October 2005

1. 11th Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners

   Mombasa Statement

   07 October 2005

2. Article

   Bulgaria: helping businesses to enter the formal economy

   04 October 2005

   GENEVA (ILO Online) - In 2003, a new regulation was introduced in Bulgaria, whereby it became compulsory for employers to register all labour contracts. In addition, as many employers and enterprises are unaware about the new regulations, there is a strong need now to inform them on how to conform with the new system. The ILO's Bureau for Employers' Activities (ACT/EMP) supports the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) - the largest Bulgarian employers' organization, to help companies moving from informality to formality. ILO on line spoke with Henrik Moller and Jean-Marie Standaert, both from ACT/EMP, who assist BIA in making this happen.

September 2005

1. Article

   Decent work for all seafarers: ILO-IMO prepare new guidelines on death, injury and abandonment

   16 September 2005

   Globalization, complex vessel ownership and flagging, and multinational crewing have made it more pressing than ever to create guidelines for speedy and humane treatment of seafarers caught in unforeseen difficulties. A joint working group of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the ILO will discuss such guidelines on 19-21 September in London.

August 2005

1. Article

   New chemicals, old risks: why careful monitoring must be maintained

   26 August 2005

   Potentially harmful chemicals permeate today's workplaces. While the number of chemicals used in industry now exceeds 50,000, an additional 500 new chemicals are introduced in industry every year. The toll from chemical exposure is heavy - the ILO estimates that of the 2 million work-related fatalities, 439,000 are caused by chemicals, and of the 160 million cases of work-related disease, 35 million are due to chemicals. A new ILO publication says the toxicity of new chemicals must be checked for safety and health more carefully before marketing. The 17th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work will address safety and health of chemicals during a special session on 19 September 2005.

2. Article

   International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition Invisible prisoners: The trafficking and exploitation of Chinese immigrants in France

   18 August 2005

   According to an ILO study, some 50,000 illegal Chinese immigrants living in France are easy prey to exploitation through forced labour. Resulting from major economic and social change in China, the movement has been growing for the past ten years, with more than 6,000 Chinese immigrants arriving each year in Paris and the surrounding region. Victims of trafficking, at the end of their dangerous journey through transit countries where they run the risk of racketeering, violence and sometimes death, the migrants have little choice but to integrate themselves into a parallel ethnic economy where they can remain trapped for years, mainly in the clothing and catering sectors. The report describes this inhuman and invisible life, in the words of the Chinese migrants themselves, following a survey conducted in close collaboration with the French authorities.

3. Article

   International Day of the World's Indigenous People 2005 Indigenous and Tribal Peoples' Rights - still a long way to go

   03 August 2005

   GENEVA (ILO Online) - The ILO has adopted the only international legal instrument now open to ratification that pertains specifically to the 350 million indigenous and tribal peoples worldwide: the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). It has been ratified by 17 countries and is internationally recognized as the foremost instrument on the subject. It covers a wide range of issues, including land rights, access to natural resources, health, education, vocational training, conditions of employment and contacts across borders.

4. 

   Publication

   Waving through history: how the ILO finally got an official flag

   01 August 2005

5. Publication

   The new era of textile trade Taking stock in the post-MFA environment

   01 August 2005

   In the six months since the quota system held over from the Multifibre Agreement (MFA) expired, much public debate has taken place over the social, economic, and employment impact of this new state of play in the textile sector. Will the new paradigm mean more or less jobs for workers in the developing, transition, and developed countries? The ILO will take on this issue in October 2005 when tripartite delegates meet to discuss the future and work toward a fair globalization.

6. Publication

   The burden of gold Child labour in small-scale mines and quarries

   01 August 2005

   This year's World Day Against Child Labour focused the world's attention on the plight of child labourers in small-scale mines and quarries. The ILO estimates that about one million children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in small-scale mining and quarrying activities worldwide. These children toil under dangerous conditions and go without access to schools, health clinics, and other basic necessities. Pilot programmes are underway with the help of the ILO and its partners to eradicate the need for child labour by building sustainable communities and offering the opportunity for a better future.

7. Publication

   Microfinance in south-eastern Europe: How small business helps to create jobs

   01 August 2005

   Experience in Western countries shows that microfinance can be a useful tool in the fight against unemployment, by helping people start their own viable small businesses. An ILO project is now bringing these successful experiences to three countries in south-eastern Europe, helping to introduce microfinance as a tool in active labour market policy. The effort is particularly timely, as 2005 has been designated the "International Year of Microcredit" by the United Nations.