtain social protection and have access to credit;

-- Assist vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, such as disabled workers, youth and migrant workers with access to improved training and jobs.

"The ILO's recommendations have the potential to develop into a major new initiative on employment", according to Gloria Kan of the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. She said the ILO discussions will give a "big boost" to the preparatory process for the Social Summit follow-up session.

The United Nations General Assembly will hold a special session from 26 to 30 June 2000 in Geneva to evaluate progress in implementing the Social Summit and to suggest new concrete initiatives to overcome obstacles.

For further information, please contact Steven Miller, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), tel. (212) 963-7535 or Shala Mokgethi, Department of Public Information (DPI), Development and Human Rights Section, tel. (212) 963-8104.

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