ILO warns of eight-year employment crisis - Holds summit on job crisis - Says global economy must provide 300 million jobs - Canvasses global collaboration on job creation

updated: 15-06-2009

Juan Somavia, ILO Director-GeneralWARNING of a possible six to eight-year employment and social protection crises due to the global economic downturn, the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Director-General, Juan Somavia has called on delegates to the 98th International Labour Conference to adopt a “Global Jobs Pact.”

Mr. Somavia cited a range of dire economic challenges facing the world of work, ranging from rising unemployment and increasing poverty to pressure on businesses, adding, “all of these put together means that the world may be looking at a jobs and social protection crises of six to eight years duration.”

He also said the global economy would need to create around 300 million new jobs up to 2015, just to keep up with the increase in the labour force, adding, “but things are going in the opposite direction” and “unemployment is projected to continue rising, at least, until the end of 2010, maybe 2011.”

Noting that there were signs that the economic downturn might be losing speed, he said “we know from past crises that employment recovers pre-crisis levels with a lag of between four and five years on average.”

“Our tripartite responsibility is to propose policies that significantly reduce the lag in employment recovery”, Mr. Somavia told the plenary. He said a global pact would imply a commitment by the ILO tripartite constituency to make employment and social protection central elements of all economic and social policies; and promote a productive vision led by investment and enterprise, social protection and job creation.

“Much will depend on the success of overall economic and social policies and stimulus packages adopted by countries and a functioning financial sector,” he added, saying, “our immediate task is to fashion out a strong tripartite agreement on recovery through Decent Work policies.”

Mr. Somavia said the proposed Global Jobs Pact was based on a series of tried and tested policies which, if adopted in a comprehensive fashion, could “reduce social tensions, protect people in the downturn and, most importantly, stimulate aggregate demand and prepare the growth of tomorrow.”

More than 10 heads of state and government, six vice - presidents, ministers of labour, workers, employers and other economic and labour leaders are participating in an ILO Jobs Summit today, 15th and tomorrow, 16th June, at this year’s ILO meeting. Nearly 4,000 delegates from the organisation’s 183 member states are expected to attend the 16 - day conference in Geneva.

You can go on strike: SSAUTHRIAI tells members over controversial promotion policy - Calls for review of Decree 10 (1985) - Wants end to Niger/Delta face-off

By Feyisina Yinka and Mobolaji Akinbola

SENIOR Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) has frowned at the delay and stagnation of its members’ promotion in various teaching, specialist hospitals and federal medical centres.

In a communique issued at the end of a two-day meeting held recently in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the association stressed that the promotion exercise should be carried out and released as at when due in various institutions.

The association also directed its members to embark on immediate industrial action anywhere controversial policy on promotion is being implemented.

Describing Decree 10 of 1985, the act establishing teaching hospitals, formerly known as Decree 10 of 1985 and otherwise known as the University Teaching Hospitals Act, Decree 1985, as an old act on the operations of tertiary health institutions, the meeting called on the National Assembly to urgently review it.

The meeting also discussed monetization, proposed dual salary structure in tertiary health institutions, electoral reforms and Niger Delta crisis. It urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment of the 24 months monetization arrears to SSAUTHRIAI members and opposed the creation of a separate salary structure for Medical/Dental officers.

The SSAUTHRIAI advised the Federal Ministry of Health to learn from history and maintain a unified salary structure.

Also, the meeting, for the sake of meaningful development, appealed to the Federal Government and militants to explore more of political approach to settle the Niger/Delta crisis.

Focus on girls as the world fights child labour

The annual World Day Against Child Labour was marked by events in scores of countries around the world on Friday,12 June amid growing concerns over the impact of the economic crisis on child labour, and in particular girls.

For the World Day, the ILO released a new report entitled “Give Girls a Chance: Tackling child labour, a key to the future,” highlighting the exploitation of girls in child labour and warning that the global economic crisis could force more girls out of education and into child labour.

The report by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) of the International Labour Office (ILO) provides latest estimates on the number of girls in child labour and details the exploitative forms of child labour facing them.

According to the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), this year is especially important because 2009 marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182, which addresses the need for action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

World Day Against Child Labour 2009 events were held in some 50 countries across the world. In Geneva, the ILO marked the World Day with an event organised jointly with the City of Geneva and the Geneva-based community organisation, Le Respect on the Place des Nations.

There will be a special session of the International Labour Conference to mark the World Day and the tenth anniversary of ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the Worst Forms of Child Labour. Speakers include ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia; U.S. Senator Tom Harkin; Mr. J.W. Botha, employers group spokesperson in the Committee on Child Labour of the 1999 International Labour Conference; and Sir Roy Trotman, workers’ group spokesperson in the Committee on Child Labour of the 1999 International Labour Conference.

At both Geneva events, the "Haba na Haba" Band, composed of young musicians from Kenya, will perform. The band members, from the slums of Nairobi, have developed their musical skills in a youth centre supported by the ILO-IPEC programme