Child Labour, Maternity Rights on Agenda
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GOVERNING BODY DISCUSSES MYANMAR, FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND THE ASIAN JUAN SOMAVIA, OF CHILE, FINANCIAL CRISIS IS NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL International Labour Office No. 29, April / May 1999 ILO CONFERENCE TO DEBATE KEY ISSUES: CHILD LABOUR, MATERNITY RIGHTS ON AGENDA NEW CONVENTION ON MATERNITY RIGHTS NEEDED TO FILL GAPS Draft Convention to Receive First Consideration This Year GENEVA (ILO News) - In just over 10 years, 80 per cent of all women in industrialized countries and 70 per cent globally will be working out- side the home throughout their child-bearing years. As women’s partici- pation in the labour market continues to rise and women return to work after childbirth in ever greater numbers, the need for measures which WORST WORK: The new Convention on the worst forms of child labour will benefit children in urgent need, like these children who work in a fireworks enable them to reconcile their specific role in child bearing with their factory. Photo: David Browne, ILO professional activities has become more evident. Eliminating The “Worst” Forms In June, the International Labour account changes in women’s coverage to all employed women; Conference will undertake the employment since then. The re- stronger protection from dismissal of Child Labour: Delegates to first discussion of the revision of vised instruments may include during pregnancy, absence on the Maternity Protection Con- fewer technical provisions which maternity leave and after return to vote on final adoption vention No. 103 which was adop- have proven to be obstacles to work; and measures to remove ted in 1952, with a view to adop- ratification in the past. maternity as a source of discrimi- ting more up-to-date inter- Important elements to be consi- nation in employment. Issue Received First Consideration Last national standards which take into dered include: the extension of (Please see inside for article) PROTECTING MOTHERS: A new ILO Convention could provide more up-to- Year; Consensus Nearly Reached date standards reflecting modern working conditions. GENEVA (ILO News) - In an pornography, and illegal activities, INSIDE effort to focus new attention on the and hazardous work that is likely to worst forms of child labour, the jeopardize the health, safety or • Enterprise Forum 87th International Labour Con- morals of children. brochure ference (ILC) is to hold a second “Ending child labour is a goal discussion on a new Convention in itself” Director-General Juan that will address the intolerable Somavia said in his inaugural exploitation of children in such address to the ILO Governing Body work. The Conference hosted its on 22 March. “It is also a powerful first discussion of the Convention way of promoting economic and in 1998. human development. Through the States which ratify the Conven- International Programme on the tion following its adoption will Elimination of Child Labour have the basic obligation to take (IPEC), the ILO has a powerful measures to secure the prohibition operational arm to support its nor- and immediate elimination of the mative activities. I look forward to worst forms of child labour. These the approval of a new Convention include all forms of child slavery, on child labour next June.” Photodisc No. 29, April / May 1999 No. 29, use of children in prostitution, (Please see inside for article) WORLD OF Workork WorldW of Work magazine is published five times per year by the Bureau of Public Information of the ILO in Geneva. Also published in Chinese, Czech, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish. ■ Editor: Thomas Netter ■ German edition: Hans von Rohland The ILO in history ■ Arabic edition: Khawla Mattar ILO Office, Beirut ■ Spanish edition: in collaboration with the ILO Office, Madrid 1919: An American paradox ■ Production Manager: Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman As early as 1919, the United States – whose entry into the First World War had turned This magazine is not an the tide–appeared to be the key power of the emerging new world. In January 1918, US official document of the International Labour President Woodrow Wilson had advocated the creation of a “general society of nations,” Organization. The opinions later to become the League of Nations in Geneva. And for their part, American trade unions expressed do not necessarily had actively campaigned for years in favour of international measures for the protection reflect the views of the ILO. of workers. The designations employed Among the 15 members of the Commission for the study of international labour legislation do not imply the expression appointed on 25 January 1919 by the Peace Conference in Versailles were two Americans, of any opinion whatsoever including Samuel Gompers, President of the American on the part of the ILO Federation of Labor (AFL). Gompers was to play a concerning the legal status key role in the work of the Commission with his three- of any country, area or tiered responsibility–as trade union leader, represen- territory or of its authori- ties, or concerning the tative of the United States and President of the delimitation of its frontiers. Commission. Yet he was also to personify an American paradox: despite it’s passionate involvement in the Reference to names of creation of the new institution (the future ILO), the firms and commercial US faced the quasi-impossibility of becoming a member. products and processes does not imply their endorsement The difficulties were both technical and political. by the ILO, and any failure The basis for the Commission’s deliberations was a to mention a particular British draft proposal. The American problems would firm, commercial product or come to light during the examination of points in the process is not a sign of draft related to the representation of States within the disapproval. future ILO, and especially the ratification and moni- Texts and photographs toring of the application of future Conventions. Under may be freely reproduced the American Constitution, social laws were the domain with mention of source. of each individual State. Thus, Washington could not Written notification is ratify a text in this area without obtaining the approval appreciated. of the 48 States comprising the Union at the time. The entire system foreseen by the British draft under All correspondence should be addressed to the Bureau discussion was soon paralyzed. of Public Information, ILO, Three Articles out of some 40 contained in the CH-1211 Geneva 22, draft consumed nearly one-fourth of the time of the Switzerland. Commission – eight of their 35 meetings. From an Tel. +4122/799-7912 American counter-proposal presented in the last days Fax +4122/799-8577 of the Commission, the idea was retained that the http://www.ilo.org future organization could adopt less-restrictive Rec- Readers in the U.S. should ommendations alongside the compulsory Conventions. send their correspondence to Samuel Gompers The compromise thus obtained (along with other clauses) the International Labor allowed Gompers to declare that he could henceforth Office, Washington Branch, “conduct a campaign in favour of the draft”. 1828 L Street, N.W., Suite That wasn’t enough. Because of isolationist opposition to Wilson’s policy, the American 801, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: +202/653-7652 Senate, on 20 November 1919, refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and along with Fax: +202/653-7687 it the Pact of the League of Nations. Ironically, the very country which had played such an important role in its birth would remain outside of the League of Nations for its life Printed by ATAR SA, Geneva span – and, for the time being, the ILO as well. ISSN 1020-0010 Michel Fromont Cover design: Agence Paprika Source: Report of the Commission on International Labour Legislation, Official Bulletin, No. 1, ILO. WORLD OF WORK – No. 29 – 1999 2 CONTENTS JUAN SOMAVIA, OF CHILE, TAKES HELM AS NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL .................................................................... 4 International Labour Conference Preview: Child labour: Creating a new Convention ................................................. 7 Maternity rights: Revising an old one ........................................................ 7 Africa works: ILO helps turn development into jobs ........................... 11 Small is bountiful: What smaller Eurolands can teach big ones about jobs ..................................................................................... 14 Postcard from Nigeria: As freedom grows wings, unions rise from the ashes ........................................................................ 20 Gaza strip: ILO Turin Centre concludes successful training for Palestinian women .............................................................. 21 Low-quality jobs for women: Opportunities or dead-ends? .................. 22 News in brief ........................................................... 24 ● Governing Body: Discusses ILO Declaration on fundamental rights, Myanmar, Asian financial crisis, new budget proposals ● Occupational safety and health: One million work-related fatalities each year as workplace hazards evolve ● Gender: Director-General calls for new approach ● Chemical industry: Workers mix voluntary initiatives with health, safety and the environment ● Public utilities: Job cuts from privatization unleash flood of public concern Features THE ILO IN HISTORY ................................................................................ 2 WORKING WORLD ..................................................................................................18