Budapest, 16/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The seventh regional European meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), taking place in Budapest this week, is “the only centralised European space where the countries of the EU and of the Community of Independent States (CIS) can discuss the world of work in full cooperation”, said the Director General of the ILO, Juan Somavia, before work started. Good governance linked to the creation of decent work for fairer globalisation, better division of wealth, for which social dialogue is one of the tools and proper social protection: this is the message the ILO hopes to get across this week. Why decent work? To put an end to discrimination against children, sufferers of AIDS, or in the workplace due to racism, to ban forced labour and child labour, in other words just to ensure that human rights are being respected. The “social protection” dimension, the ILO states, is possible even in poor countries and in the informal economy sector, and this is the subject of consensus within the organisation.
“The notion of decent work was developed in tripartite way, which explains that its balance its based on three pillars”, Mr Somavia explained to EUROPE: 1) the creation of quality jobs must be a priority; 2) the right to work is a key concept covering the universal rights of non-discrimination, equality between people, the fight against forced labour; 3) the level of social protection is a vital element. To all this we must add the social dimension of globalisation, which seems to be lacking, said Juan Somavia, regretting the fact that the current model of globalisation is not beneficial for all. Mr Somavia's report, “Managing Transitions: Governance and Decent Work”, which was discussed in Budapest, mentioned people's concept of the influence of globalisation on their workplace”.
“We do not take account of weaknesses, we are lacking in ethics and it's the survival of the fittest”, said Mr Somavia. The ILO strongly supports the social agenda presented last week by Commissioner Spidla, said Mr Somavia (see EUROPE of 10 February, p.7) stressing the three key issues for social development: the fight against poverty, cohesion and employment. “Employment is the answer because it helps to get people out of poverty and is a step towards social cohesion (…). What is the point of setting poverty reduction objectives if decent work isn't made an absolute priority (…)? Work is not a good, it is a source of dignity, family stability, peace in communities”. Mr Somavia also mentioned “a societal problem where age is seen as a burden”, although we must “make people useful, make sure that they can benefit others by their experience”. “I do not like the word 'retired'; I prefer to talk of people who have the right to stop working because of their age!”, said Mr Somavia.
Vladimir Spidla: total support for cooperation with the ILO
During a short meeting with the press, the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Employment and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, lent his “full support to the Commission's cooperation with the ILO”. In our social agenda, we talk of quality work, “a term which comes very close to the notion of decent work” coined by Juan Somavia. The Commissioner said that in his view, the European social model is based on an inclusive society and stressed that greater efforts were needed to eradicate poverty. An inclusive society, he said, must also embrace the homeless.
The President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, who gave the conference's opening speech, took part in a round table on the theme “Will social dialogue survive globalisation?” (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.14). Among the other people taking part were the Prime Ministers of Hungary, Ferenc Gyurcsany, of Malta, Lawrence Gonzi and of Kazakhstan Danial Akhmetov, the Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation, John Monks, and the President of International Organisation of Employers, François Périgot.
The Luxembourg Minister for Work and Employment, François Biltgen, was representing the Council of the EU in Budapest at the discussion of the Juan Somavia report.