No. 36, September/October 2000 Are yousafe? under strain: Societies NENTOA LABOUR OFFICE INTERNATIONAL WorkWORLD OF

World of Work magazine is published five times per year The ILO: Then and Now by the Bureau of Public Information of the ILO in Geneva. Also published in Chinese, Czech, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish.

■ Editor: Thomas Netter ■ German edition: Hans von Rohland ■ Arabic edition: Khawla Mattar ILO Office, Beirut ■ Spanish edition: In collaboration with the ILO Office, Madrid ■ Production Manager: Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman ■ Cover design: Shurik Potolitsyn This magazine is not an official document of the International Labour Organ- ization. The opinions expressed do not necess- arily reflect the views of the ILO. The designations employed do not imply the

ILO/Jean Mohr expression of any opinion After the Second World War a new era dawned for the ILO. The election of whatsoever on the part of the American, David Morse, as the Director-General of the ILO in 1948, the ILO concerning the legal status of any country, area coincided with the renewed development of the standards work of the Or- or territory or of its auth- ganization and the launching of ILO technical cooperation in 1950. orities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. Since then, ILO technical cooperation has become a worldwide phenomenon. Reference to names of In the last decade, an annual average of some US$130 million has been spent firms and commercial on such projects as training, small and micro-enterprise development, products and processes does not imply their strengthening social security systems, reintegration of ex-combatants into endorsement by the ILO, national economies, assisting unions in occupational safety and health, set- and any failure to mention ting up rural cooperatives, strengthening employers’ organizations, and working a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a with governments to revise labour laws. Today, the ILO has technical coop- sign of disapproval. eration programmes in some 140 countries and territories. Texts and photographs may be freely reproduced with mention of source (except photo agency photographs). Written notification is appreciated. All correspondence should be addressed to the Bureau of Public Information, ILO, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland.

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Readers in the US should send their correspondence to the International Labor Office, Washington Branch, 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 801, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: +202/653-7652 Fax: +202/653-7687 Printed by SRO-Kundig SA, Geneva ISSN 1020-0010 ILO/Jacques Maillard

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 2 Cover story: Social protection

World Labour Report 2000: Societies under strain ...... 4

New programme against child labour in Burkina Faso ...... 6

Child labour grows in Cambodia ...... 8

Women work to close the “occupational safety gender gap” ...... 10

Diving and safety: How Thailand’s “sea gypsies” unravelled “the bends” ...... 12

Philippines: When “The Promised Land” became a nightmare...... 14

South Africa: Possibilities and limits of international trade union cooperation ...... 15

News in brief ...... 21 ● Copenhagen+5, Geneva 2000. Globalizing social progress: ILO plays key role in Social Summit follow-up

● SEWA: Giving unprotected women workers a collective voice to organize and bargain

● Nepal trade unions adopt policy against child labour

● High-level ILO Needs Assessment of South Lebanon makes proposals for action

Features THE ILO: THEN AND NOW ...... 2 PLANET WORK ...... 18 AROUND THE CONTINENTS ...... 28 ILO IN THE PRESS...... 31 MEDIA SHELF...... 34 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ...... 35 SOCIAL SECURITY SERVICES...... 36

Created in 1919, the International Labour Organization (ILO) brings together governments, employers and workers of its 175 member States in common action to improve social protection and conditions of life and work throughout the world. The International Labour Office, in Geneva, is the permanent Secretariat of the Organization.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 3 Cover story: Social protection, societies under strain

New ILO report warns of “destructive backlash” if societies ignore social inequities

Seventy-five per cent of the world’s 150 million jobless lack unemployment insurance protection. And even the world’s richest countries have reduced protection provided by unemployment insurance. This year’s World Labour Report 2000: Income Security and Social Protection in a Changing World1 adds that a wide range of threats exist to worker security and protection worldwide.

ENEVA – In Austria, Bel- adding that “the major focus must be on tion schemes”. They cannot afford to gium, Denmark, Finland, the extension of coverage” to these workers. save much of their meagre incomes or France, Germany, Iceland, Still, “alarmist rhetoric notwithstand- look forward to pensions or health in- G Luxembourg, Netherlands, ing, social protection, even in the sup- surance benefits. Often, they are reluc- Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and posedly expensive forms to be found in tant or simply unable to seek help from Switzerland, workers have the most gen- most advanced countries, is affordable social assistance schemes where these erous unemployment protection systems in the long term,” says ILO Director- exist. of all ILO member countries. General, Juan Somavia. “It is affordable For low-income developing countries, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New because it is essential for people, but also the report says “it is imperative to give Zealand, the United Kingdom and the because it is productive in the longer priority to schemes specially designed United States belong to “medium-level term. Societies which do not pay enough to meet the needs of informal sector type systems”. Fewer of the unemployed attention to security, especially the security workers”. Government support is deemed in these countries receive benefits and of their weaker members, eventually suffer “indispensable” in the effort, and a possible the compensation which is provided is a destructive backlash.” starting point would be the extension of lower than that available in the first tier statutory social insurance schemes “to- of countries. ward increased – and possibly universal In the rest of the world, however, the Government support is – coverage”. social security situation is grim. “indispensable” The report makes various proposals to “The vast majority of the population extend social protection, which now covers in many developing countries, including The report notes that millions of people less than half of the world’s population. informal sector wage earners and self- in the informal sector “earn very low The three main options toward meeting employed persons, have no social pro- incomes and have an extremely limited the goal include extension of existing tection whatsoever,” warns the report, capacity to contribute to social protec- programmes, creation of new programmes which target informal sector workers and the development of tax-financed social benefit systems. “Changes in family structure have combined with other developments, notably rising unemployment and inequality, to produce a steep rise in child poverty rates between the mid-1960s and the mid-1990s”, says the report. Fertility rates are falling throughout the world, which allows more women to enter the labour market. However, largely because of falling fertility rates, the population is ageing rapidly in most parts of the world. This is having a major impact on the ratio of the working-age generation to retired segments of the population. The report outlines various measures designed to improve income security for women: ● ILO/P. Deloche ILO/P. Practical measures (maternity ben-

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 4 SOME KEY TRENDS AND ISSUES AFFECTING SOCIAL PROTECTION

The number of people living in extreme poverty around the world has increased by 200 million people in just the last five years, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and sout-east Asia. 850 million people work less ILO/Jacques Maillard than they want or earn less than efits, child care facilities, parental leave) tion in training, the acceptance of jobs a living wage. which help men and women combine deemed suitable by the unemployment Poverty is one of the major paid employment and child rearing, and benefits administration, or on demon- factors driving 250 million children which support the access of women to strably intensive job-search activities. Ef- into the labour force, and jeopar- paid work. forts have also been intensified, through dizes their attendance in school. ● The extension of compulsory social active labour market policies, to get the In certain developed countries, security to all employees including the unemployed back to work. rates of divorce have increased categories in which women are heavily The report suggests that the provision up to 500 per cent (Canada, represented (e.g., domestic and part-time of unemployment benefits should be closely United Kingdom) over a 30-year workers). coordinated with labour market policies. period, meaning many more chil- ● The recognition of unpaid child It also pleads for extending the coverage dren are living in single-parent households. rearing work through the award of cred- of unemployment benefits, which would In many of the same developed its under contributory systems or through provide income security to larger groups countries, births to unmarried the provision of universal benefits. of unemployed and have a positive effect women also jumped up to six on labour market flexibility. times over the same 30-year The lack of unemployment period, which again puts many Health care children into single-parent insurance protection households. Mortality rates are higher for the poor Poverty rates for households Developed countries – In the top 14 than for the rich at all ages, but that headed by a single mother are countries listed previously, unemploy- differential is particularly high during at least three times higher than ment protection consists of various layers infancy and childhood. “From 0 to 4 years, for two-parent households in of benefits. The first and most important mortality in the 20 per cent poorest coun- Australia, Canada, Germany, Lux- one consists of unemployment insurance tries of the world is nine times higher embourg, Netherlands, Norway benefits paid during the initial period than for the rich, and for those aged 5 and the United States. following the loss of a job, with average to 14 it is ten times higher”, says the Social security expenditure as net replacement rates of more than 60 report. a percentage of GDP has risen per cent of national average earnings. The availability of adequate preven- in most countries over the period This rate is significantly higher than in tive and curative care is vital to ensure 1975-92, but there have been those countries belonging to the next that workers are fit enough to earn a exceptions to this trend, es- category. decent living. And it is the function of pecially in Africa and Latin America. Most countries with a high-level system the health care financing system to ensure that the large and unpredictable costs of have a second layer of unemployment However, small-scale financing sys- health care do not fall directly on the benefits, usually called unemployment tems are not likely to be the only answer budgets of individual households. Many assistance. This layer covers workers who to the key problem of adequate access workers, particularly those who are outside have exhausted their entitlements to to health care. Most industrialized coun- regular wage employment, do not have unemployment insurance and provides tries have introduced social health in- any satisfactory health care coverage. them with a grace period before they surance (or national health services), which In low-income countries of sub-Saha- come within the purview of less gen- initially only covered formal sector ran Africa and south Asia, micro-insur- erous social assistance schemes. workers, but were then extended to lower ance schemes for health care are being Almost all OECD (Organization of paid workers, farmers and self-employed developed to bring the advantages of risk- Economic Cooperation and Development) people. Most developing countries are pooling to people who are otherwise countries in the 1990s reduced the pro- still in the first phase of social health unprotected. The development of these tection provided by their unemployment insurance coverage. schemes is highly dependent at the present benefit systems. Eligibility rules have Since the formalization of the labour time on support from governments, NGOs been tightened and the duration of benefits force is a long process and may in fact and international organizations, such as and replacement rates have been reduced never be completed, many governments WHO and the ILO. They contribute, in nearly all European countries. in developing countries will have to use through popular participation in their setting In a trend sometimes known as a variety of health financing mechanisms “workfare”, many Western countries have up and in their management, to the social made benefits conditional on participa- and political inclusion of the excluded. (Continued on p. 33)

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 5 Child labour: Burkina Faso In West Africa, a new programme against child labour

Of the 250 million child workers in the world, 80 million live in Africa. In the west African nation of Burkina Faso, child workers – boys and girls – are found all over the country, too often working under appalling conditions. ILO-IPEC has launched a programme of action in cooperation with Burkina Faso’s government to cope with the situation. Tor Monsen, ILO Information, Norway, reports.

uagadougou, Burkina Faso social protection and can count on little – The fact that at the age social assistance in case of accident or SOME OF THE injury (See graph, p. 7). of 10, Fatoumissatou is RESULTS FROM helping keep her family In fact, a recent survey of child workers O THE ILO/IPEC alive, is not unusual. Like in Burkina found that some 51 per cent many children her age in Burkina today, of the children in the country below the SURVEY: Fatoumissatou works here in the nation’s age of 18 are working. Most work more capital city, selling fruit and vegetables than six hours a day, never go to school The ten biggest problems with her mother, and managing to pro- and often work without pay. In the worst for child workers in Burkina Faso: vide not only for herself but also to partly cases, they are exposed to dangers, support her brothers and sisters. including dust and explosives. Some must ✓workers’ tender age She dreams of going to school, but that bear heavy loads and operate dangerous ✓heavy loads is too expensive for her impoverished machinery. Fourteen per cent of these ✓long-lasting injuries family. Neither Fatoumissatou nor her children are below the age of 10. because of heavy loads family could imagine having that amount Until recently, very little information of money. about child labour was available in Burkina ✓lack of training Of the world’s 250 million child labour- Faso and there was no national programme ✓dangerous working en- ers, Fatoumissatou is not unique. Like to deal with the issue. Now the Inter- vironment many of the children working today in national Labour Organization (ILO), in ✓no social protection Burkina Faso, she is at a tender age, has collaboration with the government, is ✓long working hours no education, works long hours, has no working to change this. ✓extremely dangerous work The national ✓no assistance after ILO/IPEC aims at stopping programme of action extreme forms of child labour, accidents such as child labour in haz- The ILO International Programme on ✓poor living standards ardous working conditions, bonded the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) of the family child labour, child prostitution started in 1992, and is today the largest and trafficking of children. IPEC programme against child labour in the workers in the agricultural sector, also gives special attention to world, with some 1,000 projects involv- apprentices in the informal sector, chil- children under 12 years of age, dren labouring in particularly risky and working girls – all in line ing an alliance of 90 countries. The ILO with the new Convention 182, is working with the Government of Burkina workplaces such as stone quarries, and adopted by the ILO Inter- Faso to establish a national programme among young girls in Ouagadougou. national Labour Conference in of action against child labour. The study found that the main prob- June 1999. In 1997, the ILO conducted a survey lems underlying child labour in Burkina among 2,000 children, involving child Faso are widespread poverty and the poor

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 6 education system. The country is ranked CHILD WORKERS IN BURKINA FASO. as the world’s fourth poorest country. SOME KEY NUMBERS FROM ILO/IPEC SURVEY: Thirty per cent of all children enter school, but many drop out soon afterwards. Many girls leave school before completing their studies. Only nine per cent of all women in Burkina Faso can read and write. The country has few natural resources and is economically vulnerable. Burkina Faso depends on human resources as a main development strategy. However, the continuing economic crisis prolongs and aggravates the poverty problem. Much of the population does not have access to basic needs like food, water, health and education. The survey found that 44.5 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

Children are victims ILO plan against child labour aims at pre- improve, but only as a step towards Predictably, children are among the venting children from starting work at total elimination of child labour. primary victims of growing poverty, often an early age, and stopping dangerousand The 2,000 children who were involved having no choice but to work to help the worst forms of child labour. Con- in ILO/IPEC survey in Burkina Faso will keep their families alive. The national ditions for the child workers have to be the first to benefit from the project. First and foremost will be the youngest and most vulnerable, and children working in the most dangerous jobs. The project collaborates with various partners to increase its efficiency: parents, local communities, employers and employees, government bodies, NGOs, religious and traditional leaders, doctors, teachers, researchers and journalists. It is important to keep the public up- to-date on the work against child labour. Every project has its own strategy to raise awareness, especially suited the differ- ent target groups. Debates are encour- aged and organized in the local commun- ities and rural areas. Radio broadcasts on facts about child labour can be heard almost on a daily basis in Burkina Faso. Among the strategies for fighting child labour and reducing overall poverty, micro-credit programmes have been set up to improve many families’ access to the means of production. Anti-pov- erty programmes also encourage many people – especially women – to start small scale businesses. Public health services must be improved through vaccination campaigns, better family planning and training in basic hygiene. More people need access to education, particularly girls. ❑

ILO/J.M. Derrien – Tor Monsen, I want to help, but I’d rather be in school. ILO-Information/Norway

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 7 Child labour: Cambodia From the “rue des petites fleurs”* to the suburbs of Phnom Penh, child labour worsens

In this country of nearly 11 million people, classed among the poorest in the world (GDP less than $US 300 per person), 16 per cent of all children between 5 and 17 years of age – more than 600,000 – are working. The majority have completely dropped out of school to work, and only 40 per cent follow some form of schooling outside of working hours.

HNOM PENH, Cambodia – be recycled (plastics, metals) among the of their families, to whom they give their Child workers are visible piles of fetid rubbish. earnings. everywhere: in brickyards, salt And thousands of barefoot children, These children often come from rural ponds, rice paddies, rubber dressed in grimy T-shirts, wander the refugee families, who have had their land P streets of Phnom Penh and other cities confiscated and who have come to the plantations, and on fishing boats. They also work as domestic help (Battambang, Sihanoukville) in small city in an attempt to survive, or else from in well-to-do households (a study con- groups. Some shine shoes, others sell families heavily in debt (one of the principal ducted in just one neighbourhood of the fruit, chips, or water, while others beg factors of their indebtedness is the capital, Phnom Penh, counted 4,000 child for money from tourists. prohibitive price of medical treatment domestic workers). Each morning, on All of these children, whether workers and medicines; one illness can cause an “Stung Meanchey”, the large garbage dump or beggars, are from poor families; entire family to become destitute). Many on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, clusters according to statistics published in are also from families affected by div- of children can also be seen rushing behind Cambodia, nearly 90 per cent of working orce and separation. Children raised by the trucks to collect anything which can children do so to contribute to the survival single mothers are obligated to work at a very early age, while youngsters who don’t get along with a new, violent stepfather end up on the streets.

An increasingly violent society

In the cities, the children’s begging hides a tragic reality: the youngest are taken under the wings of “big brothers”, gang leaders around twenty years old, who terrorize them. The little beggars who don’t bring back enough money in the evening are punished with cigarette burns or knife cuts. These delinquents also push the children to “sniff” glue, or even take them to Thailand where they must beg in the tourist areas. This violence against children is partly

ILO/P. Deloche ILO/P. *”Street of little flowers”

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 8 explained by the progressive crimi- GIRL WORKERS IN THE CLOTHING FACTORIES nalization of Cambodian society, which OF PHNOM PENH is a result of war and social inequality. To begin with, the political normaliz- Night falls in the outskirts of to be hired. ation of 1994 was not accompanied by Phnom Penh, and there is a crush The working day is from 10 disarmament, and the weapons left over in the streets; at factory closing to 14 hours long depending on time, thousands of young women from the war were scattered throughout the factory. No lunch break; – often very young – cram into they buy a meal from a street every level of society. Every Cambodian trucks or mopeds and go back vendor in the factory and eat kept what he needed to defend himself, to their sleeping quarters in the standing up without leaving their and the capital no longer even counts suburbs, where they cook, do workstations. They are paid US$40 the number of gangland killings, rob- their laundry and sleep four or to US$50 per month, but a beries and armed threats. The growth in five to a room only a few metres worker can earn US$100 if she illegal activities is also explained by the in size. also works at night. chronic lack of jobs. Moreover, many The several dozen clothing fac- This US$100 represents only unemployed war veterans have joined tories of Phnom Penh, financed the average rent in Phnom Penh, the “mafia” network, which, since the with American, Chinese or Thai or the price of a bicycle, but mid-90s, has made huge profits from the capital, export “casual wear” (T- is much more than the salary many night clubs, casinos and karaoke shirts, cotton pants) around the of a schoolteacher (US$15 per world. Entry is prohibited to anyone month). That’s why many young bars, as well as from prostitution. who doesn’t work there. These people accept this pace of work factories provide one of the few to feed their families, and it’s An “explosion” of sexual opportunities for work in the city, not rare to see exhausted and exploitation and young girls from the prov- underfed workers faint at the inces flock to them. Many are workplace. But it’s better not The NGOs present in Cambodia note under 15 years old, but lie about to fall sick; missing one day a veritable “explosion” of the sexual their age. They must pay US$30 chops US$5 off of their salary. exploitation of women and children over the past several years. Procurers kidnap street children, or buy ers”, in Phnom Penh, or in the night clubs dollars. Several NGOs confirm that a young girls from poverty-stricken famil- on the bank of the river, where armed visiting “businessman” can “rent” a young ies for several hundred US dollars or in guards keep a close eye on them. Ac- virgin girl for US$200 to US$300 a week. exchange for medicines. Some poor widows cording to one NGO, there are between And the medical NGOs are alarmed by “also give up their eight or nine year- 10,000 and 15,000 minors forced into the surge in sexually transmitted dis- old daughters for the promise of a job prostitution in Phnom Penh. A study carried eases: in Cambodia today, AIDS is in the city or of adoption. But one also out in 1995 in the capital and in 11 provinces increasing exponentially. ❑ sees girls abducted as they leave school,” established that one-third of the prosti- affirms a Frenchwoman, an NGO vol- tutes were between 12 and 17 years old. – Bénédicte Manier* unteer. The Cambodians who patronize the *Journalist based in France specialized in social These young girls find themselves in houses of prostitution pay in local cur- rights issues, recently published a book about child the brothels of the “street of little flow- rency (the riel), but foreigners pay in US labour.

THE ILO/IPEC PROGRAMME IN CAMBODIA

The International Programme on the Elimination of removing children from the worst forms of child labour Child Labour (IPEC) was established in Cambodia in (notably prostitution), and raising awareness among 1996, to prevent child labour and to support the re- employers. integration of child workers, in a country which largely At one level, IPEC also collaborates with rural de- lacks the means for education and social action. velopment programmes, which enables them to provide “We are starting at a very low level, in terms of social an income to poor families. IPEC also supports NGOs infrastructure. In some ways, in this country everything in their activities (preventing the trafficking of children, is a priority,” confides Mar Sophea, the national official informal schooling of young workers, lodging and re- responsible for the IPEC programme. integration of street children and prostitutes). After a partnership agreement with the Government, Over the last few years, several employers have a national plan of action was established for the period signed collective agreements with the unions, some 1997-2001, with the Ministries (Social Affairs, Educa- of them also accepting collaboration with the NGOs. tion, Labour, Health, Interior), associations of social But the task is more complex as far as sexual exploitation workers, trade unions, employers’ federations, and NGOs. and street children are concerned. “It is difficult to IPEC acts in several areas. In the world of work, it change behaviour”, says Mar Sophea. “It takes time, trains and supports labour inspectors, contributes to lots of time.”

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 9 Personal view: Women moving mountains

Women work to close the “occupational safety gender gap”

Thanks to a small but powerful initiative of the ILO, women around the world are learning the potential of their shared experience when it comes to occupational safety. Ellen Rosskam of the ILO’ SafeWork programme explains how an occupational safety, health and environment (OSHE) training programme is helping women find ways to expand personal possibilities and develop creative health promotion strategies for trade unions and communities.

BOMBAY, reinforced their mastery of the techni- World Congress on OSH in Spain and India – Kal- cal OSHE material. After the second speaks publicly in her community about pana had never workshop, Kalpana was elected to the HIV/AIDS. taught or organ- Women’s Steering Committee of the ized workers before International Transport Workers’ Fed- The occupational the first workshop. In eration (ITF). safety gender gap the first workshop, 16 In- Today, Kalpana organizes and teaches dian women learned par- trade union workshops on OSH, has gone Women represent some 40 per cent ticipatory/empowerment on to attend a three-week international of the global workforce, yet their jobs training techniques and stud- OSH trade union training course in Israel, and the health and safety risks particu- ied technical OSHE material. At and has addressed 3,000 delegates from lar to them remain virtually unstudied. the end of the first workshop, Kalpana 120 countries at the ITF World Cen- What’s more, corporate and govern- had developed enough self-confi- tenary Congress in London. Among the ment policymakers have yet to give dence to go out and begin organizing 84 speakers present, she was one of only these issues adequate consideration. numerous occupational safety and health four women asked to speak. She has also Occupational safety, health and envi- training workshops for her local union. organized contract workers for wage ronment is often seen as a man’s do- A second workshop, ten months later, revision, participated in the ILO’s XIVth main, where women are out of their

Photo: International Transport Workers’Federation league. This perspective not only lim- failure to study exposure effects particu- oped skills in the field. its the empowerment of women but also lar to women creates an occupational “I don’t want my daughter to grow the drive for, and the nature of, effective safety gender gap that leaves women un- up feeling inadequate and uneducated solutions to workplace problems. The necessarily vulnerable to such exposure. like I have. I want her to feel in control equation is simple: globally, if more of her life. This is why I want to gain people are trained and made aware of From New Delhi to these new skills and pursue this direc- the importance of OSHE, the numbers tion.” This powerful statement reveals and the staggering social costs of Manila: Globalizing the motivation behind one Filipina trade workplace fatalities, accidents and women’s OSHE unionist’s desire to become an OSHE environmental catastrophes can be In an attempt to reduce the barriers instructor for her trade union. significantly reduced. to women’s participation in health and The workshops required the partici- Women are conspicuously absent as safety in their workplaces, the ILO pants to leave their homes and jobs to decision-makers, both in corporate board- sponsored a series of workshops with the travel to the city where the workshop rooms as well as in trade union offices. help of a grant from the Norwegian was held for at least one week at a time. Women workers face many hardships: government. The success of the first Building a strong sense of solidarity among they find it difficult to advance in the workshop in New Delhi, India, in 1993, each group of women trainees took time, rank and file of a trade union, they lack led to others in India and the Philippines, the outcome of days and nights spent support from the male leadership for and inspired other union safety programs together. Many women had never spoken organizing and conducting OSHE train- aimed at supporting and utilizing women or instructed in public, some had never ing courses, and have difficulty ensuring in the workplace. travelled alone or so far before. Despite that other women participate in such To date, this ILO effort has provided the cultural and personal stress that this training courses. Demonstrating particu- training for some 60 women union members presented, no one left the programme. lar competencies or advancing in union throughout the Philippines and India in All barriers were overcome. ranks often provokes jealousy from conducting health and safety workshops Seeing and hearing each other tackle colleagues. Women may even find ob- technical issues was extremely effec- stacles built up before them just because tive for the women participants. It built they are women. As a result, women the self-confidence needed to face male “I don’t want my daugh- workers often feel intimidated when or mixed groups of workers. The class- ter to grow up feeling addressing technical health and safety room was designed to be a “safe zone” inadequate and uneducated subjects, especially in front of a group with the participants as owners. They like I have. I want her to of male workers. were encouraged to utilize the training feel in control of her life. The lack of participation by women space as they saw fit. For example, trainees This is why I want to gain in solutions affecting their own health decorated the walls of their classrooms these new skills and is exacerbated by the fact that women with “risk maps” ,visually depicting pursue this direction.” are often reluctant to get involved in the location of different hazards at their A Filipina trade unionist officially designated Occupational Health workplaces. and Safety Committees. They feel they Using participatory techniques and the lack the critical technical skills and for their respective unions. The impact principles of Paulo Freire’s “education expertise, a belief that only increases the of these women has been tremendous; for critical consciousness”, trainees un- cycle of low self-esteem and feelings of they have gone on to train several derwent the process of relating what was incompetence. hundred other workers in health and being discussed and practised in the class- The ILO recognizes that in order for safety issues. They have won the sup- room and in the workplace to their own real change to take place, safety and health port of their mostly male union and life experiences. In contrast to lecture- professionals need to demystify techni- company management and as a result based learning, this consciousness-building cal areas, empower workers, focus on have continued to organize their own process allowed the trainees to translate the risks particular to jobs performed by training workshops. And, if that is not how workplace and environmental haz- women on the job, and encourage unions enough, some of them have gone on ards could affect them and their families, to activate Women’s Committees as well to do further community health work, and to build up the confidence allowing as involve women in Health and Safety which again impacts many more thou- them to think creatively about ways of Committees. This reflects the recognition sands of people. addressing problems. Equally important, that the health and safety risks to women These “train-the-trainer” workshops the process created a greater understand- in jobs performed by women are differ- helped the women understand the im- ing of group dynamics and provided the ent from those experience by men. For portance of their role in their unions facilitation skills needed to work effec- example, because tools and personal and their potential to become agents tively with their fellow workers, which protective equipment (PPE) are designed of change. By working together and they could then use to reach the goals for men, women often face a situation creating a supportive group environ- of heightened awareness of workplace where their size renders the equipment ment in the classroom, the workshops safety, health and environmental is- and PPE ineffective, thereby increasing empowered the women to carry out newly (Continued on p. 33) their risk of injury or illness. In addition, adopted roles with their newly devel- Where pain was part of the job Diving safely: How Thailand’s “Sea Gypsies” unravelled “the bends”

In Thailand, the Urak Lawoi, or “Sea People” gather fish by diving relatively deeply beneath the Andaman Sea. Until recently, their diving gear left them highly exposed to the hazards of “the bends” or decompression illness. Now, by adapting to their diving techniques, they have dramatically reduced the dangers of their work. David Gold* of the ILO SafeWork Programme explains how the “Sea Gypsies” of Phuket have rejected a “culture of pain”.

OH SIRAY, Thailand – But Khun Doomin was the lucky one or walking on the ocean floor. Their only Seventeen years ago, Khun that day. Of the other divers, one died protection from the cold water and marine Doomin Pramongkit was from the “bends” or decompression ill- life, such as stinging coral, is a long K among several “Sea Gypsies” ness, on reaching the boat. Another died sleeved shirt and athletic style trousers. – indigenous divers working 48 metres later in the village. Unlike professional, military, scien- below the surface of the Andaman Sea Today, Khun Doomin, now 44, re- tific and recreational diving, where charts off the island of Phuket – when a disaster mains paralyzed from the waist down. or computers are used to limit the amount struck that would change his life forever. As he cannot take care of himself, he of time spent on the bottom according A compressor supplying air through relies on his wife and public health workers to the depth of the dive, the Urak Lawoi a long, snake-like rubber hose failed. to assist him with even the most basic have no such sophisticated guidance. With no backup air supply flowing into activities. Instead, they measure depth using the his diving mask, Khun Doomin swam anchor line, or on the basis of their rapidly to the surface, bringing on a case A culture of pain familiarity of the area. Rather than watch of the dreaded “bends” and paralyzing the time, most of the divers stay under- him. Khun Doomin belongs to a group of water until the work is done, whether some 400 indigenous fisherman-divers or not they are wearing a watch. who live and work on Thailand’s west The results: a dangerous profession. A shirt with the safety message, coast. Known locally as Urak Lawoi, or A project survey of active Urak Lawoi “Come up slowly from every Sea People in the Sea Gypsy language, dive,” was given to each diver. they gather fish, shellfish, crabs and lobsters, sea cucumbers and sea urchins, AVOIDING THE for export to neighbouring countries. Like DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER many local fishing folk in North, South and Central America, Oceania and Asia, A recent article in the World of Work focused on the desire they dive or adapt their traditional diving of both employers and workers’ techniques using compressed air, to har- organizations to install several vest such marine life which is more dif- decompression chambers in a geo- ficult to obtain by other means. graphic area where pearl diving Within this group, only men dive. Aged is taking place. While no one 13 to 62, the Urak Lawoi divers use very can argue with the importance primitive equipment to work under the of having adequate facilities avail- able to treat decompression sea. On the surface, a gasoline or a diesel sickness, in the situation in- powered compressor (often salvaged from volving Khun Doomin and his fellow an old truck) is mounted on the open- divers, a better understanding decked diving boat and supplies up to of the risks of diving, having four divers at a time with compressed a positive attitude towards dealing air. with those risks, and having the The air is pumped down through 100 knowledge and skills necessary to prevent decompression sick- metres of air hose to the diver, who breathes ness could have kept this situ- through his nose inside a mask pierced ation from occurring in the first by a tyre valve connected to the air hose. place.

ILO/D. Gold Divers are weighted and work standing

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 12 simple, easy to remember, low-cost rules hazardous occupations. Raising the level to assist health care workers to develop of knowledge and awareness of risks as informational tools with a view to well as working to change attitudes and improving safety in diving practices and behaviour is a means of empowering the reduce the risk of decompression sickness. diver and boat owner to find solutions Involving boat owners, village leaders, to improving their safety and health at divers and health care workers, ten short, work. straightforward rules for safe diving were “In one large village where prelimi- developed. An illustrated one-page in- nary evaluation of the effects of the project formation sheet for each rule was also has been undertaken, there is evidence

ILO/D. Gold developed, tested, printed and distribu- of increased general awareness of the ted throughout the villages. These rules risks of diving and efforts to avoid A diver surfaces with a basket of shell- were the basis for a series of participative dangerous practices. There are signs that fish. workshops, supervised by the project and this information is now spreading on its designed and conducted by the local health own through the people in the village, divers found that 85 per cent of the care workers to raise the awareness of observed Alan Geater. divers surveyed felt pain was part of the boat chiefs about techniques for One problem which has plagued many their job. The population of divers suffers reducing the risk of decompression ill- diving boats is that other boats, passing from an occupational mortality rate of ness. too close to the dive boat, may cut the 300 deaths per 100,000 workers (by According to Ms. Aurai Samakkaran, air hose of the diver below with their comparison, construction workers cov- a public health nurse working with the propellors. Recently, in one of the project’s ered by Thailand’s social security system project, “We [the health care workers] participative training sessions, the boat showed an occupational mortality rate can empower the Urak Lawoi, through owner was asked to display the inter- of 70 deaths per 100,000 workers for information and education, so that im- national diving flag warning other boats the same period). Just over five per cent portant diving safety messages will still to proceed slowly and keep clear. The of the active diving and ex-diving popu- be with them once we leave.” following evening the boat owner came lation are disabled due to diving. The project also provided each active running into the village explaining that diver with a shirt, used for diving, with a large sailing vessel was moving rapidly a safety message on the back. towards the dive boat, saw the flag and Learning how to survive turned away. The other boat owners and divers are now eagerly seeking informa- The practices, attitudes towards risk, Avoiding dangerous tion and training sessions on the use of and incidences of injury, disability and practices the international diving flag. ❑ death of the Urak Lawoi have been studied through a project in concert with Thai- The ILO SafeWork Infocus Programme *David Gold, is a member of the ILO SafeWork land’s Ministry of Public Health. Dr. Alan focuses on hazardous occupations. Both staff and independently worked in the development Geater, a senior lecturer in epidemiology fishing and diving are considered to be and implementation of this project. at Prince of Songkla University in Hatyai, Thailand, is a member of the project DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS: WHAT IS IT? team. Dr. Geater recently observed that the project first developed baseline data Decompression illness is defined dissolved nitrogen to escape from to develop an understanding of the situ- as decompression sickness and the tissue and as the pressure ation among the Urak Lawoi divers. It barotraumas (pressure injury). A is reduced, bubbles form in both the blood and tissue. These bubbles identified certain key areas where it large percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen. At normal may block blood vessels and create expected that the risks of decompression atmospheric pressure (pressure tissue damage. The deeper the illness were high, and encouraged changes at sea level) nitrogen gas is passed diver works and the longer the of attitudes and behaviour to reduce the in and out of the lungs through diver stays at depth, the more risks. the normal respiratory process. nitrogen will build up in tissues Sixteen health care workers were selected As a diver descends to depth, and the longer it will take the from the villages and districts where the the nitrogen passes through the diver to release the nitrogen from the tissue. Slow ascents and de- Urak Lawoi live. They were trained by lungs and is liquefied under pres- sure. It then circulates in the compression stops are normally the project so that they could participate blood through the different tissues practised to allow for the release in survey activities, physical examin- of the body. If the diver ascends of nitrogen gas through the ations, and informational and educational from depth slowly, nitrogen is respiratory system. Barotrauma activities. released through the normal is injury caused by a sudden An ILO strategy known as WISE respiratory process. However, if change of pressure. It may affect (Working Improvements in Small Enter- the diver ascends too quickly, parts of the body such as the sinuses, lungs or ears. prises) was used by the project to develop there is not enough time for the

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 13 Report from the Philippines When “The Promised Land” became a nightmare

The rumbling sound that awakened the squatter colony of some 80,000 people in the urban village of Payatas one morning in July, was a one- hectare-wide, 20-metre high pile of garbage mixed with mud which suddenly collapsed after weeks of heavy rain. When the rumbling stopped, some 200 people were dead, buried in what was ironically termed by locals as “The Promised Land”. World of Work correspondent Isabelo Samonte visited the disaster site and filed this report.

AYATAS, Philippines – The 1,000 or so makeshift shan- ties in Payatas didn’t stand a chance when the mountain P of garbage began to move. As the pile of refuse cascaded down, many of the shacks were buried, en- tombing hundreds of people under junk, muck and mud. For the rural migrants who have come to this mega city in search of work and a better life – especially schooling for their children – it was the latest indignity in a life marked by low pay, unregulated working conditions and exploitation. Instead of the hoped-for pot of gold, they have ended up daily scaling a 20 metre mountain of trash in search of bits and pieces they can sell to eke out a meagre living. Giancarlo M. Samonte Says one of the scavengers, Bandoy: Mountain of trash behind a makeshift videoke bar. “It is very hard to get a ride (to another place of work), so we just build shelters out a living, they have also reportedly and implemented by the ERDA Foun- near the workplace. It is a cruel joke, become prey to syndicates which have dation, ended child labour activities there. from rural poor to urban poor. But this built an “underground” city of infor- Says Mario Geronimo, a private solid is better than being jobless.” mal activities to contract subdivision waste management executive, “It is about toll fees, landfill leases, dumping rights, time to apply modern technology with A scene of contrasts dump truck drivers and haulers, and environment-friendly operations that will junk shop owners and buyers. give the scavengers a decent work with Within sight of Manila’s modern Child labour also flourishes here, with better quality of work and life.” skyline, high-rise condos and shopping youngsters scrambling alongside adults malls, the 30-hectare (74 acres) village to find anything that can be resold. Payatas Philippine situation in Quezon City, about 7 kilometres has replaced the child labour site called northeast of the capital city, is a site Smokey Mountain which a few years ago Although efforts to resettle the squat- of grinding poverty and the antithesis hosted thousands of child scavengers, ters have been proposed, many rejected of decent work. until a programme initiated by the ILO the initiative for the simple reason that As the poor who live there scratch with the government’s Labour Department, the proposed new worksite was too far

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 14 from the Payatas dump where they made settlement plan for informal settlers, their daily living scavenging for recy- creation of a housing and resettlement clable materials. department, and the support of NGOs. “I asked these people to leave but they The problem is not a simple question didn’t want to,” a local executive said. of management of waste. Its roots could “Industrial plans didn’t push through be traced to poverty, rural underdevel- because the squatters didn’t want to leave.” opment, landlessness, unemployment, lack Another reason may be that scavengers of income opportunities, social exclu- earn from PHP 200 (US$5) to PHP 500 sion and many other causes which need (US$11.50) net daily with no obligations political will to overcome. It is a matter on social security, taxes, insurance, etc., of providing decent working and living a sum higher than the daily minimum conditions for the workers and the in- wage. formal sector, particularly the poorest of In the wake of the mudslide, however, the poor. some squatters are now willing to move For Bandoy, the solution ultimately to a site in Montalban just ten minutes may be found elsewhere, far from the away from the Payatas dump under a steaming dump. As he entered a make- government relocation housing settlement shift videoke bar near the mudslide site project. recently to share glasses of “lambanog” Other government initiatives which and try to forget the village’s hardships, have been introduced include the Payatas he said, “If I have enough savings, I 2000 Development Plan, a Task Force dream of leaving Payatas. I want to return created by Executive Order for the closure my family to the provinces and go fish- and rehabilitation of the dump site. The ing. I also want my children to finish school.” But for Bandoy and others like National Agenda for Anti-Poverty Giancarlo M. Samonte Alleviation was launched recently to him, the alternative to The Promised help the workers and the informal sector. Land may just be an impossible dream. Scavengers continue to scale the Some legislative proposals include: mountain of trash for bits and pieces national land use and zoning law, national – By Isabelo A. Samonte, Manila of recylable materials. South Africa: Possibilities and limits of international trade union cooperation Workers’ representations at the international level need the local organization’s support

A conflict inside the trade by transfrontier cooperation ing banners and inviting onlookers to union at the Volkswagen works, between workers’ representa- join them. The sight of the crowd in Uitenhage, South Africa, has tives and management, some the market square with its banners and revealed both the possibil- 1,300 workers at Uitenhage protest slogans is making the mayor of ities and the limits of in- have been dismissed. German the South African town of Uitenhage, ternational cooperation be- journalist Martin Kempe reports known to everyone only as “Bicks” – tween bodies representing the from his visit to South Africa. a nickname acquired in the days of the workers. Mediation attempts struggle against apartheid – feel un- by the worldwide group of comfortable. A group of trade unionists hrough the windows of his from NUMSA (National Union of Met- companies’ international works office, Phumele S. Ndoni looks council, as well as by Volks- alworkers of South Africa), standing a out on the market square with little apart from the demonstrators, and wagen personnel management, its consumptive-looking trees. a few shop stewards from Uitenhage’s have proved fruitless. In con- T Today, access to the square Volkswagen works are also waiting trast to Volkswagen’s main has been barred with plastic tape. About impatiently for the town hall to open. Brazilian plant, where a wave a hundred men are walking around the When the time comes at last, every- of dismissals has been avoided square chanting rhythmically, swing- body streams into the building. An elec-

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 15 tronic barrier and numerous security guards GLOBALIZATION OF WORKS COUNCIL ACTIVITIES are there to make sure that no weapons are brought into the hall, built to accom- The preliminary work leading all major locations are repre- modate 450 persons. Every seat is filled to the internationalization of sented on the council, with the when, at 10:30 a.m. On 15 May 2000, the activities of workers’ rep- exception of the Shanghai and Judge Brandt opens the session of the resentatives at Volkswagen was Changchun locations in China (with Conflict Mediation Commission estab- done in the 1980s by works a combined workforce of ap- committees and shop stewards proximately 16,000). lished in accordance with South Africa’s at the Wolfsburg parent plant. The worldwide employees’ side labour laws. He is to rule whether, in The tradition of cooperation consists of 27 members (11 January 2000, Volkswagen/South Africa between workers and manage- Germans and 16 from other nations) was legally entitled to dismiss some 1,300 ment, built up within the plus a trade union official. It workers who, after a two-weeks’ strike, Volkswagen group over a number meets once a year at different had ignored an ultimatum ordering them of decades, was favourable to locations for a conference lasting to return to their posts. Most of those the development of trans-frontier several days. Its object is to present are on the side of the dismissed bodies of the works committee promote the exchange of in- workers. But Mayor “Bicks” Ndoni, the type. The group’s European works formation on developments and NUMSA trade unionists and the Volks- council was set up as far back strategies within the group as wagen shop stewards hope that the dis- as 1990, five years before the a whole and to ensure that the missals will be declared legitimate. adoption of the European Com- interests of all locations are mission’s guideline making this taken care of in a balanced Several thousand kilometres to the obligatory. An agreement to manner and in a spirit of solidarity. north, in the central office of the set up a World Works Council The group accords extensive Volkswagen group of companies at followed in 1999 as a logical information rights to workers’ Wolfsburg, Hans-Juergen Uhl, the Sec- consequence of Volkswagen’s de- representatives both locally and retary-General of the World Works Council velopment into a worldwide group at the international level. The of the Volkswagen group of companies, of companies. World Works Council does not is waiting for news about the results of The agreement guarantees enjoy participatory rights in ac- the Uitenhage proceedings. Like eve- freedom of trade union ac- cordance with Germany’s Indus- ryone else concerned, he has been waiting tivities and free choice of trial Constitution Law. However, for months. Judge Brandt adjourned the workforce representatives at the German Workers’ Partici- proceedings sine die after just one week. all locations of the Volkswagen pation Act does offer the local By the end of August, no decision had group, and regulates the fi- members a possibility of influencing nancing of the World Works strategic developments which go as yet been reached. World staff repre- Council’s operations out of beyond the limits of a specific sentative Uhl, too, hopes that Volkswagen company funds. All the impor- site, since such developments will win the case. He fears that the works tant car makes (Volkswagen, generally affect all the German will be plagued by lasting unrest if the Audi, Skoda, Seat, etc.) and sites. proceedings drag on until the local elections due in the autumn. In the days of apartheid, Uhl and other German trade unionists campaigned in favour of South African trade union rights and did their utmost to promote the development of workers’ represen- tation at the Uitenhage Volkswagen works. Their support of the trade unions’ struggle against the racist apartheid system was not due to idealism alone; they recognized at an early stage that the development of a worldwide network of workers’ representations was the only adequate response to the globalization of Volkswagen’s activities. In January 2000, when the conflict within the South African trade union was at its height, Uhl flew to South Africa together with Helmuth Schuster, the chief of Volkswagen’s central per- sonnel service, in the hope of mediating between the parties. But the efforts of

Cordula Kropke/May 2000 these two emissaries from Wolfsburg

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 16 SUCCESSFUL REPRESEN- TATION OF INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS: THE BRAZIL- IAN EXAMPLE

When, at the end of the 1990s, employment at Anchieta/ Sao Bernardo, the Volkswagen group’s central Brazilian works (with a workforce of approx. 18,000), was threatened with collapse because of the Asia/ South America financial cri- sis, the chairman of the World Works Council, Klaus Volkert

Cordula Kropke/May 2000 of the Wolfsburg parent works, supported his Brazilian col- proved unsuccessful. Fundamental dif- ultimatum by the management, eventu- leagues in their negotiations ferences of approach among the shop ally leading to the dismissal of some with local management. The stewards at South Africa’s Volkswagen 1,300 workers who had failed to return negotiations resulted in a set- plant, having developed slowly over the to their posts. In the meantime the workforce tlement similar to the Wolfsburg years, had hardened over the issue of has been replenished by new recruits. “Alliance for Labour” – a package negotiating with the management on Production in the last few months has which included shorter work- the subject of flexible working hours been running according to plan. ing hours without full pay, and other changes designed to enhance Boninsile Mzeku, one of the dismissed flexibilization, and future em- productivity. Volkswagen had called for workers’ spokesmen, takes a completely ployment guarantees. such measures with the intention of different view of the whole situation. Mario Barbosa, Brazilian trade bringing the Uitenhage plant, which was “Volkswagen wants to get rid of those union representative respon- then operating at a loss, up to the world of us who oppose the negotiations,” he sible for Volkswagen issues level in terms of both quality and pro- said at a press conference before the and South American coordi- ductivity. At the same time, Uitenhage opening of the mediation commission’s nator on the World Works was awarded the production of a new proceedings. And he accuses the trade Council, concedes that some medium-class car for export to Great union of making common cause with the of his colleagues were initially Britain. This development was to create management. “NUMSA has sold out the opposed to this settlement, some 1,000 new jobs in the Port Eliza- workers to the management,” was the and especially to the limited beth/Uitenhage area, where unemploy- inscription on the banners of a splinter scope of the wage adjustment ment levels were reaching 50 per cent. group not affiliated with any trade union, arrived at. Finally, however, Because of the newly created jobs, and which many of the “opposition” have job security considerations won in the interests of guaranteeing the workers’ meanwhile joined. the day. “Not one Brazilian long-term future prospects, a majority of The mediation commission headed by Volkswagen employee lost his the 32 elected shop stewards were pre- Judge Brandt is unlikely to persuade the job during the crisis,” de- pared to negotiate. But a minority could parties to the conflict to reach a com- clares Barbosa. not accept this “betrayal of the workers’ promise. Neither the local management He is convinced that wage- hard-won rights” and called for “spon- nor the worldwide works council thinks earners have only one possible taneous” strikes in order to mobilize opinion it possible for the dismissed workers to answer to the globalization of within the works against the majority be reinstated, as that would entail dis- industry; namely, globalization decision. When, in January 2000, NUMSA missing the newly recruited personnel. from below through interna- expelled the thirteen opposing shop But uncertainty over future developments tional networking of workers’ stewards, violent clashes took place at within the works and the community is representations. “We must get the works, and production was halted for adversely affecting trade union activities rid of competition between about a fortnight. and cooperation between the workforce workers across all frontiers,” The NUMSA shop stewards claim that and management. says Barbosa, whose own efforts the majority of workers were against this Hans-Juergen Uhl of Volkswagen’s on behalf of a free trade strike, which had been engineered by worldwide works council can see hard union movement in Brazil go intimidation and threats of violence. Mayor times ahead for trade unions in South back to the time of the struggle “Bicks” Ndoni and others warned that Africa and especially for NUMSA rep- against the military dictator- the place was “getting out of control”. ship in that country. The two-weeks strike ended with an (Continued on p. 27)

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 17 Planet Work

event of a strike and that these STRIKE ACTIONS should be clearly specified. – Source: L’Echo, Belgium, ● The world’s largest auto- 19 August 2000 maker has rattled the striking Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation MIGRATION of Television and Radio Art- A regular review of ists (AFTRA) with a commer- ● Asian and Middle East- cial shot in July. SAG and trends and ern migrants are increasingly AFTRA have been critical of developments in the transiting through the Balkans General Motors (GM) for on their way to industrialized filming ads outside the United world of work countries in Europe, accord- States during the actors’ strike ing to reports cited in The New which began on 1 May. SAG ● A recent labor accord end- ing stock options, profit-shar- York Times. The reports said and AFTRA members de- ing a strike by some 86,000 ing and the relentlessness of Asian migrants were able to manded residual payments for workers of Verizon Communi- long workdays,” according to obtain visas in the former cable television ads and jur- cations in 12 Eastern States The New York Times. The wage Yugoslavia for transit through isdiction over ads shot for the in the United States “touches increases, improved pension Bosnia and Croatia and on to Internet. – Source: The Asso- many of the hot-button issues benefits and reduction in the rest of Europe. Middle ciated Press, 22 August 2000 of the new economy – includ- mandatory overtime have Eastern migrants, meanwhile, prompted analysts to term the are reportedly flowing through settlement by the workers for Bosnia, which has a Muslim- Verizon, which employs some led government. The Times said 260,000 workers throughout authorities had caught 10,000 the US, as “generous” by any illegal immigrants trying to measure. Among its elements cross into Croatia in the first are concessions that should half of 2000, compared to 8,000 make it easier to recruit union for all of 1999. – Source: The members from some of the New York Times, 22 August company’s units. While the 2000 experts hailed the agreement, company officials added they ● Mozambique has accused also felt it would enhance their South African farmers of firm’s competitiveness. – exploiting migrant farm work- Source: The New York Times, ers, sometimes reporting them 22 August 2000. to police to avoid paying wages. South Africa has con- ● The Belgian enterprise firmed the practice, saying it federation, FEB, has called for is rampant in Mpumalanga and a legal ruling defining the “nor- KwaZulu-Natal provinces and mal” and “abnormal” exercis- that the South African farmers ing of a worker’s right to strike. union had agreed to set up a The move stems from a 1997 task force to report on the prob- court ruling rejecting a request lem. Officials estimate some by an employer that strike 25,000 illegal Mozambican

Keystone, 13 Sept. 2000 pickets be banned from par- migrant workers are employed Actor Kevin Bacon speaks with a member of the media ading outside his company. on South African farms. – suring a rally for the resumption of SAG-AFTRA talks The FEB said that employers Source: Radio Mozambique, with advertising agencies, in New York. also have certain rights in the Maputo, 18 August 2000

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 18 ● Migrant “guest workers” Ministry plans to reduce are facing highway banditry unemployment through pro- while on their way home from fessional training aimed at Western Europe to Yugoslavia. generating small and medium Armed gangs are apparently enterprises. Officials said the hunting the travelling work- government has already re- ers along the M1 highway duced the unemployment rate between Budapest and west- from 13.2 per cent to 11.9 ern Hungary. Yugoslav offi- per cent, and aims to cut the cials told the “Mai Np” daily figure to 7 per cent. – Source: in Hungary that on one week- La Prensa, Panama City, 24 end, 31 families were robbed August 2000 on their way home, including one family who were report- ● The unemployment rate edly forced off the road and in Russia is dropping stead- robbed of documents, valu- ily, according to official stat- ables and cash worth DM istics. Russia had some 7.2 27,000. – Source: MTI news million jobless at the end of agency, Budapest, 25 July 2000 July, down 17.4 per cent since ILO/svideo image the same month last year and ganization End Child Pros- South African children are 1.3 percent since June. As of titution in Asian Tourism involved in the sex trade, EMPLOYMENT July, the unemployed repre- (ECPAT). The NGO said prices either because they are forced sented nearly 11 per cent of for children have decreased into it by individuals or ● China plans a three-year the economically active popu- while more children are liv- compelled to find income due rural employment programme lation of some 72.3 million ing on the margins of society to poverty or being orphaned. to provide jobs for surplus people, which is roughly half and more foreign paedophiles – Source: South African rural workers. The programme the entire Russian population. are streaming into the region. Press Agency, 22 August 2000 will reportedly involve train- – Source: Interfax Interna- ECPAT officials also told a ing courses, and migrant tional Ltd., 22 August 2000 United Nations meeting in ● In Iran, the head of the workers are to be encouraged Bangkok that Asian nations country’s official trade un- to return to their hometowns battling to curb the flourish- ion says some 300,000 Ira- and establish businesses there. CHILD LABOUR ing child sex tourism indus- nian children are working Statistics reportedly show that try will train holiday resort illegally in workshops and China has a surplus labour ● The number of foreign- workers to identify and re- factories. Ali Reza Mahjub force of 150 million in the ers coming to Asia for child port foreign paedophiles. said the number of children countryside. – Source: Xinhua sex is rising sharply, due to ECPAT said representatives working could double within news agency, 25 July 2000 the economic crisis and poor from tourism authorities in a year, despite efforts by the law enforcement, according Cambodia, the Philippines, government to ban child ● In Panama, the Labour to the nongovernmental or- Vietnam and Thailand have labour. –Source: BBC World agreed to set up training pro- Service, 22 July 2000 grammes for “frontline staff” such as taxi drivers and tour ● The government of Thai- guides. –Source: Agence land plans to teach children France Presse, 22 August 2000 how to protect themselves from abuse and health hazards at ● A conference on chil- the workplace. Some 50,000 dren’s rights in South Africa copies of a study guide are has called for legislation to be distributed to teachers which would ensure child to help students find decent prostitutes are treated as work and learn their rights. victims rather than criminals. Officials said the number of Government officials told the child workers in Thailand had meeting it was time to change dropped recently as a result the country’s laws, which were of measures and campaigns “designed by people who against exploiting children, but Keystone, May 2000 Beijing, China: A young migrant Chinese man sleeps next have no understanding of the that education for those who to empty coke bottles and soda cans. Thousands of un- child sex industry”. Officials must work or want to work employed workers from the countryside travel to Beijing said it was believed that was still needed. – Source: The daily to collect anything that can be recycled or resold. hundreds of thousands of Bangkok Post, 24 August 2000

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 19 workers can pull in audiences. of attacks were given. – The film, based on a true story Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun, of the same title by the author 22 June, 2000 Sebastian Junger, shows the living and working condi- MEANWHILE tions of a crew of a sword- fishing boat off the coast of ● Poland has come a long North America, and what way in the 20 years since strikes happens when they sail into led to the signing of an un- a tempest of weather fronts precedented agreement allow- in October 1991 which cre- ing independent, self-govern- ated the worst (“Perfect”) ing trade unions for the first Atlantic storm in a century. time in a Communist state. The film about the lives – Where workers and students and deaths – of the fisher- once fought riot police in men took in US$21.7 mil- Warsaw’s Old Town, Polish lion on the first weekend of President Aleksander Kwas- ILO/Georges Cabrera its US debut in July. – Source: niewski recently distributed Improving education amongst children in Pakistan... Of- BBC News, 3 July 2000 copies of his new book, “Pol- ficials announced a series of reforms, including the es- and – A Home for Everybody”, tablishment of a fund for educating working children and ● Train station workers in expressing his views on the freed bonded labourers. metropolitan Tokyo in Ja- rule of law, Poland’s role in LABOUR LAWS bonded labourers in the west pan are facing a rising tide Europe, and social justice. of the country which culmi- of violence – from passen- Those were issues first cham- ● A Commission on La- nated in a sit-in in the capital gers. The Tokyo branch of pioned independently by the bour Laws in Pakistan has Kathmandu. More than East Japan Railway Co. re- Solidarity trade union when completed its work of sim- 36,000 bonded labourers are ported that attacks on sta- it came into existence at the plifying, rationalizing and expected to be freed under tion workers rose from 35 in shipyards in Gdansk on 31 consolidating the country’s the initiative. – Source: BBC 1998 to 162 in 1999, and August 1980, under the lead- labour laws. Officials say a World Service, 17 July, 2000 that 76 workers had applied ership of Lech Walesa. The labour reform programme is for accident compensation shipyard electrician and union being formulated in consul- as a result. Many of the attacks organizer became Poland’s tation with workers, employ- SAFETY AT WORK came during summer and at first post-Communist presi- Keystone ers and other stakeholders. the end of the year, when dent. Pakistan has ratified five of ● A recent ruling by a alcohol consumption in- – Source: Polish News Agency the eight ILO core conven- court in the United Kingdom creases, the report said. No and the editor, World of Work, tions and its laws are being has set the stage for thou- figures for the national total 25 August 2000 ❑ amended accordingly. Offi- sands of workers in South cials also announced a series Africa to file claims against of reforms, including a lift- a mining company, even ing of a ban on one trade though it no longer has any union, enhancement of the interests in their country. minimum old age pension, Some 3,000 South African an increase in death grants asbestosis sufferers are claim- to the families of deceased ing damages from a UK-based workers and improvement in mining company and de- the marriage grant to daugh- manding compensation. ters of workers, and estab- However, the fate of thou- lishment of a fund for edu- sands of other asbestosis cating working children and sufferers remains unsettled. freed bonded labourers. – – Source: Business Day, South Source: Pakistan Press In- Africa, 21 July 2000 ternational, 8 August 2000 ● Does occupational ● Nepal abolished bonded safety and health sell at the labour in July, and has writ- box-office? A new film pro- Keystone ten off the labourers’ debt. duced in the United States, Tokyo railway station. The Tokyo branch of East Japan The move came following entitled “The Perfect Storm” Railway Co. reported that attacks on station workers rose two months of agitation by suggests that the plight of from 35 in 1998 to 162 in 1999.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 20 f ...News in brie f

Stop press...Stop press...Stop press Copenhagen+5,

ered in Copenhagen in 1995 to address ...News in brie

social justice in the world. f Geneva 2000 Noting that the “critical role of social policy is generally accepted in inter- national and national policy debates, in- Globalizing social progress: ILO plays key cluding in the Bretton Woods institu- role in Social Summit follow-up tions, and gender issues are becoming more prominent”, Mr. Somavia added that this consensus Five years after the UN World had yet to be trans- Summit for Social Development, Juan lated into concrete 1

Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, action. ...News in brie told some 6,400 delegates from around “Poverty”, Mr. f the world that “the benefits of the Somavia said, “has global economy have not reached risen in absolute enough people”. Warning of a “grow- terms. Central and ing gap between discourse and deeds”, Eastern Europe con- Mr. Somavia argued that “basically, tinue to suffer, Latin the notions of the Social Summit have American unem- permeated policy talk, have had some ployment is at his- influence on policymaking and very torical highs, East little effect on policy action”. Asia has undergone ...News in brie

ILO/D. Bregnard, 26 June 2000 great social trauma, and Africa continues f GENEVA – In his address to a Special Juan Somavia, ILO Director-General, told some 6,400 to be largely excluded Session of the United Nations General delegates from around the world that “the benefits of from the benefits Assembly held to assess the Social Summit the global economy have not reached enough people” of globalization.” in Geneva in June, the Director-General and warned of a “growing gap between discourse and For many people declared, “It is now widely agreed there deeds”. throughout the world must be a social pillar to the global economy words, Mr. Somavia provided an over- “there is greater inequality and insecu- and poverty eradication has become a view of what has and has not been rity”, he added, while acknowledging legitimate political objective.” With those accomplished since world leaders gath- that “personal responsibility, entrepre- ...News in brie f THE ILO AND “COPENHAGEN+5" On the recommendation of the Summit, the General Assembly in the field of employment and social development, the decided in 1995 (Resolution 50/161) to hold a special session ILO has played a prominent role in the promotion and in the year 2000 to review and appraise the implementation implementation of the social development goals contained of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development in the WSSD Declaration and Programme of Action, and (WSSD) and consider further action and initiatives. The was actively involved in the Special Session preparatory Special Session of the General Assembly entitled “World process. Apart from the UN Secretariat, which was directly Summit for Social Development and Beyond: Achieving Social responsible for organizing the Special Session, the ILO Development for All in a Globalizing World”, was held in was perhaps the most active and visible international Geneva on 26-30 June 2000. Its main purpose was to reaffirm organization throughout the whole week, both at the ne- the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the gotiations taking place at the Special Session, and in a ...News in brie f Programme of Action, review implementation so far, and number of seminars, events and activities which took place recommend concrete action and initiatives to further efforts in parallel to the Special Session, within the framework towards their full and effective implementation. of the Geneva 2000 Forum organized by the Swiss gov- Because of its mandate, tripartite structure and expertise ernment.

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neurship and appropriate government poli- ution”, Mr. Somavia explained, adding cies have yielded some success stories”. that above all, it was “work that cor- THE ILO AND GENEVA 2000 responds to the reasonable, diverse goals Solidarity needed of individuals, cultures and societies in The ILO organized a series different development realities”. of events as part of its To counter the negative trends, Mr. contribution to the Geneva Somavia insisted that: “We need to reassert 2000 Forum. These included 16 workshops on a wide range solidarity. We need to re-establish a basic “We need decent work for all of themes which provided an sense of common purpose and security workers, women and men, formal opportunity for discussion on for all: people, families, communities and informal, waged and self- issues of critical importance and countries.” He argued that “The real employed. They all need work for the ILO’s contribution impact on people must become the driving where basic rights are respected, to the implementation of the factor in the design of economic policies.” people are protected and repre- Copenhagen Programme of Ac- He called on the private sector to sented and where economic and tion (for further informa- increasingly assume its social responsi- social efficiency are pursued hand- tion, please see the ILO bilities, saying that “beyond the bottom in-hand. That’s the real develop- Web site on the Special Session line, enterprise must be accountable to ment goal.” – Juan Somavia. http://www.ilo.org/gene- stakeholders and community”. Although va2000).3 governments today often have fewer The ILO also joined ef- forts with the Swiss and resources and are less inclined to inter- “To achieve decent work”, the ILO Geneva authorities in the or- Director-General said, “the policies vene in economic decision making, Mr. ganization of a number of Somavia said “the State must perform guiding and shaping the global economy public events aimed at high- its function of ensuring a balance be- must change.” New policies “must lighting the plight of chil- tween the force of the market and the generate productive employment and dren working under abusive greater personal opportunity since this conditions, and stimulating ILO concerns featured promi- is the key to poverty reduction and to worldwide action to bring child nently in the overall document economic and social inclusion for the labour to an end. The ILO, adopted by the Special Ses- millions who have been bypassed or among others, organized a sion, which reflects the central hurt by globalization”. ceremony with the partici- role of employment and labour pation of Mr. Pascal Couchepin, matters in combating poverty Swiss Federal Councillor, who, and exclusion, and the relevance Copenhagen+5 outcomes on behalf of the Swiss of the ILO agenda for social authorities, signed various and economic development.2 The Special Session reached a ILO instruments including the consensus on a wide range of initiatives Worst Forms of Child Labour needs of society. Yes to a market economy, to reduce poverty and spur job growth Convention, 1999 (No. 182), no to a market society.” He added that in the global economy. Despite a wide in the presence of children “we need to globalize social progress”. gap between developing and developed from several countries who sang and released balloons The UN General Assembly Session countries over trade and economic is- as a sign of their solidarity (UNGASS) was held to advance the global sues, countries managed to agree on a series of measures to promote social with working children. In co- social development agenda set at the operation with the City of development while mitigating the ad- Copenhagen Summit, at which Mr. Geneva and with the support Somavia served as Secretary-General. That verse effects of globalization. of the Italian Government, gathering, Mr. Somavia noted, “concluded Most importantly, the Special Ses- a ceremony also took place that employment is the means to over- sion explicitly endorsed the ILO Decent at the Victoria Hall, fea- come poverty and exclusion” and he Work Programme and its four strategic turing a concert by children. applauded the delegates to the follow- objectives. up conference for reaching agreement on A number of other initiatives adopted the call for “a coherent and coordinated at the Special Session were based on ● international strategy on employment”. proposals submitted by the ILO. Respect, promote and realize the In their endorsement of Decent Work, principles contained in the ILO Decla- countries recognized the “need to elab- ration The role of orate a coherent and coordinated inter- ● Support and participate in the global “decent work” national strategy on employment” and campaign for the immediate elimination supported “the convening of a world of the worst forms of child labour, including Mr. Somavia said that the ILO had employment forum by the ILO”. They by promoting universal ratification and expressed this goal as “decent work”, also endorsed efforts to: implementation of the Worst Forms of which can take many forms. “Decent ● Continue ratifying and fully imple- Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). work is what people aspire to. It is not menting the ILO Conventions concern- The ILO’s role in addressing “a range a straitjacket or a one-size-fits-all sol- ing basic workers’ rights of support measures to informal sector

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 22 News in brief...News b ...News in f workers, including legal rights, social tion of domestic revenue for social services, work in 1998 as “a significant step protection and credit”, and the strength- new and additional resources for social forward since the Social Summit”, which, ening of “modalities of coverage of social development, and the launching of a if successfully realized, “will provide protection systems to meet the needs of global campaign to eradicate poverty. a badly needed social floor to the global people engaged in flexible forms of economy”. employment”, was also highlighted. “We must also respect the self-em- ILO concerns were also reflected in “Beyond its direct outcome, powerment of those whom we now call agreements related to “the positive in- Copenhagen+5 was a unique the voiceless and vulnerable, and support opportunity to advocate ILO teraction among environmental, economic their struggles to attain social justice.” ...News in brie

values, objectives and activities to f and social policies”, the institution of Acknowledging that no organization a large global audience. The can hope to meet these goals alone, Mr. “systems for assessment and monitoring effort is already reaping its Somavia called for “a new coalition, of the social impact of economic pol- benefits. Ahead lies the major icies”, the undertaking of “comprehen- responsibility for the ILO of bringing the key actors in the new global sive assessments of the social and eco- responding to the expectations environment together around common nomic costs of unemployment and pov- raised.” – Maria Angélica Ducci, values and goals”. erty”, the reduction of “negative impacts Director, Bureau for External He said this coalition should include of international financial turbulence on Relations and Partnerships “governments, business, representatives social and economic development”, and of workers, parliamentarians, local au- the encouragement of corporate social thorities, voices representative of civil In a short political declaration adopted responsibility. society and the international system. as Part I of the document, member States ...News in brie Delegates emphasized the clear link Together they have the power to change f reaffirm the Copenhagen Declaration and which exists between poverty reduction policies. If all work in partnership, the the Programme of Action adopted in and employment creation, following in goals of the Social Summit can be Copenhagen, and reiterate their deter- that regard, the ILO’s approach as re- reached.” ❑ mination to eradicate poverty, promote flected in the contribution submitted by full and productive employment and foster the Director-General to the First Session – Sources, ILO/31 press release, Di- social integration. It refers to the full of the Preparatory Committee, entitled rector-General’s speeches, Bureau for respect for fundamental principles and “Decent Work and Poverty Reduction in External Relations and Partnerships rights at work, which is considered as the Global Economy” (See http://mirror/ briefing. an “essential element” for the “realiz- public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/ ation of social and people-centred sus- gb277/index.html). The adopted document 1 The ILO delegation to the Special Session was tainable development”. The ILO’s con- headed by the Director-General, and included a ...News in brie calls for the full integration of employ- f cerns are also well reflected in the overall tripartite delegation of the Governing Body, con- ment growth and poverty reduction goals review and appraisal of the implemen- sisting of Ambassador Celso L. Nunes Amorim, into macroeconomic policies, access of representative of Brazil and Chairperson of the tation of the outcome of the World Summit Governing Body 2000-2001 session, Mr. Rolf Thüsing, people living in poverty to skills training for Social Development (Part II of the member of the Executive Board of the Confederation and microcredit schemes, the use of of German Employers’ Associations and Employer document). In this review, the delegates employment policies – including self- vice-chairman of the GB, and Lord Bill Brett, member duly acknowledge the work carried out of the General Council of the United Kingdom Trade employment, – to reduce poverty, the Union Congress and Worker vice-chairman of the by the Organization since 1995; in par- growth of small and medium-sized en- GB. The Director-General addressed the Special ticular the adoption of the ILO Decla- Session on behalf of the ILO on Monday 26 June. terprises, the improvement of the pro- ration on Fundamental Principles and The full text of his statement made on that occasion ductivity and working conditions in the can be found on the Web, at: Rights at Work, as well as of the Worst http://mirror/public/english/bureau/dgo/speeches/ informal sector, development of coop- somavia/2000/c+52606.htm

Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 ...News in brie eratives, and the development of social (No. 182). 2 An oral report on the outcome of the Special f protection systems for vulnerable, unpro- Session was presented to the meeting of the ILO tected people. Advisory Committee on International Policy (ACIP), held on 6 July 2000, and a full report will be submitted Other further initiatives relevant to the Power to the voiceless to the Employment and Social Policy Committee of ILO’s mandate and concerns include access and vulnerable the Governing Body, at its 279th Session, in No- to employment for persons with disabil- vember 2000. ities, rights and protection of migrants, Mr. Somavia highlighted the need for 3 A number of other initiatives were organized social integration in post-conflict situ- “an integrated and coherent approach to by the ILO. These included the provision of cyberspace facilities and the production of a CD-ROM jointly ations, contribution of indigenous peo- economic, social and environmental prepared by the ILO and the UN, containing com- ples, empowerment of women including policies”, adding that “we must strengthen prehensive documentation and information on the World Summit for Social Development follow-up increasing women’s participation in the the regulatory frameworks at the global activities, and the preparatory process for the review labour market, reconciliation of work level to tame the excesses of the market, of the implementation of the Copenhagen Decla- ...News in brie and familiy responsibilities, training in ration and Programme of Action. Copies of the CD- f to protect the basic rights of people and ROM were made available to all participants. ILO skills and technologies necessary for the to realize the right to development”. information stands were permanently open in the knowledge-based economy, HIV/AIDS, In this regard, he characterized the ILO building and in other premises hosting the Geneva 2000 Forum, displaying documentation and multi- assessment of the social impact of struc- adoption of the ILO Declaration on media packages, which attracted considerable in- tural adjustment programmes, genera- fundamental principles and rights at terest.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 23 News in brie b

India: Self-employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Giving unprotected women workers a collective voice to organize and bargain

“SEWA was started in 1972 by WoW: Much has been Ela Bhatt in Ahmedabad, India. said about the impact of It is both an organization and a globalization on the infor- movement. It is a confluence of mal economy. How has this three movements: the labour impact affected women movement, the cooperative move- workers in India, and what ment and the women’s movement. sort of lessons can be drawn But it is also a movement of self- as a result? employed women, with women as RJ: In practice we have the leaders. Through their own found that liberalization has movement women become strong had a mixed impact on the and visible. Their tremendous women workers. On the one economic and social contribution hand, liberalization has led becomes recognized.” World of to closure of many indus- Work talks to Ms. Renana tries as well as to infor- Jhabvala, the National Coordi- malization, and a tremen- nator for SEWA, during the recent dous increase in contract Social Summit in Geneva. ILO/G. Cabrera, 26 June 2000 and casual work. This has “We must give women’s work a positive value if we are to have policies and action that can provide women impoverished many fami- with the security they need”. ILO Director-General, lies, which were earlier in World of Work: What is the goal Juan Somavia inaugurates a SEWA exhibit at the ILO the formal sector, and has of SEWA and how has it worked during the Copenhagen+5 Summit in Geneva. “Part- increased the workload of to help alleviate poverty among nerships like SEWA are very important to the ILO”, the women in these fam- informal women workers in India? he said. He is seen here greeting Mrs. Jhabvala and ilies. It has also increased Renana Jhabvala: SEWA is a the visiting SEWA team. competition in the infor- trade union registered in 1972. It mal economy. Furthermore, has 220,000 members and has promoted ance means women should be autono- the opening of markets to foreign 85 cooperatives including the Mahila mous, individually and collectively, products is affecting the local rural SEWA Bank. It is an organization of both economically and in their deci- economy. poor, self-employed or informal women sion-making ability. On the other hand, the opening of workers who earn a living through their At SEWA we organize workers to achieve markets, the loosening of bureaucratic own labour or small businesses. They their goals of full employment and self- controls, new technologies and the tre- are the unprotected workers of our country, reliance through the strategy of struggle mendous growth of communications, constituting 92 per cent of the labour and development. The struggle is against especially telephones and television, force, and are in the unorganized sector. the constraints and limitations imposed has increased both opportunities and Of the female labour force in India, more by society and the economy, while de- expectations for the informal economy than 94 per cent are in the unorganized velopment activities strengthen women’s workers. sector. However, their work is not counted; bargaining power and offer them new WoW: How does SEWA balance the women workers remain uncounted, alternatives. impact of globalization with the needs undercounted and invisible. To bring women workers into the of its members and constituents? SEWA’s main goals are to organize mainstream, SEWA has launched sev- RJ: SEWA is actively involved in women workers for full employment and eral state, national and international level advocacy for the protection of women self-reliance. Full employment means work campaigns. These campaigns are mainly workers in the informal economy. It is security, income security, food secu- targeted to voice women workers’ rights now being recognized that these workers rity and social security (at least health and demands and to influence the pol- also need some minimum standards as care, child care and shelter). Self reli- icies in their favour. well as social protection. However, they

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 24 ews in brief...News N b ...News in f do not have a clear employer-employee relationship and so the kinds of mini- “I feel strong today...” mum standards and social protection that need to be prescribed for them has Chanchalben is from the village of Kosam in the Kheda district. to be very different from what we are She was married at 7, widowed at the age of eighteen. She had used to in the labour laws, which are two small children at the time. mainly for the formal sector, for the “I didn’t know how I would ever raise my two children, how I would model of the “industrial man”. survive... I began working in the home of a landlord of my village. SEWA is active in trying to promote I did all the housework and helped in the construction work of his ...News in brie standards such as the ILO Convention home. I earned Rs. 4 per day and a meal for this labour. I would f on Homeworkers, 1996 (No. 177) and pour water over the cement construction till my body ached. My stomach the International Declaration for Street would hurt too. But then I thought of my children and kept going. vendors. Also as part of WIEGO – Women in Informal Employment Globalizing “I did many different types of work. I worked in the tobacco fields, and Organizing – we are active in in the tobacco processing plants. I would lock up my children in promoting an International Platform for the house and go to work. I was always worried about the children. Workers in the Informal Economy, as “In spite of working so hard, I could barely earn enough to survive. we believe that in the process of glo- We were paid so little and there was nothing we could do because balization it is important for workers if we protested we would get no work at all. to make their voice heard at interna- tional as well as national levels. “One day, SEWA organizers came to my village. They organized ...News in brie On the development side we feel that a meeting and spoke of joining the union. After the meeting, they f better and more employment should be invited one of us to visit SEWA’s office at Anand. I met many part of the process of globalization. In women like myself at the office and learned about savings groups. cases where workers have been able to I decided to form one such group in my own village. link with the newly expanding markets “Then I said to my sisters in the village and also to the SEWA their income has gone up considerably. organizers that we really needed a crèche in the village. We work SEWA has been successful in linking with tobacco and it is so harmful for our children. So we approached up its artisan members’ production with the village Panchayat and the State Government, and obtained a the national and international markets. crèche for our children. To make our members competent in the “Perhaps the most difficult struggle was to get minimum wages. global village, we have been making ...News in brie them aware of latest technologies, their I was afraid that if we asked for better wages we would get f uses and implications. no work at all and then we would starve. But then I picked up courage and together our union insisted on getting the minimum WoW: What has been the impact of wage. I lost my fear. the ILO Convention of Homework, 1996 (No. 177) and how are its terms being “As I participated in more meetings at SEWA I became more involved, implemented if at all in national law and learned new things. I felt stronger and shared what I learned practice in Indian now? with other women. After joining the union, I felt secure. We saved, RJ: One of SEWA’s oldest campaigns we joined the insurance scheme. I feel strong today...” has been for the rights of millions of home based workers for both piece rate and own account workers. WoW: You have launched a new of women’s informal employment in ...News in brie

The Government of India has decided international organization for women in national and global economics; f to launch a National Policy on Homebased the informal economy, what are the goals ● To integrate women’s informal work Workers. The National Policy was dis- of this organization, and will it be able into mainstream theories, policies, and cussed in a national tripartite meeting to help women outside of India improve markets. and is in the process of being formulated. their incomes and fight poverty? WIEGO is concentrating on five areas. It is along the lines of the Convention. RJ: WIEGO is a network of grass- They are global markets, social protec- However, the Government of India has roots organizations, researchers and tion for informal workers, urban poli- adopted a broader definition of home policy makers. WIEGO’s main goal is cies and how they effect street vendors, based workers. to formulate and promote policies that organization and representation of At the international level, HomeNet is will directly benefit women in informal women in the informal economy – promoting organizations of home based employment. promoting membership-based organi- ...News in brie

workers internationally, as well as national Its objectives are: zations of informal workers and build- f policies. HomeNet along with the inter- ● To improve the economic and social ing systems of voice regulation to ensure national trade unions – IUF, ITGLWF prospects of women in informal em- their representation – and statistics to and ICEM – are having a campaign for ployment. ensure visibility and understanding of ratification of the Convention. ● To draw attention to the centrality informal workers.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 25 ews in brie N b

gle making, tanneries, circuses, toy making, and in the transport sector; children vulnerable and exposed to sexual and economic exploitation and physical abuse; and child domestics and chil- Nepal dren engaged in home based services such as in small hotels, Nepal trade unions restaurants and in agriculture. adopt policy against In addition, the trade un- ions made a commitment to work child labour towards intensive awareness rais- ing and social mobilization, lob- The three major trade union or- bying for the application and ganizations of Nepal – the Nepal Trade surveillance of national laws and Union Congress (NTUC), the General international labour standards, Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions inclusion of the issue of child (GEFONT) and the Democratic Con- labour in collective bargaining federation of Nepalese Trade Unions agreements and workers’ educa- (DECONT) – have taken a major step tion programmes, implementa- to combat all forms of child labour in tion, preventive and rehabilita- their country. The unions issued an tive measures, development a unprecedented “Dhulikhel Declaration” “Code of Conduct” for workers in July setting out common policies and their respective unions, and and strategies for the elimination of monitoring the incidence of child child labour, and declaring their “moral labour in the workplace to pro- resolve” to pursue that goal. ILO/E. Gianotti tect child workers from exploi- tation. what constitutes “child”, “child labour” KATHMANDU, Nepal – The common This activity was carried out by ILO/ and the “worst forms of child labour”. understanding was reached at a two-day IPEC as part of the time-bound project For Nepal, the trade unions have iden- workshop on “Developing common entitled “Towards the elimination of tified as the worst forms of child labour: understanding, policies and strategies on child (bonded) labour in Nepal”, funded children working under forced or bonded child labour among trade union organi- by the Italian social partners and being labour conditions; in inherently hazard- zations”, held on 19 and 20 July 2000 jointly implemented by UNICEF and ous environments such as mines, stone at Dhulikhel. is ILO/IPEC in Nepal. At this workshop, organized by the quarries, brick kilns and construction sites; ILO International Programme on the Elim- children exposed to chemicals and other ination of Child Labour (IPEC), the trade hazards such as in the carpet industries, – Source, ILO (Kathmandu press re- unions reiterated their strong opposition foundries, welding shops, garages, ban- lease, 20 July 2000) to child labour – particularly in its worst forms – prevailing in the country, and expressed a commitment to take concrete action in conformity with the ILO Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). Representatives of the Ministry of Labour Lebanon and Transport Management and the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Employers’ High-level ILO needs assessment of South Lebanon Council, were also present at the event. makes proposals for action Another significant outcome of the workshop was that all the participating In the wake of the recent Israeli people – identified a general slump in trade unions came up with a concrete withdrawal, a joint mission by the ILO economic activities in southern Leba- set of recommendations which will form InFocus Programme on Crisis Response non and a situation characterized by an integral part of a common “Codes of and Reconstruction (IFP/CRISIS) and high levels of unemployment, under- Conduct” for the trade unions in Nepal. the Regional Office for Arab States employment, job precariousness and The Declaration, in the context of the (ROAS) to South Lebanon, 17-25 July general impoverishment. Addressing trade unions, defines for the first time 2000, has – together with the local the serious employment, social dialogue,

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 26 ews in brief...News N b ...News in f

socioeconomic integration and institu- tional capacity challenges identified, is of urgent priority.

GENEVA/BEIRUT – According to their analysis, the ILO’s response to the situ- ation should aim at saving and improving existing jobs and livelihoods in the south,

creating new employment opportunities, ...News in brie promoting social dialogue and socioeco- f nomic integration of the affected groups and of southern Lebanon, and building and strengthening institutional capac- ities of the government, and employers’ and workers’ organizations in south Leba- non. Serious problems affecting women are addressed in the proposal and will be the focus of a specific project proposal.

The critical issue of social protection ILO/Jacques Maillard ...News in brie

(including occupational safety and health, f and other working conditions) is also of the region, to give the people hope, demands a comprehensive strategy con- covered. restore their confidence, and to facilitate sisting of short- and medium- to long- “The multifaceted needs identified, the return and integration of the displaced term measures at the local, regional and which are directly and indirectly related and others adversely affected by the crisis,” national levels.” to employment, require urgent response the Crisis Response Programme said in – Source, IFP/CRISIS Web site, to improve the material welfare of the a press release announcing the proposals. 4 August 2000 people, to contribute to the development “It was found that their effective tackling

South Africa unionists switched to politics. “The trade Kelly Forest of the highly reputed union structures were weakened by this “South African Labour Bulletin” pe- ...News in brie (Continued from p. 15) f blood-letting.” South Africa’s trade riodical speaks of the opposition group’s unions, like the whole of South African “tragic” quality. Its spokesmen were resentatives at the Uitenhage works. society, are short on democratic cul- once the pioneers of South Africa’s trade After the country’s first democratic ture. That is what made it possible for union movement. Today they are voicing elections, he says, many capable trade the conflict to get so badly out of hand. the dissatisfaction felt by the base at the sluggish rate of reform in the country. At the industrial level, they have failed to grasp the changed situation of the post-apartheid era – the introduction of advanced labour laws, expanded

worker participation possibilities, etc. ...News in brie Their political style is still determined f by confrontation; in their eyes, coop- eration with management is equivalent to betrayal. Hans-Juergen Uhl hopes that the coming months will see a stabilization of trade union structures at the South African Volkswagen works. This is of impor- tance, he says, not only to the Uitenhage works but also to the future work of

Volkswagen’s World Works Council – ...News in brie

because this council, too, depends upon f the existence of a well-organized local base capable of effective action.

Cordula Kropke/May 2000 Martin Kempe

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 27 ews in brie N A regular review of the International Labour Organization and ILO-related activities and events taking place around the world.

HELPING UKRAINE

▲ The US Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a two-year technical assistance programme with Ukraine ad- dressing mine safety and health, services for jobless workers, child labour, industrial relations and gender equality. The programme will cost US$3.75 million in FY 2000. As part of the programme, DOL will work through the ILO to help Ukraine develop a plan of action to combat child labour, to foster effective industrial relations activities to prevent and resolve labour disputes and promote collective bargaining, and to promote gender equality and nondiscrimination in the workplace. For further information, please contact the ILO Field Pro- grammes in Europe and Central Asia. Phone: +4122/799.6666, fax: +4122/799.6061, e-mail: [email protected]

NEW OECD GUIDELINES STRESS CORE LABOUR RIGHTS

▲ On June 27, governments from 33 countries adopted a revised version of the Organization for Economic Cooperation

BUSINESS AND LABOUR ENDORSE UN GLOBAL COMPACT ▲ Representatives from nearly 50 companies met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on July 26, to pledge their support for nine principles covering human rights, labour standards, and the environment. By endorsing this “Global Compact”, companies agree to uphold the four principles set forth in the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The business leaders were joined by representatives from 11 nongovernmental and four labour organizations, including the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and Union Network International. ILO Director-General Juan Somavia and chief officials of other UN agencies addressed the gath- ering. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the delegates at the High-Level Meeting on the Global Compact that “we must ensure that the global market is embedded in broadly shared values and practices that reflect global social needs… I proposed the Global Compact as one step towards reaching those goals. The Compact is based on nine key principles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the Rio Principles on Environment and Development.” Business associations also undertook to initiate concrete

Keystone plans intended to advance the goals of the Compact. For example, the International Organization of Employers will organize regional A column of more than 1,000 striking miners moves towards workshops before the end of the year. Ukraine’s capital Kiev, demanding their long-overdue wages.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 28 CAN PYGMIES FIND DECENT WORK?

HELPING PYGMY TRIBES BE “FROM SOMEWHERE”

▲ Pygmies in Central Africa are facing deteriorating living and working conditions. The ILO/INDISCO programme has developed a pilot project in Cameroon to address the problem. Decent work among these communities involves organizing themselves, securing traditional resources and promoting participatory de- velopment as stipulated in ILO Convention No. 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples.

When Kapupu Diwa Mutimanwa speaks of his people, he speaks of their lack of identity. “We, the Pygmies, are from nowhere,” says the director of the Programme for Integration and Development of Pygmy People (PIDP), a central-African NGO founded by and for Pygmies. “The majority of the three million Pygmies in Africa have no nationality, no citizenship, nor any kind of identity that is recognized. As a result, we do not pay taxes. Some of my people are very happy with this, but I find it very serious, because it means that we cannot share in the development of the country and we have no right to any assistance.” The Pygmies, who generally prefer to be called according to their specific ethnic group such as the Aka, Baka, Mbuti or the Efe, are found across several different countries (among them: Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo). For centuries, elaborate clan relationships, extensive trade with, and in some cases exploitation by, the neighbouring Bantu communities have existed. While highly dependent on their traditional forest lands and forest products, agricultural produce has long been important for their diet as well. Cameroon. Youndé, ILO/MDT, Cameroon. Youndé, ILO/MDT, Recent years have led to a sharp deterioration of the working and living conditions of many Pygmy communities. provided in the 1994 Forest Law. On the other hand, it The forest resources they traditionally depend on have come will support the establishment of a Pygmy organization under huge pressure from major logging activities and to strengthen employment and income generation. commercial hunting. On the subject of the Baka Pygmies, the Cameroon Minister In many cases, Pygmies themselves are engaging in these of Social Affairs told theILO this February that she wants activities. In some countries for example, Pygmies have to promote a new image of the lives of her brothers and been employed on commercial plantations or even for large- sisters of the Baka communities. She notes that the 1996 scale logging on their traditional lands. Jobs are usually Constitution insists on the respect for human rights for all, insecure and periodic. Sedentary life styles are also increas- as well as everyone’s right to well-being and development. ingly part of the changing reality. Today, only 5 per cent These and other rights “are the irreversible beacon of our of the Baka in Cameroon live solely in the forest. Many actions, present and future, in favour of our marginalized are facing the challenge of traditional livelihood strategies populations”, she said. breaking down, taking up agriculture and confronting the Ignorance over the identity of the Pygmies lies at the market economy. A recent study by the ILO International root of the failure of all development efforts so far. “Let Institute of Labour Studies sees lack of access to land us take a simple example,” says Mr. Kapupu, “Certain as a major cause of social exclusion of ethnic groups such organizations had brought hoes and machetes to the Pygmies. as the Pygmies. Immediately, the latter, who have no use for such imple- ments, went to sell them to the Bantus”. Participatory development models allowing Pygmies to promote their own Working to stabilize livelihoods development agenda is the crux of the INDISCO strategy and forms the basis of this new pilot project. The INDISCO project will address the threats to stable livelihoods in two ways. On the one hand, it will support the Baka community on subjects such as land tenure, as – A. van der Goes, F. Thornberry, P. Larsen, (ILO)

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 29 and Development’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, For further information, please contact the ILO Bureau of which hold companies to higher labour standards, and include Statistics. Phone: +4122/799.8631, fax: +4122/799.6957; language on child labour and slave labour. An accompanying e-mail: [email protected] commentary notes that the guidelines “echo all four funda- mental principles and rights at work which are contained in the ILO’s 1998 Declaration”. WORKSHOP AIMS TO REDUCE GRIM TOLL For further information, please contact the ILO Multinational Enterprises Department. Phone: +4122/799.7724, fax: +4122/ ▲ Senior officials of the ILO and Thailand’s Ministry of 799.6354, e-mail: [email protected] Labour and Social Welfare organized a workshop in Rayong (Thailand) from 4 to 6 July for representatives of government and the social partners to identify safeguards and safe practices INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE to reduce work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. The Director IN LABOUR STATISTICS of the ILO global SafeWork InFocus Programme, Dr Jukka Takala told delegates that “the greatest tragedy is that more ▲ An international training course in labour statistics was than half of the work-related deaths could have been avoided organized at the ILO Training Centre in Turin (Italy) from by using available information and safety practices”. 4-29 September 2000. The principal objective of the course For further information, please contact the Regional Office was to enhance the capacity of participants to contribute to for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. Phone: +662/228.1234, the meaningful development of labour statistics in their countries. fax: +662/288.1735, e-mail: [email protected]

ILO INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL PEOPLES CONVENTION, 1989 (No. 169)

▲ The ILO is responsible for the only (two) international instruments, which deal exclusively with the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples. ILO Convention No. 169 is unique in that it acknowledges the specific identities, lifestyles and cultures of indigenous and tribal peoples. In other words, it recognizes the right to be different. The Convention covers a number of issues which are of the utmost importance to indigenous and tribal peoples. Some of these are: the right to practice their own culture and traditions, the rights to traditionally occupied lands, the right to natural resources and to participate in the use, management and conservation of these resources, restrictions on displacement and land alienation, and issues concerning education, health and employment. The Convention emphasizes the right of indigenous and tribal peoples to be consulted at every stage of development which may affect them. It also highlights their right to engage actively in the development process, making decisions on matters of concern to them. The Convention has been ratified by: Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Neth- erlands, Norway, Paraguay and Peru.

ILO/INDISCO ▲ ILO/INDISCO is the ILO’s response to the dismal living and working conditions of the estimated 300 million indigenous and tribal peoples around the world. ILO/INDISCO offers technical assistance on how to translate the provisions of ILO Convention No. 169 on the ground. This consists of five major elements: strengthening the organizational capacity of indigenous peoples, strengthening their livelihood opportunities, preserving and promoting traditional her- itage, promoting gender concerns and environmental regeneration. ILO/P. Deloche ILO/P. INDISCO is operational in five countries in Asia and Africa. Its main donors are DANIDA, the Netherlands, Rabobank, AGFUND, CIDA and UNDP. The Project to Promote the ILO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, based in EGALITE, the Equality and Employ- ment Branch of the ILO, provides policy advice and capacity building assistance to governments and indigenous and tribal peoples’ organizations, and is active in over ten countries throughout Africa and Asia. The main objectives of the Project are to promote awareness of the ILO’s work on indigenous and tribal peoples, to encourage the application of relevant stand- ards in this respect, especially Convention No. 169, and to enhance the capacity of indigenous and tribal peoples to participate in development processes affecting them. Deloche ILO/P.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 30 in the press...in the press...in the press...in the press...

World Labour Report 2000, social security, child labour, Social Summit make the news

New Straits Times Press (Malaysia)

(21.6.00, Switzerland)

(21.6.00)

(21.6.00, (Germany) France)

Articles have been excerpted and are not always in the exact format in which they appear originally. They are trimmed and rearranged sometimes, for space reasons.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 31 in the press...in the press...in the press...in the press...

(21.06.00, Germany) (21.6.00, Switzerland))

During the UN Millennium Summit in New York, ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia appeared on CNN’s “Q&A” on 1 September 2000 where he answered questions from view- ers worldwide. Topics ranged from the debate over globalization, to pressing labour concerns such as pay inequalities between men and women, child labour, and the ILO’s

Screen capture, CNN role in tackling these problems.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 32 Social protection “It is therefore clear that, in spite of (Continued from p. 5) their impressive achievements, pension systems still have much unfinished business,” the report says. “At the same to achieve their policy goals. “What mix time, they need to adapt to increasing they use – public, private, cooperative life expectancy and to changes in labour or grassroots – is of secondary import- markets and gender roles.” ance so long as the mix as a whole can It concludes that “contributory social really achieve universal [health care] security schemes remain the instrument coverage,” says the report. best suited as the main source of retire- ment income for workers in the vast Old age and survivors’ majority of countries”. However, it says pensions the main priorities need to be increasing pension insurance coverage and improv- ing governance.

The report says that many developing ILO/David Browne countries only recently began to develop old age still spells insecurity for certain pension systems, and some nations still groups of the population in the indus- 1 World Labour Report 2000: Income Security and Social Protection in a Changing World, In- have not instituted any scheme to protect trialized countries. ternational Labour Office, Geneva, June 2000, ISBN retired workers. People who have worked in the in- 92-2-110831-7. Price: 45 Swiss francs. Copies of In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa formal sector, predominantly women, the report may be obtained from ILO Publications, and parts of Latin America and Asia, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva, are likely to have very low incomes in Switzerland, Tel.: +4122/7997828, fax: +4122/ coverage is lower than 10 per cent of old age and become dependent on public 7996938, e-mail: [email protected], Web site: the labour force. The report adds that assistance. www.ilo.org/publns.

Women moving mountains One group of women can end up tion, sometimes dragging their chil- training literally thousands of workers. dren along with them. (continued from p. 11) In the industrialized countries the results Instead, the women in this programme sues. In the classroom, women workers are the same. LaVerne, an American will be encouraged to participate in on- benefited from practising their role as working for a gas company, was re- the-jobsite literacy training through oc- OSHE trainers in front of a highly quired to answer customer billing cupational safety and health, and become supportive group. This was a key ele- complaints at an average of one phone involved in training seminars where they ment in building self-confidence and call every one minute and 69/100 of can discuss prevention, rehabilitation, creating successful outcomes. a second, while remaining friendly at return to work policies and access to all times. She was sent by her union treatment services. From being a “zero” to to an OSH train-the-trainer workshop. This is but one example of an inno- Bombay’s “Best Citizen” Having her self-confidence built up by vative way to provide women living on the training, the practice and the sup- the edge with a new future, one in which Since her beginnings as a self-de- portive environment, LaVerne went on they move from the isolation brought on scribed “zero”, Kalpana, the Bombay to become the National Director of by yet another example of the occupa- port computer worker has not stopped Training for her union’s OSH depart- tional gender safety gap, into a new sense moving and shaking the Transport and ment. Today, moving more mountains, of solidarity with others facing a similar Dock Workers’ Union and the City of LaVerne is the Director of an Occupa- plight. In the Philippines, women train- Bombay. She has borne a heavy burden tional Health Centre, responsible for an ees illustrated this sense of solidarity as a woman activist in her union. She entire city (and she is still friendly!). with poignant drawings showing them undertook an individual initiative to and sister trade unionists on other conti- organize non-union ports. Doing what Against barriers, endless nents connected by an imaginary umbili- others in her union had not tried to do, possibilities cal cord. Many of the ILO workshop gradu- she was labelled, scandalized, and her ates have continued to keep in touch with reputation tarnished. But she is a cru- The successes of these women have their classmates. In our global village, sader and keeps going. On February 1, provided the inspiration to move into the experiences and successes of one group 2000, the Municipal Corporation other arenas with women workers. In of women workers can directly impact awarded her “Best Citizen of Bombay”! Brazil, for example, women widowed by the lives of another. There does indeed For this honour, she was awarded a occupational accidents will be given the appear to be an invisible umbilical cord Certificate by the Mayor of Bombay, opportunity to become transmitters and between these groups of women, nour- at the Mayor’s Bungalow in Bombay. motivators of safety culture on construc- ishing their efforts and giving life in Kalpana and her sisters demonstrated tion sites, with remuneration from the faraway places to others whom they will their self-transformation into motivators Civil Construction union. This programme probably never meet. The barriers are and transmitters of OSHE information will also mitigate the poverty which usually many, but the possibilities seem endless. and created a multiplier effect. Experi- engulfs workplace widows, who may ences training women workers in the become marginalized by their plight, – Ellen Rosskam, MPH, Philippines yielded similar results. sinking into drug abuse and prostitu- ILO SafeWork Programme

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 33 Media shelf

In print

■ Termination of Em- the Digest places termination velopment through the Mod- ployment Digest. ILO 2000. of employment in the perspec- ernization of Agriculture and ISBN 92-2-110842-2. Price: tive of today‘s labour market. Employment in a Globalized 50 Swiss francs. It offers a valuable compara- Economy. ILO, Geneva 2000. tive overview of the legisla- ISBN 92-2-112171-2. Price: This highly topical book tion governing termination of 15 Swiss francs. provides a valuable overview employment in the various from macro-level issues such of legislation on termination countries and examines how How is the agriculture sec- as the role of agriculture in of employment, illustrating the its development has been tor – the largest employer of development and commodity various approaches taken to perceived and changed over the world labour force – affected prices, the report focuses on the subject in time. by globalization? What role social issues such as child national sys- This book can be of interest does it play, and how can this labour, women’s role in agri- tems around to governments, employers, role be enhanced in a sustain- culture, occupational health and the world. Ac- trade unions, labour practition- able manner to improve the safety, private voluntary ini- cessible and ers and academics; anyone who living standards of farmers and tiatives, and genetic modifi- wide-ranging, utilizes comparative informa- farm workers? These are the cation, since it is in these areas the Digest re- tion on legislation governing themes addressed in this re- that the rapid transmission of views the leg- termination of employment. port, the first to be written on ideas through modern com- islation of 72 the agriculture sector looking munications is affecting labour jurisdictions ■ Current International into the next century. Apart practices on farms. from a diver- Recommendations of Labour sity of systems Statistics, 2000 Edition. ILO. reflecting dif- ISBN 92-2-110846-5.Price: 20 ■ ferent geographic, developmen- Swiss francs,US$14.95; International Labour Review. tal and legal environments, and UK£11.95 offers a practical reference for Printed edition: One-year subscription (four issues), Vol. the lay reader as well as lawyers 139 (2000): 99 Swiss franc,; US$80, GB£48, 60 Euros. All the ILO texts on labour Two-year subscriptions and electronic version also avail- and other experts. statistics which are now cur- able. More information on http://www.ilo.org/revue To highlight the different rent are presented in this national approaches, the Di- volume. It include the Labour The forthcoming issue of in Japan, notably regard- gest presents a broad summary Statistics Convention, 1985 (no. the International Labour ing aspects of performance for each country covered, which 160), and Recommendation, Review (due out in Novem- related pay. Changes in the includes information on sources 1985 (No. 170), adopted by ber) opens with an article national legislation appli- of regulation, contracts of the International Labour by Richard Anker on cable to international con- employment, scope of legis- Conference, and a number of practical problems and tracts of employment is the lation, termination of employ- resolutions adopted by the issues in data-gathering on subject of an in-depth ment, dismissals, notice and International Conference of child labour. This is fol- analysis by Marie-Agnès procedural safeguards, sever- Labour Statisticians in 1993 lowed by an empirical ex- Sabirau-Pérez. The issue ance pay and avenues for and 1998 to supersede earlier amination, by Ajit Ghose, closes with a contribution redress. Numerous comprehen- ones. of the effects of trade lib- by Mark Lansky on con- sive tables are also presented eralization on employment cepts and recent thinking to set out important informa- ■ Sustainable agriculture and global inequality. concerned with gender, tion and to provide quick, easy in a globalized economy. Re- Susumu Watanabe then masculinity and equality, reference. port for discussion at the Tri- looks at the future of em- followed by the custom- Dealing exclusively with partite Meeting on Moving to ployment and wage systems ary Books Section. employees in the private sector, Sustainable Agricultural De-

ILO publications for sale can be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offices in many countries, or directly from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, 4 route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Tel: +4122/799-7828; fax: +4122/799-6938; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.ilo.org/publns. Catalogues or lists of new publications are available free of charge from the above address. The ILO Publications Center in the US can be contacted at tel: +301/638-3152; fax: +301/843-0159; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.un.org/depts/ilowbo.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 34 Letters to World of Work has started a Letters to the Editor column to reflect the interests of a wide readership. Letters will be printed according to ❑ space availability and relevance, and the Editor the Editor reserves the right to edit the text.

✍ We take this opportunity to acknowledge with thanks práctico de la labor que el Trabajo Social realiza en a copy of ‘World of Work’, very useful and informative el Perú. of ILO. We would certainly benefit from it in our activities. Conscientes de la misión que desempeña vuestra Khurshid Ahmed institución en favor del desarrollo y la promoción social, General Secretary queremos expresarle nuestro reconocimiento y agra- All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions decimiento por el envío de su Revista TRABAJO No. Lahore, Pakistan 32 de una excelente calidad impregnado en cada uno de sus artículos, los cuales serán difundidos entre el ✍ I request your assistance. I need your magazine personal de nuestra institución y Documentación. every time. I am a student of Law at the University of De esta manera sentimos fortalecer nuestros lazos Nigeria, Enugu Campus. institucionales, con deseos de seguir proyectando nuestros After reading your magazine, I was highly im- objetivos trazados y continuar trabajando por el bienestar pressed and made up my mind to develop and contribute de nuestros países y de América Latina. towards the promotion of the work, it is really interesting. Lic. Lily Gutierrez Valencia Directora Ejecutiva Onoh, Festus Oforohim Centro Latinoamericano de Nigeria. Trabajo Social Lima, Perú ✍ Tous mes remerciements pour l’envoi régulier de votre magazine si utile pour l’information auprès de ✍ I find your periodical World of Work Magazine nombreuses personnes intéressées. quite informative and useful to the agencies engaged André-H. Chatillon in development of manpower either for self employment Puidoux, Suisse. or for job employment. The Centre for Entrepreneurship Development ✍ We would like to subscribe your magazine ‘World Madhya Pradesh (CEDMAP) is engaged in self em- of Work’. We will be happy to pay for the subscription. ployment and entrepreneurship development for the We need the magazine urgently and earnestly. last 10 years and has facilitated more than 50,000 people We have also learnt that the magazine is available to start different activities. not only in English and a few other languages, but also P.N. Misra in the Indian national language, i.e. Hindi. We would like CEDMAP, Bhopal, to receive a copy in Hindi as well. India You are aware of the role the Indian Trade Unions are playing in the face of challenges arising out of ap- ✍ Original letter received in Hindi: plication of modern technology. Our Federations have been existing for the last 20 years. I have received the Hindi edition of World of Work, the ILO Magazine, with surprise and pleasure. Raja Kulkarni, President In fact, this edition should have been published a long National Federation of Petroleum Workers time ago; however, better late than never. Indian National Chemical Workers Federation Now the workers of our country who do not Mumbai, India speak English will be able to avail of the experience of workers around the world and learn of their situ- ✍ La presente reciban los más cordiales y sinceros ation. saludos de quienes laboramos en el Centro Latinoame- Arvind Kumar ricano de Trabajo Social (CELATS) Organismo de Director, Lok Jagriti Kendra Cooperación Técnica Internacional no Gubernamental y Deoghar, Bihar, sin fines de lucro, cuyo objetivo es el fortalecimiento teórico India.

WORLD OF WORK – No. 36 – 2000 35 We People Serve of theInternationalLabourOffice FACTS toworkers’ andemployers’organizations,aswelltogovernments. providesservices ofsocialprotectionschemes. ILO outsoundquantitative planningandimprovemanagement governance carry ILO FACTS agenciesandautonomoussocialprotectionto isthedevelopmentof capacityofgovernment financialequilibria.Themission of andlong-term all quantitativetechniquestokeepsocialprotectionsystems inshort- isthecompetent utilizationof Financialgovernance transfers mustrelyongoodfinancialgovernance. These important cashbenefits. national socialprotectionsystems:assistance schemes, healthbenefits,pensionsandshort-term Depending ontheirstateofeconomicdevelopment,countries redistributebetween5and30percentofGDPthrough We People Serve We People Serve The InternationalFinancial We People Serve We People Serve We People Serve and Actuarial Service and ActuarialService [ ] We People Serve (ILO FACTS) E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (+4122)799 7565-Fax: (+4122)799 7962 CH-1211 Geneva 22-Switzerland LabourOffice International Social SecurityDepartment Financial, ActuarialandStatistical Branch A briefportrait We People Serve We People Serve We People Serve We People Serve We People Serve

No. 36, September/October 2000