93Rd Annual Conference of the ILO Concludes Its Work

ISSN 1811-1351 № # 1 2 (20) (21) МАРТ JUNE 2005

93rd annual Conference of the ILO concludes its work

On June 16 Conference of the International The Conference marked the fourth World The Committee on the Application of Stan- Labour Organization concluded its 93rd annual Day Against Child Labour by calling for the dards noted with respect to freedom of associa- session. The annual Conference of the ILO drew elimination of child labour in one of the world’s tion in Belarus that no real concrete and tangible more than 3,000 delegates, including heads of most dangerous sectors – small-scale mining and measures had been taken by the Government to State, labour ministers and leaders of workers’ quarrying – within five to 10 years. comply with the recommendations of the ILO and employers’ organizations from most of the Confronted with record levels of youth un- Commission of Inquiry. As details of a govern- ILO’s 178 member states. employment in recent years, delegates from ment Plan of Action on freedom of association They discussed the need for urgently elimi- more than 100 countries discussed pathways to were not known yet, the Committee urged that nating forced labour, creating jobs for youth, decent work for youth and the role of the inter- an ILO mission be sent to Belarus, to assist the improving safety at work and tackling what ILO national community in advancing the youth government and also to evaluate the measures Director-General Juan Somavia called a “global employment agenda. The Committee also en- that the government has taken to comply with jobs crisis”. couraged the ILO to continue playing a leading the recommendations of the Commission of The annual meeting also focused on the role in the UN Secretary General’s Youth Em- Inquiry. situation of workers in the occupied Arab territo- ployment Network (YEN) and to extend the The General Survey discussed by the Con- ries, the state of labour standards in Belarus, YEN to other countries, both developing and ference Committee this year, was on working Colombia and other countries and the on-going developed. time. Delegates discussed the current state of situation of efforts to stop the use of forced la- In the absence of a quorum for the vote on a working hours and how to balance the need for bour in Myanmar. proposed Convention on work in the fishing flexibility with protecting workers’ security, The 93rd International Labour Conference sector, the Conference asked the Governing health and family life. adopted a program and budget of US$594.31 Body to place a corresponding item on the During a special sitting of the plenary of the million for the 2006-07 biennium. agenda of the Conference in 2007, and that the Conference, delegates held an in-depth discus- The new program and budget focuses on report submitted to the Conference plenary be sion on the situation of the more than 12 million decent work as a global goal and action needed used for further consideration. people around the world who are trapped in at the local, national, regional and international The Committee on Safety and Health con- forced labour, including some 2.4 million who levels to make it happen, including Decent Work sidered a promotional framework in the area of are victims of trafficking. They strongly con- Country Programmes. occupational safety and health. Delegates de- demned forced labour as a violation of human The Conference also selected new govern- cided that the instrument establishing this frame- dignity and supported the ILO Director- ment, employer and worker members of the work should take the form of a Convention sup- General’s call for a Global Alliance to address Governing Body. plemented by a Recommendation. this global problem. ■

On the sidelines of the 93rd International for Russia. Only one in four labour migrants stan’s youth. For urban youth new jobs are Labour Conference we interviewed Tajiki- works legally there, while most are employed created in the industrial, construction and stan’s Labour and Social Welfare Minister illegally. The authorities do their utmost to trade sectors. In 2004, about 100,000 new Zokir Vazirov: help migrants get legal employment. Tajikistan vacancies emerged, and over the first five - I arrived at the Conference with a special has already ratified an agreement on the so- months of this year - another 50,000. feeling. Firstly, this is the first conference I cial protection of Tajik citizens in Russia and Tajikistan needs ILO’s support for the profes- attend in my current capacity. Secondly, high of Russian citizens in Tajikistan. sional training and retraining of young spe- on the Conference’s agenda were forced la- Youth employment is one of the sharpest cialists, creating employers‘ associations and bour and youth employment issues. Both are youth policy problems in my country, where retraining staff of the country’s Labour Minis- very important to Tajikistan. the average age is 24 years. The government try and the Trade Unions Federation and wel- Every year 400,000 people leave the coun- grants land plots to young residents of rural comes the idea of creating a global alliance try in search of a job. Over 90 percent head areas, who represent 75 percent of Tajiki- against forced labour.■ A Global Alliance Against Forced Labour

ILO released a major new study entitled “A steady demand for a cheap work force and cent are indebted to their employers and cannot Global Alliance Against Forced Labour” that denies it any social guarantees. sever labour relations of their own free will. says at least 12.3 million people are trapped in Russia is witnessing a growing influx of forced labour around the world, including such labour migrants, mainly from neighbor- 210,000 people in transition countries. At least 12.3 million people ing countries – the CIS member-states, China, are trapped in forced labour The report also provides the first global Vietnam and Korea. Flaws in migration legis- estimate of the profits generated by the exploi- lation are many and the chances of getting around the world, including tation of trafficked women, children and men – legal employment slim. Illegal labor migra- 210,000 people in transition tion to Russia, mainly from the CIS and South- US$ 32 billion each year (including US$3.4 countries. billion in transition countries), or an average Eastern Asia, makes up about 4-5 million. of US$ 13,000 from every single trafficked The ILO Report clarifies that forced labour On average, 22 percent of women- forced labourer. certainly cannot be equated simply with low migrants say they are sexually exploited. wages or poor working conditions. It com- We asked Elena Tyuryukanova to com- These figures testify to existence of slave la- prises two basic elements: the work or service ment . Ms. Tyuryukanova is a leading re- bour. search worker of the Institute for Socio- is exacted under the menace of a penalty, and Economic Problems of Population at the Rus- it is undertaken involuntarily. This can take Russia has begun the struggle against hu- sian Academy of Sciences. She supervised the extreme forms such as physical violence, but man trafficking by complementing its Crimi- research entitled “Forced Labour in Modern also subtler forms such as confiscation of iden- nal Code with an article on human trafficking Russia. Illegal Migrants and Human Traffick- tity papers or threats of denunciation of irregu- and slave labour at the beginning of 2004. ing.” conducted by Russian experts at the lar migrants to the police authorities, which However, this was only the first step. leads to increased exploitation. request of the ILO in 2004. A global alliance against forced labour Forced labour is a very acute problem in In this context forced labour in Russia has strategy introduced in the ILO new report Russia. Although the GDP growth rates have become a common occurrence. First and fore- requires an active response from national gov- been high for the past few years, poverty re- most, it concerns migrants, who are illegally ernments and social forces. employed in the shadow and informal econo- mains massive: the incomes of 27 percent of At present, Russia is ready to become an ac- mies. According to an ILO survey conducted the population are below the subsistence level. tive member of this alliance and continue co- in Russia, 47 percent of labour migrants have Low incomes do not allow large groups of the operation in the eradication of forced labour, to work on uncertain wage conditions or with- population to get proper education and health- its roots and spread. ■ care. out any wages at all, 71 percent have to work to exhaustion, and 51 percent are forced to do The report “A global Alliance Against Forced The shadow economy accounting for 10 jobs they had not agreed to voluntarily. Labour” was published at 1300 on May 11 million employees and 22 percent of the GDP Around 30 percent of migrants are denied 2005 by the ILO. For more information visit: is a vast field for illegal human exploitation freedom of movement and are partially isolated http://www.ilo.ru/news.htm (June 2005) practices, including human trafficking and from society, 20 percent have had their pass- forced labour. It also creates and maintains a ports confiscated by the employer, and 12 per-

ILO meeting on Global Compact

On May 26 the ILO hosted at the National labor. To solve this problem and increase em- Hotel in Moscow a Global Compact meeting for ployers’ responsibility, the enterprises employ- Announced by UN Secretary-General Kofi representatives of the all-Russia employers’ un- ing foreign workforce decided to work out a code Annan at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 1999, and ions, whose member enterprises employ foreign of business ethics. formally launched at the United Nations work-force. This meeting was organized within The participants discussed the foreign experience Headquarters in July 2000, the Compact calls the framework of the ILO project on "Combating of establishing such instruments as well as the Rus- on companies to embrace nine universal ian association of private employment agencies’ ini- human trafficking and the forced labour outcomes principles in the areas of human rights, labor in Central Asia and the Russian Federation". iative to develop a similar code of conduct. standards and the environment. It brings The main issue discussed at the meeting was The meeting concluded that such an initiative companies together with United Nations the development of a code of business ethics for was very timely and useful. The ILO intends to organizations, international labor organiza- employers. Russia is still witnessing illegal em- continue its work in this area, having scheduled tions, NGOs and other parties to foster part- ployment practices: without signing labour con- several follow-up activities on the issue.■ nerships and to build a more inclusive and tracts and ensuring social guarantees. It particu- For additional information, please contact Ms. equitable global marketplace. larly concerns foreign migrant workers, many of Yekaterina Ustinova, Project Coordinator whom find themselves in conditions of forced [email protected]. Newsletter #2 (21), Page 2

ILO pilot projects in Volgograd

An ILO delegation led by the director of plained, the Volgograd Region is a vast terri- the ILO Subregional Office for Eastern tory, problems are many and diversified, and Europe and Central Asia, Mrs. Pauline Bar- there are many areas where the ILO can offer rett-Reid visited Volgograd on March 14-18 its assistance . to discuss the implementation of its pilot pro- Pauline Barrett-Reid confirmed that after jects in the Volgograd region. Russia’s WTO accession, many industries will The ILO already has underway two pilot face difficulties: “Agriculture and light indus- projects. One is entitled “Russia’s Accession tries will have big problems. As for Russia’s Shaking hands with head of regional administra- to the WTO and its Social Consequences.” automotive industry, it may simply vanish. tion Nikolai Maksyuta Within the framework of the project the Yuri But other sectors will surely benefit.” Levada analytical centre polled 300 industrial Trade unions are mostly concerned over among Young People in the Russian Federa- managers in the Volgograd region in order to employment and wages after accession. tion”, which has been implemented in the find out how Russia’s WTO accession may Pauline Barrett-Reid believes that these are Volgograd region and Altai territory since affect their enterprises and the socio-economic very serious issues, to be resolved at the na- 2002. Regional partners together with six UN situation in the region in general. tional level and within the framework of the agencies, including ILO, are working out a Tripartite Commission. mechanism for combating the HIV/STI spread among youth. The mechanism is aimed at “If today we fail to act to compare our training specialists for employment centers requirements with those of the WTO, our and colleges commissioned to prevent HIV/ products will be unable to compete in the AIDS among students and provide young foreign market. The ongoing project will help people with information and medical services. identify the negative trends that may spark a The ILO in cooperation with Volgograd re- social explosion after Russia’s WTO acces- gion specialists published a manual “Your sion, a slump in the region’s consolidated Health” for college students participating in budget revenues, as well redundancies,” the the project. head of the regional administration Nikolai ILO Moscow Director at a news conference Maksyuta said. “We hope that this manual will be later used not only in the Volgograd region and “It is very good that this project will be Altai territory, but elsewhere in Russia,” implemented in our region, because we will Pauline Barrett-Reid said. She thanked re- know what WTO membership is all about, its gional authorities for their support and assis- advantages and disadvantages. This knowl- tance in project implementation. edge will make work easier for us, when The subregional office director pointed other regions will be making their first steps out that ILO had also just launched a third on the way to this system,” chairman of the project for studying labor migration problems. Volgograd Region Trade Unions Council It is being implemented in Moscow, the Mos- Vyacheslav Kobozev said. cow region and now in the Volgograd region. The project was coordinated and approved At a college participating in the project on HIV/ Maksyuta said for his part “ILO pilot by the Russian Tripartite Constituents, so it STI Prevention projects are very important for us and we want can be easily replicated in other regions. As to continue and expand our cooperation with for the Volgograd Region, it was chosen for a The other ILO project is “Comprehensive this authoritative organization.”■ good reason. As Pauline Barrett-Reid ex- Partnership Strategies for HIV/STI Prevention

pest in 1993. In 1998 she was transferred as a Ms. Nesporova graduated from the Prague Senior Labour Economist to Geneva to the School of Economics and holds a CSc. Appointments Employment and Training Department. In (equivalent of PhD.) degree in economics On March 1, 2005 2000 she joined the newly established Em- from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Ms. Alena Nes- ployment Strategy Department and provided (1980). porova was ap- advice and assistance on employment strategy and labour market policy in a number of tran- In her address to colleagues and partners pointed Deputy Re- Ms. Nesporova wrote “I will rely very much gional Director for sition countries. In March 2003 she was ap- pointed Chief of the Employment Policy Unit. on your kind support but I can assure you that Europe and Central I will do my best to be of assistance to you Asia. Ms. Nesporova has a strong academic and to make our collaboration successful, Ms. Nesporova joined the ILO as a background and she is an author and co-author enjoyable for all of us and fruitful for our Senior Labour Market Policy Specialist in the of numerous research works on labour market constituents.” ■ policy and employment strategy. Central and Eastern European Team in Buda-

Newsletter #2 (21), Page 3

Moscow hosts UN-CIS ministerial meeting on Urgent Response to HIV/AIDS

On March 31-April 1, the UNAIDS Maria Costa. “Roughly 1.4 million in the The main results of the meeting in the co-sponsoring organizations met for their Eastern Europe and Central Asia region are Russian capital were the signing of Moscow regular meeting this time in Moscow to estimated to be living with HIV and AIDS. In Declaration on “Urgent Response to the HIV/ call for a broad-based response to the some countries of the region, up to 80 percent AIDS Epidemics in the Commonwealth of HIV/AIDS epidemics in the countries of of HIV cases are attributable to drug abuse,” Independent States” and an agreement to hold the Commonwealth of Independent States the UNODC Executive Director added. here in December a large-scale meeting on the (CIS) where it is rapidly spreading. problems of the HIV/AIDS spread. ■ “The epidemic is growing fast and mov- The meeting entitled “Urgent Response to ing from the injecting drug users (who pre- The ILO has launched several projects in the HIV/AIDS Epidemics in the Common- dominantly are young people) and commer- Russia, in particular a three-year project in wealth of Independent States” was organized cial sex workers into the heterosexual com- Murmansk and Moscow. It is aimed at con- by the United Nations Office on Drugs and munity. However, there is a window of oppor- tributing to the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Crime (UNODC) and cosponsors of the Joint tunity in which if action is taken, the trans- world of work, the enhancement of work- United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS mission and prevalence of the infection can be place protection and the reduction of its (UNAIDS) in cooperation with the Russian slowed down,” said Assane Diop in his sum- adverse consequences on social, labour and Foreign Ministry. mary notes to Session 2. economic development. It is financed by the Participants talked about the need for US Department of Labour and implemented political commitment, and for creating the by the International Labour Organization in legislative infrastructure and health systems, collaboration with the Russian Ministry of which CIS governments need to address this Health and Social Development and the so- crisis in comprehensive ways. “HIV/AIDS cial partners: the Coordinating Council of the needs to be at the top of the political agenda Employers Unions of Russia, Federation of with good, strong leadership at all levels – Independent Trade Unions of Russia, All- presidents, heads of state, community and religious leaders, business and trade unions Russian Labour Confederation and the Rus- and other NGOs,” Mr. Diop said. sian Labour Confederation.

Mr. Assane Diop, the ILO Executive Director took At present, “Eastern Europe and Central Another joint project on Comprehensive part in the ministerial meeting Partnership Strategies for HIV/STI Prevention Photo: UNODC Asia are experiencing one of the world’s fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemics with more than 80% of the reported infections found Taking part in the meeting were UNAIDS among people below the age of 30 years. Executive Director Peter Piot, UNODC Ex- About 1.7% of all young men in the region ecutive Director Antonio Maria Costa, who is aged 15-24 years are infected, and 0.8% of all the current Chair of UNAIDS’ Committee of young women. This will affect the region’s Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO), Russian socio-economic development and security if Minister of Health and Social Development action is not taken now,” Peter Piot said. Mikhail Zurabov, Director of the Federal Drug Control Service Victor Cherkesov, In particular, in Russia the growth rate of Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance identifiable HIV cases is now one of the on Consumers Rights and Human Well-being world’s fastest: in 2003 the HIV incidence The heads of delegations visited the Moscow Gennady Onishchenko, Executive Secretary of city municipal orphanage for children living with increased almost 40 times as compared to HIV the CIS Executive Committee Vladimir 1997. If such growth continues, the country’s Rushailo, First Lady of Georgia Sandra working population may decrease by 1.1 mil- among Young People in the Russian Federa- Roelofs, who is a stalwart advocate for vulner- lion in 2015, and by 2.1 million in 2050. It is tion will be completed by December 2005. It able populations around the world, other offi- estimated that under any possible scenario of is implemented by 6 UN agencies: ILO, UNDP cials from the UN and CIS governments and demographic development, Russia could not representatives of NGOs,. The International avoid a considerable decrease and ageing of (Lead Agency), UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC, Labor Organization was represented by its the workforce, even without taking into ac- WHO in two Russia’s regions – the Altai Terri- Executive Director Assane Diop. count the epidemics of socially harmful dis- tory and the Volgograd region. eases. “The presence today of so many ministers and representatives from the Common- Mr. Diop pointed out that “HIV/AIDS is a wealth of Independent States tells me that this human rights issue as well as an economic, is the right meeting, at the right time, in the social and political issue,” which requires a right place, for the right reason,” said Antonio systematic and complex response.

Newsletter #2 (21), Page 4

SafeWork – Labour Inspection Unity beyond Differences: The Need for an Integrated Labour Inspection System

Globalization and changing working and Ukraine along with other high-level rep- and Solidarity to develop a practical guide conditions are linked to various risks as well resentatives from International Confederation on the rights and duties of labour inspec- as opportunities to merge traditional techni- of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and Interna- tors", says Mr. Takala, Director of the cal and medical focuses with social, psycho- tional Organization for Entrepreneurs (IOE) InFocus Programme on Safety and Health social, economic and legal areas. For this came together for this occasion. at Work and the Environment reason the tripartite partnership is needed to (SafeWork). achieve and to preserve decent working con- ILO principles for labour inspection ditions and environment, to prevent health • Approach based on prevention, not com- Closing the conference, the Minister and safety risks and to ensure he well being pensation for health impairment; • Control and enforcement of OSH legisla- of Labour and Employment, Mr. Franзois of workers. tion –sole task of government inspectors (not Biltgen has reconfirmed Luxembourg’s trade unions); intention to ratify more than 20 ILO New approaches in which labour inspec- • Effective improvement of working conditions only be achieved through worker- Conventions related to occupational safe- tors play a central role, by means of enforcing employer cooperation; social dialogue in ty and health, as a follow-up to the ILO and controlling compliance with tripartite safety committees tripartite audit. This should serve as a legislation as well as promoting social dia- • Labour inspection primarily advisory approach, necessary powers of sanctions good example for other countries. Further logue, were worked out at the tripartite con- back-up option commitment to the importance of labour ference in March. The conference discussed inspection was indicated by the proposed current priorities for labour inspectorates funding of a new labour inspection pro- within a global economy and considered how "The effective prevention of occupational ject in Vietnam.■ to make best use of their enforcement, moni- accidents and diseases involves a broad parti- cipation from governments, workers’ and toring and advisory powers. employers' organizations", Prof. Buttler, Re- In the invitation letter to the tripartite gional Director for Europe and Central Asia, conference, Assane Diop, Executive Director said in his opening speech, adding "that the for the Social Protection Sector, pointed out governments regulatory functions are essen- that in its ‘Decent Work, Safe Work’ pro- tial for public peace, for health and safety and gram, the ILO entrusts labour inspection with for determining our quality of life. In the area new roles and responsibilities. of work, labour inspection is the key element ensuring social protection for all."

Training was identified as a decisive element for enhancing the competences of inspectors and investing in a preventative culture. For the efficient implementation of labour inspection the participants demanded the purposeful investment of recourses for From left to right: Gerd Albracht, Development of updating the methodology and contents of Inspection Systems, ILO/SafeWork; François training materials and the application of ac- Biltgen, Minister of Labour and Employment, Luxembourg ;Paul Weber, Director, Labour and tive training methods. Mines Inspectorate, Luxemburg The Conference participants further cal- The conference was jointly organized by led on the ILO to create an internet-based Brochure on Labour service for labour inspection to support ILO Inspection: Conventions 81, 129 the current presidency of the Council of the Available in European Union, held by the Grand Duchy of constituents. This should comprise a labour English, French, Russian and Span- Luxembourg, together with the ILO on Inte- inspection training system and include policy ish. Final Conclusions of the grated Labour Inspection Systems worldwide tools and strategies for labour inspection, and the sharing of best practices. Luxembourg Conference from March 9 to March 11 in Luxembourg. Available in More than 200 workers, employers and gov- English, Russian, French and Span- "The rights and duties of labour inspec- ernment representatives from 75 countries ish. tors deserve broad political support from Download from: covering all regions of the world and labour governments, employers and workers. The http://www.ilo.org/public/english/ ministers from Mauritius, Jordan and Alba- protection/safework/labinsp ILO supports and welcomes the initiative of nia, as well as Vice-Ministers from Vietnam Http://www.safework.ru the French Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour Newsletter #2 (21), Page 5

June 12 - World Day Against Child Labour

The World Day Against Child La- chologists lent their hand to the girls orga- bour was marked on June 12. On that nizing individual and group rehabilitation day all ILO workers and partner or- sessions. All girls were trained in different ganizations summed up the results of folk crafts and took a computer literacy what had been done and thought over course. what had to be done in the future to Comprehensive Rehabilitative and eliminate such abnormal social phe- Preventative Model for Working Street nomena as child labor. Children and Their Families in the Vsevo- This article will tell you about the IPEC lozhsk District of the Leningrad Region - Leningrad region project financed by the Four modules were operational in the socio- The library of the Vsevolozhsk Rehabilitation Finnish government. The project “Working rehabilitation centre: street social service Centre where IPEC has implemented the reha- Street Children in the Leningrad Region – (140 children), comprehensive rehabilitation bilitation action program for working street children. Initial Action to Combat the Worst Forms of of working street girls (30 girls), self-help Child Labour” was implemented in 2003- groups (27 families), and medical services ished the 7th form. 2004 in the two border districts of the Lenin- (150 children). grad Region – Vsevolozhsk and Priozersk. As soon as the Programme started Petya School-Based Child Labour Monitor- The idea of the project was to work out was invited to the child environmental or- ing System Established in Selected Terri- preventive and rehabilitative models of so- ganization “Friends of the Okhta River”. He tories of the Vsevolozhsk District, the cial work. became an active member of the organiza- Leningrad Region - The Action Program tion and soon showed immense creative The project brought together the Govern- provided direct support to children who talents. Petya entered a cartoon studio and combined school and work, and those at risk press centre of the Child of giving up school. The preventative approach was implemented in four selected Environmental Centre at the governmental schools of the Vsevolozhsk District, located unitary enterprise “Vodocanal SPb”. His in the communities of Vartemagi, Bugry, article about municipal solid wastes was Rahja, and Sverdlova. The schools were published in the newspaper issued by the selected on the basis of dropout rates. In Centre. At the moment Petya lives with his total, 55 girls and 65 boys at risk (30 chil- aunt and successfully studies in the Var- dren in each school) were identified and temyagi school. Girls in the Rehabilitation Centre in Priozersk provided with various social assistance. Behind the lines of the project report ment of the Leningrad Region, the RE- there are real lives of real children. Here is a GION-EXPO, a regional project develop- success story of one of them: ment and analytical centre, municipal authorities, and the Trade Union Federation of Petya V., 15 years old, lived in St. Pe- St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. tersburg with his parents and sister. In 2002 Supported by IPEC, the regional government he dropped out from school and started to adopted its policy against child labour and work and live on the street and was regis- tered as an unattended child. In January its worst forms. Three action programs were The children with new school items in the implemented in the region targeting the 2004 the parents sent the boy to the village Rahja school. practical needs of working street children, of Vartemyagi to his aunt. We want to wish Petya and other chil- their families, social workers and teachers: In February 2004 the IPEC Action Pro- dren who suffer hardship a happier future Diect Support to Working Street Girls gramme “School-Based Child Labour Moni- and meetings with such kind and self- in Priozersk was based on the Policy toring System Established in Selected Terri- sacrificing people as those from the IPEC Against the Sexual Exploitation of Underage tories” was launched in the Vsevolozhsk project. ■ Girls developed by the Priozersk administra- District of the Leningrad Region. Petya was For more information visit http:// tion. Ten girls permanently lived in the cen- identified as an at-risk child to be involved www.ilo.ru/elc/index.htm or contact Mr. Alexei tre, located in the Kommunar village. An- in the Programme. Due to the individual Boukharov, Programme Officer (with special other 10 girls attended day-time creativity psychological, medical and educational responsibility for IPEC St. Petersburg) development programs in the Smena extra- programs developed by the school staff the [email protected] curricular centre located in Priozersk. Psy- boy was reintegrated in the school and fin- Newsletter #2 (21), Page 6

International conference on Guarantees of Citizens’ Labour and Social Security by Kantemir Gusov The Moscow State Law Academy Role of the State in the Realization of (MSLA) on January 19-21 hosted an in- Citizens’ Right to Pension Insurance and ternational conference on Guarantees of Fringe Social Benefits.

Citizens’ Labour and Social Security The ILO Subregional Office in Moscow Rights. Labour and Social Security Legis- took an active part in the conference. The lation Application Practices. It was con- director of the ILO Moscow Office, vened by the Russian Association of La- Pauline Barrett-Reid addressed the con- bor and Social Security Law, the MSLA, ference with a report entitled “The ILO the ILO Subregional Office in Moscow and the Russian Federation.” and the Law Department of the Russian Over 70 participants took the floor to Academy of Education. present their vision of the subjects raised Taking part in the conference were over in the main reports to highlight advan- 300 delegates – science and education tages and successes in labour legislation workers, employers, representatives of perfection, as well as weak points some Dr. Sc. (Law), Professor Kantemir Gusov Russia’s national trade union associations, provisions of the current labour and social President of the Russian Association of La- State Duma deputies, as well as represen- security legislation still contain. bour and Social Security Law, honored science tatives of executive bodies of power from worker of Russia. Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Lithua- The delegates formulated a number of nia. concrete recommendations aimed at tional treaties to which Russia is a sig- The conference heard two main re- strengthening the role of legal guarantees natory. ports. Dr. Sc. (Law) Irina Dmitriyeva, in the field of labour relations regulation and other related issues. Secondly, they warned against any re- of the Moscow State University, deliv- duction in the level of labor rights and ered a report entitled “Guarantees of Firstly, the speakers unanimously guarantees in the newly approved by- Labor Rights of Citizens. Labour Legis- pointed to the need for strict adherence to laws, which would constitute a violation lation Application Practices.” the norms of the Russian Constitution, of the Russian Constitution’s Article 55 State Duma deputy, Cand. Sc. (Law) generally acknowledged principles and (Part 3). ■ Valentina Sevastyanova spoke on The norms of international law and interna-

Calendar of events of the ILO Subregional Office in Moscow

JUNE 27-30 - Visit to Armenia by Friedrich Buttler, 11-15 - Staff Training, IPEC CAR Project, Director of the ILO Regional Bureau for Almaty, Kazakhstan May 31-June 16 - International Labour Europe and Central Asia. 25 - ILO Senior Specialist for Employment Conference, Geneva, Switzerland 28-29 - Seminar "Problems of women la- Ms. Martina Lubyova will visit Baku, Azerbai- 12 - World Day Against Child Labour bour and health at the present stage and jan, and discuss the ongoing the School-to- 13-17 - Finland-Norway-Russia OSH pro- the role of trade unions in their solution", Work Transition Survey (SWTS) ject consultations with the constituents in Baku, Azerbaijan - A local economic development (LED) pro- Karelia on future cooperation, Kostamuksa, ject: a seminar on "Introduction of modern Finland JULY agricultural cooperative principles" to dis- 15 - a roundtable meeting entitled “The role cuss establishment of Farmers' Association, of youth organizations in the Elimination of 1 – National Union of Crisis Centers to hold Taldykorgan region, Kazakhstan the Worst Forms of Child Labour” at Moscow a roundtable meeting on Worst Forms of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Russia Child Labour, Almaty, Kazakhstan AUGUST 16-17 – International Confederation of Free 4-7 – International Organization for Stan- Trade Unions (ICFTU)/ILO/Federation of dardization holds “Safety of Forest Machin- 12 – International Youth Day (IYD) Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (FPK) hold con- ery” seminar, Rome, Italy 23-25 - Subregional practical seminar ference “Labour Migration as a Poverty Out- 7-8 - National Workshop on IPEC Strategic "Main problems of OSH and social partner- come”, Almaty, Kazakhstan Planning Impact Framework (SPIF) and Ca- ship and their solutions", Murmansk, Russia 13-24 – Start and Improve Your Business pacity Building Project on the Elimination of - LED project: field seminars under the Master Trainers' Competency Reinforcement the Worst Forms of Child Labour in the Cen- first and third project components and SIYB Workshop, Almaty, Kazakhstan. tral Asian Republics (CAR), Astana, Kazakh- courses for 12 districts of the Taldykorgan 27-28 - IPEC Strategic Planning Impact stan region , Kazakhstan Framework (SPIF) Workshop, Tashkent, Uz- bekistan Newsletter #2 (21), Page 7

April 28 - World Day for Safety and Health at Work Armenia: safe work at every enterprise

In 2001, April 28 was proclaimed as the equal four per cent of the world’s GDP. remained neglected. At present, with the ILO’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The This year the World Day events were held assistance Armenia has managed to make the international labor movement on the same day in over 100 countries worldwide, including transition from Soviet-era labor relations to the observes Worker Memorial Day to remember eight out of the ten countries covered by the new ones, based on market economy principles. all those who have died of occupational inju- ILO Moscow Office. We have a newly-adopted Labor Code focused ries. Our article is devoted to Armenia, because on social partnership, and the Law on Labor In 2005 the World Day for Safety and this country marked the World Day for the first Inspections”. Health at Work was devoted to the prevention time. The event has acquired special impor- The Minister disagreed with the prevailing opinion of accidents and harm to health at work, espe- tance, as the working conditions in the Repub- that “the employer wants to put his employee through the cially in the construction industry, which is part lic have been deteriorating since the Soviet wringer.” “This is not really so. A good employer cares of a larger issue of preventive measures to Union’s collapse. However, due to joint efforts for the employees’ health and safety, as it promotes the promote health protection and safety culture at by the Government, social partners and the enterprise’s effi- work. ILO, a new Labour Code and a Law on Labour ciency.” Inspection were adopted. Therefore the time The ILO Moscow was ripe to begin work at the enterprise level. Office’s Senior The Almaz joint stock became the first OSH Specialist enterprise in the Republic to create a bi-partite Wiking Husberg safety committee. Almaz is a manufacturer of spoke on the im- unique equipment for processing hard surfaces, portance of social including diamonds. partnership in labor On the eve of the World Day the Almaz safety. joint stock gathered at lunch time (work sched- “To ensure ule is very intensive at the enterprise) in its efficiency and conference hall workers, representatives from sustainability, it the government, employers’ association, trade is important to unions, ILO representatives, and the media. In front of the conference maintain social Bi-partite safety committee agreement “It is a great honor for us to be chosen as hall the ILO displayed a dialogue at an signed by Almaz executive director Sergey the venue of this event. When our social part- collection of its publications enterprise level. Mkrtchyan and trade union chairman Albert ners proposed to Almaz to create a bi-partite All three part- Sargsian safety committee, both the administration and ners will see the benefit of this work,” he said. According to the ILO’s estimates, 2 million workers unanimously supported the idea,” said The Labor Minister said in conclusion: people die at the workplace a year, which Almaz Executive Director Sergei Mkrtchyan in “We know of Luxembourg’s initiative to for- makes up one fatality every 15 seconds. Every his opening speech. “The thing is that all our mally declare the 28th of April as World Day day industrial accidents take a death toll as workers are trade union members, and social for Health and Safety at Work. Taking into heavy as the attack on the World Trade Center dialogue between the administration and the account the importance of safety at work for in New York on September 11, 2001. The trade union is working effectively. The signing our country, we’ll seriously think of official number of occupational injuries is also increas- of the annual collective agreements testifies to observance of the World Day in Armenia as ing. Currently it stands at 250 million a year. this. This year we shall sign a fifth such agree- well.”■ Over 160 million men and women suffer from ment,” he said. occupational diseases. Armenian Minister of Labour and Social The ILO has estimated that compensations Issues Aghvan Vardanyan pointed out that “for for workplace accidents and paid sick leaves the past 15 years labor relations in the Republic

World Day in the Subregion Azerbaijan: a five-step campaign on Astana chaired by Deputy Minister Batyrzhan Russia: dissemination of printed OSH in construction including safety Ashitov; actions in several regions and enter- material to all regional OSH cen- promotion in the media, information prises on “Occupational safety and health is tres; two-day meetings of regional campaign for employers, tri-partite meetings everybody’s concern”. OSH centres and WD conferences in Kazan, on implementation of OSH legislation, work- Kyrgyzstan: a dramatised WIND (Work St. Petersburg, Bryansk, Kaliningrad, Vo- shop and proposals for reviewing the OSH Improvement in Neighborhood Develop- ronesh, Kemerov, Lipetsk, Novosibirsk, Pskov legislation for construction. ment) seminar in the rural area; a WD and Perm, the Leningrad, Orenburg, Ryazan Georgia: OSH articles in three na- seminar and adoption of the national regions, as well as in the Republics of tional newspapers; a seminar on programme for OSH in agriculture. Kabardino-Balkaria and Mari El. labor culture and safety; a meeting Tajikistan: a campaign for clean drink- Belarus: OSH contests for enter- between the Labor Inspection leadership and ing water at construction sites within the prises; printed publications; round- Trade Union activists and a tripartite WD con- framework of the Tenth Anniversary of table discussions “OSH in construc- ference, which were broadcast by three Geor- Clean Water programme; dissemination tion: current situation, problems, ways of solu- gia’s TV channels. Radio Tavisupleba of booklets, posters on waterborne types tion”; local seminars for chief labour inspec- (Freedom) broadcast an interview with a chief of illnesses. tors. labor inspector. Uzbekistan: seminars on labor culture Armenia: a booklet on social partnership Kazakhstan: two major seminars and safety in Tashkent, Namangan and in OSH in Armenian; annex to the national on the implementation of the La- the Tashkent region; dissemination of printed newspaper; creation of a bi-partite safety bour Code in Almaty chaired by material. committee (see above). Labour Minister Gulzhana Karagusova and in Newsletter #2 (21), Page 8 Journalists undergo training on gender equality

Three media roundtables were organized it was vital to ensure two-way communication, by ILO-Moscow in Azerbaijan, Armenia and to make it a real dialogue, to exchange opin- Georgia. They were united by one common ions and to learn from their colleagues from theme: ‘Gender Equality and the World of the Caucasus about the gender situation in Work: the Role of Mass Media’. their countries and in their mass media.

These activities were organized under the The discussions, which at times got quite ILO Dutch-funded project “Increasing Em- emotional, have revealed the following prob- ployability of Disadvantaged Young Women lems: the lack of professional gender experts and Men and Other Marginalized Groups in and gender-disaggregated statistical data; lim- the Caucasus and Central Asia through Skills ited contacts between the media and the expert Development and Entrepreneur Education.” community; difficulties in publishing ‘social’ Tbilisi, February 2005 articles in today’s commercialized press; low public awareness of the gender inequality “After the seminar it became clear problems. that it is necessary to speak of gender problems openly and write about them The next step in this direction was a three- more often. Otherwise we will be unable day media training on gender issues conducted to build a state, where men and women by famous Russian journalists – Nadezhda live and work in equal conditions.” Anzhgikhina and Svetlana Svistunova, and also Dr. Sc. (Economics) Marina Baskakova “Generally speaking I don’t like con- and ILO’s representatives. ferences and seminars – sheer statements and addresses that sometimes sound The seminars proceeded in a dynamic, rather dull. But this training was for the Baku, December 2004 interesting and lively atmosphere. Serious first time really interesting for me. I met presentations with short documentaries alter- with colleagues who actively and lively Working with the media is a relatively new nated with practical exercises. Journalists imi- discussed this challenging issue – gender trend in the work of the Subregional Office. tated live interviews, created imaginary news equality - that requires special atten- The press is seen today as a key tool for rais- items on gender equality and analyzed local tion.” ing public awareness and for forming public media information and TV adverts. opinion on the most acute social and labour “Earlier I did not pay much attention issues. Therefore it is not surprising that re- Gradually participants learnt how to look to gender problems around me, at home porters have become one of key target groups at everyday life events through “gender or at work. Now I will use gender glasses for the ILO in promoting gender equality in glasses” and felt that their works become and keep my eyes peeled for these prob- the world of work. deeper and more interesting. lems.” A festive ceremony of awarding all the train- Here are opinions of some partak- ees with ILO’s certificates wound up the semi- ers: nars. Journalists will keep these documents as “During the three days we’ve got a a keepsake of this significant and interesting large amount of new and useful infor- event that will remind them how important it is mation. Now I have to grasp and think to write on gender equality, especially in la- everything over. I do not want to prom- bour sphere. Soon these events will be fol- ise that I will start writing on gender lowed by national journalist contests of gender equality on the labour market at once, publications, similar to the one held in Russia but when I feel mature to do this, I will in October 2003.■ know for sure, where to find the infor- Yerevan, February 2005 mation. This is very important for a The purpose of the three meetings was not journalist.” to cover the whole range of gender issues but “Tomorrow I leave for Greece for a to concentrate on the questions within the ILO business trip. Now after your training, I mandate, e.g direct and hidden discrimination can say that in addition to my working pro- in employment, in remuneration and career gram, I will certainly study the issues of development, the distribution of work and women-labour migrants from my country family responsibilities, as well as maternity who work there.” protection and many others. For the organizers Newsletter # 2 (21), Page 9 Director of the Executive Directorate of the Equality in the World of Work: Family Re- In Brief Moscow Region Council of Industrialists and sponsibilities and Maternity Protection" at the ■ On February 21- March 18 Entrepreneurs. round-table discussion devoted to family so- Baku Confederation of Employers hosted a cial assistance. The meeting discussed social ■ The ILO Subregional Office in Moscow seminar on training of trainers for Start and and legal protection of the family and chil- jointly with the Nordic Council of Ministers Improve Your Business (SIYB) and Know dren, fullfilment of the CIS countries’ obliga- convened an International Conference About Business (KAB) programs. The same tions to implement the UN Convention on the “Poverty and Income Policy in the Northwest- seminars were held on March 28-April 8 at Rights of the Child and development of inter- ern Federal Okrug of the Russian Federation – Georgia’s vocational training association national contacts between women- Gender Aspects” which took place in St- Pyramid in Baku. Both seminars were held parliamentarians of the CIS countries. Petersburg (New Raivola) on April 7-8. The within the framework of the ILO’s project conference focused on developing recommen- ■ On May 31 Ms. Pauline Barrett-Reid, Increasing Employability of Disadvantaged dations and proposals on how to improve the ILO Moscow Director, was invited by Vedo- Young Women and Men and Other Marginal- labor and income policy. Over 80 vice- mosti (an influential daily business newspaper ized Groups in the Caucasus and Central Asia governors, chairpersons of regional and fed- published by Independent Media jointly with through Skills Development and Entrepreneur eral trade unions, employers’ organizations, The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times) Education. representatives of the Russian Parliament, to make a keynote speech at the conference ■ The first meeting of the Moscow region research institutions, international agencies “Personnel Costs Management: Opportunities tripartite Project Advisory Board of the HIV/ and donor-countries. and Restrictions”. The conference, organized AIDS Workplace Education Programme was for human resources managers from top Rus- ■ The State Duma Committee on Women, held at the Moscow Region Administration sian companies, discussed a wide range of Family Affaires and Children held the Inter- premises on April 7. About 20 participants issues, including Russia’s accession to WTO national Meeting "Women-parliamentarians took part in the meeting which gathered all and its consequences for the country’s econ- of the CIS countries to protect the rights of tripartite partners - Sergey Koshman, Deputy omy. Ms. Barrett-Reid made a report entitled family and children" on May 16-17. Taking Chief of the Moscow Region Administration, “Managing Globalization with Particular Ref- part in the meeting were delegations of the who chaired the meeting, Viktor Yegerev, erence to WTO Accession. The Role of Tri- CIS countries, representatives of the state Deputy Speaker of the Moscow Region partism.” See full text of the presentation at power legislative bodies of Russia’s constitu- Duma, Alexander Gushchin, Deputy Chair- http://www.ilo.ru/news.htm (May) ents, Russian NGOs and international organi- man of the Moscow Regional Trade Unions’ zations. Director of the ILO Moscow Office Association and Valery Kulikov, General Pauline Barrett-Reid made a report "Gender Cities of the Subregion: Volgograd

In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of completely destroyed and after the war it was the Great Victory over Nazi Germany the Board built anew. The site of the famous victory is of the International Federation for Peace and now marked by a gigantic statue of Mother Conciliation (IFPC) called the city-hero of Russia on the Mamayev Kurgan (the hill of Volgograd as a Capital of Peace and Concilia- tion. Volgograd became Russia’s first city that had been granted this hon- World War II. The Axis powers lost around 1.5 ored title. The million people - about a quarter of their total 200-day Battle of manpower on the Eastern Front, and never Stalingrad lasted recovered from the defeat. For the Soviet army, in and around the which lost about one million soldiers and civil- city from July 17, ians during the battle, the victory at Stalingrad Mamai). Modern Volgograd is one of Russia’s 1942 to February marked the start of the [email protected]. on most beautiful cities and one of its largest in- 2, 1943 and be- of the Soviet Union, leading to eventual victory dustrial centres.■ To find more on Volgograd came a major over Nazi Germany in 1945. http://www.volgogradcity.ru (in Russian) turning point in During these years the city was almost Photos by Rodger Reid

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