| GB.267/WP/SDL/1/2
267th Session November 1996 |
|
Working Party on the Social Dimensions
of the Liberalization of International Trade |
WP/WP/SDL |
FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA
Continuation of discussions concerning the
programme of work and mandate of the Working Party:
(b) Summary of activities in other parts of the Governing Body
relevant to the work of the Working Party
1. At its 265th Session (March 1996), the Governing Body decided that the Working Party on the Social Dimensions of the Liberalization of International Trade should have an overview of pertinent activities in other parts of the Governing Body (particularly as regards progress on fundamental workers' rights and child labour) in connection with reviewing ILO means of action.(1)
2. The present paper briefly examines the pertinent Governing Body decisions taken at its 265th and 266th Sessions, as well as documents available to date that are being submitted at the present session.
Plenary
3. At its 265th Session the Governing Body endorsed a statement by the Chairperson of the Working Party, requesting the Office to prepare and circulate a questionnaire, to make available the report prepared by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on trade and labour standards, to report on the idea of country studies and to begin to examine the issue of foreign direct investment. The documents to be examined by the Working Party at the current session have been produced in response to these requests.(2)
4. At its 266th Session, the Governing Body discussed follow-up on the Group of 7 Conference on Employment held in Lille (France) in April 1996.(3) Recalling the two papers on combating unemployment and exclusion and on the social dimensions of the liberalization of international trade that the Office submitted to the Conference, the Governing Body reviewed the outcome of the discussions as summarized in the Conclusions of the Chair of the Lille meeting. According to these conclusions, "the development of a more global economy and advances in information technology are an engine for new economic opportunity and prosperity, but may also be seen as a source of dislocation and insecurity". The ILO is expected to be called upon to contribute in three distinct ways to follow-up on the Lille Conference: by undertaking studies on specific topics in response to requests by the secretariat of the Lille Conference, by participating in the next G7 meeting on youth employment to be hosted by the Government of Japan in 1997, and by making available the papers produced for the Working Party on the Social Dimensions of the Liberalization of International Trade.
5. In June 1996 the Governing Body also approved the convening of several meetings, including the Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Future ILO Activities in the Field of Migration (dates to be determined).(4) The background paper presented to the 265th Session of the Governing Body in March 1996 contained an analysis of the increasing complexity of international migration in the context of the intensification of trade, service and financial links between countries.(5)
6. At its present session, the Governing Body will be considering a paper on the effect to be given to the resolution concerning the elimination of child labour, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 83rd Session (June 1996).(6) The report and questionnaire concerning the item concerning child labour included in the agenda of the 86th Session (June 1998) of the International Labour Conference for a first discussion are to be despatched in the near future to member States. In addition, the Governing Body will have before it at the present session a report on the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Istanbul, June 1996 -- Habitat II),(7) which mentions the ILO-led panel discussion on globalization and the future of the formal and informal urban economies.
Programme, Financial and Administrative Committee
7. While containing proposals that are still tentative, the paper on the preparation of the Programme and Budget proposals for 1998-99 contains a number of items that directly or indirectly address the issue of a more globalized economy and liberalized trade.
Committee on Employment and Social Policy
8. At its 265th Session, the Committee examined proposals for ILO action on country employment policy reviews(8) as part of follow-up on the World Summit for Social Development. The paper submitted to the Committee looked into the purpose and the practical modalities of such country employment reviews. The primary objective of the exercise is a thorough diagnosis of the employment and labour market situation and existing policy strategy before ILO technical assistance and advisory services are offered to the country with a view to designing policy options in consultation with the social partners.(9) At the present session the Committee has before it a paper concerning progress on country-level follow-up activities on the World Summit for Social Development in the area of employment policy.(10) This is a progress report on the first seven country employment policy reviews currently under way within the framework and programme of the UN ACC Task Force. The ILO has been assigned a lead role in conducting employment policy reviews in three countries (Chile, Hungary, Nepal), and joint leadership in another case-study (Zambia).
9. At the current session, the Committee will examine a paper concerning an evaluation of the work and future role of the Committee on Employment and Social Policy,(11) which could be of relevance to the Working Party. The Committee has also been informed of the Director-General's decision to initiate a preliminary research study, targeted for completion by June 1997, on the issue of voluntary labelling programmes and child labour.(12) It would describe current labelling programmes and review assessments that may be available of their effect on child labour and on industry and consumer behaviour in the industrialized and developing countries.
10. Also before the Committee at the present session is an information note on international cooperation on environment and sustainable development(13) which gives an overview of activities within the UN system related to environment, sustainable development and the world of work, focusing in particular on the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) which held its fourth session in May 1996. With specific reference to issues related to trade, environment and sustainable development, the CSD took note of the progress report submitted by UNCTAD on the analytical study of the relationship of environmental protection to international competition, job creation and development, and suggested that UNCTAD should enlarge the scope of the study by inviting input from international organizations, the private sector, and NGOs. Also of importance, the CSD discussed preparations for the proposed Special Session of the General Assembly to review the progress being made to follow-up on the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, Rio de Janeiro, 1992) scheduled for June 1997.
11. Two additional papers are before the Committee at the present session: one reviews recent developments concerning cooperation with the Bretton Woods institutions(14) and the other dealing with the effect to be given to the resolution (and conclusions) concerning tripartite consultation at the national level on economic and social policy, and the resolution (and conclusions) concerning employment policies in a global context, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 83rd (June 1996) Session.(15) The latter paper recalls, among others, the invitation in paragraph 1 of the conclusions concerning employment policies in a global context for governments --
to commit themselves to adhere to common rules in order to reap the full benefits of globalization. They are encouraged to adopt and maintain open economic and trade policies and to refrain from policies that confer on them an unfair comparative advantage.
Paragraph 7 of the resolution also stressed a number of issues central to the ILO's priorities: the importance of the social dimension in the ongoing process of economic globalization; the promotion of full observance of fundamental international labour standards; the strengthening of ILO dialogue with other international organizations; the need to highlight the merits of programmes of economic reform based on a consensus among the social partners which include employment objectives; and finally, the extended time needed by the Governing Body's Committee on Employment and Social Policy to discuss employment issues. The paper refers to a number of ILO activities, including the initiative taken by the Director-General in relation to seven fundamental ILO Conventions.
Committee on Legal Issues and International Labour Standards
12. At the 265th Session of the Governing Body, the Committee on Legal Issues and International Labour Standards examined a further document on the ratification and promotion of fundamental ILO Conventions(16) containing updated information provided by 37 countries (in total some 96 member States replied to the Director-General's letter of May 1995). The paper noted that, since the commencement of the Director-General's initiative, there had been seven new ratifications concerning these Conventions, while some 30 more ratifications were expected shortly.(17) In addition, eight countries had made requests for technical advice in respect of one or other of these Conventions.
13. At the current session, the Committee will continue reflection on the strengthening of the ILO's standards supervisory system(18) with respect to fundamental labour standards, which would seem to be of particular relevance to the debate in the Working Party. In addition, there is a review of the activities of the multidisciplinary teams in relation to standards.(19) The Committee's Working Party on Policy regarding the Revision of Standards will also be examining a paper identifying further ILO Conventions in need of revision.(20) Endorsing a recommendation made by that Working Party to the effect that obsolete labour instruments would best be dealt with by means of a constitutional amendment,(21) in March 1996 the Committee requested the Office to prepare a detailed document on the practical modalities of such an amendment. Following this decision, at the present session of the Governing Body the Working Party has before it a paper elaborating on possible amendments to the Constitution and Conference Standing Orders to enable the Conference to abrogate or otherwise terminate obsolete international labour Conventions.(22)
Committee on Technical Cooperation
14. At the present session of the Governing Body, the Committee will examine an assessment of selected technical cooperation projects regarding strategies to enhance women's employment and income opportunities.(23) The paper, which is particularly timely in view of the ILO's commitment to contribute to follow-up on the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, draws lessons from some 13 projects specifically aimed at increasing incomes and enhancing skills.
Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings
15. At the present session, the Committee is invited to make recommendations to the Governing Body concerning the choice of sectors and topics for 12 sectoral meetings to be held in 1998-99. Of the possible choices, several encompass issues that could be pertinent to the work of the Working Party (see especially the meetings proposed under items B.1 and J). The Committee will also consider the conclusions and resolutions adopted by the Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Issues concerning Migrant Workers in the Construction Industry.(24) In its resolution concerning future ILO activities in the construction industry, the Tripartite Meeting invited the Governing Body to request the Director-General to prepare a study on the impact of globalization in the construction industry.
Geneva, 28 October 1996.
1 GB.265/WP/SDL/D.1, para. 4 and oral report by the Chairperson of the Working Party.
2 GB.267/WP/SDL/1/1, GB.267/WP/SDL/1/3, GB.267/WP/SDL/2 and GB.267/WP/SDL/3.
4 Proposals for this meeting will be included in the paper submitted to the Governing Body under the item on its agenda concerning the composition and agenda of standing bodies and meetings (GB.267/17).
18 GB.267/LILS/5; for the most recent discussion of this matter, see GB.265/8/2, paras. 46 to 76 and GB.265/LILS/7.