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In an embarrassing mixup, the U.N. labor agency says it has shelved a decision on ending its ties with Big Tobacco, correcting its own statement earlier Thursday indicating it would cut ties to an industry faulted for major health risks. International Labor Organization spokesman Hans von Rohland cited a mistake in which the “tripartite” U.N. agency — bringing together business, labor groups and governments — had previously said it would stop taking funds from the tobacco industry and end their public-private partnerships. “We sent you the wrong version of the decision taken by the ILO Governing Body on ILO cooperation...

Slavery is not a thing of the past. A report released Tuesday by the U.N.-affiliated International Labor Office (ILO) and the Walk Free Foundation estimates that there were 40.3 million people in some form of modern slavery around the world on any given day last year. But by its very nature, the accuracy of that figure is hard to gauge. Slavery tends to be a hidden, illegal practice — one in which the victim's ability to speak out is limited. The authors of the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery study admit there are gaps in the available information: Although extensive...

So tell me, patriot, have you ever heard of ILAB ? Nope. Do they fix iphones ?Well, not exactly. ILAB is yet another dangerous Marxist-style agency in our bloated Federal Leviathan that almost no one has ever heard of. ILAB is an acronym for "Bureau of International Affairs" and is a sub-bureaucracy of the Department of Labor. It's stated mission is this: *** "The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) leads the U.S. Department of Labor’s efforts to ensure that workers around the world are treated fairly and are able to share in the benefits of the global economy. ILAB’s...

The global economy is on the verge of a new and deeper jobs recession that may ignite social unrest, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned. It will take at least five years for employment in advanced economies to return to pre-crisis levels, it said. The ILO also noted that in 45 of the 118 countries it examined, the risk of social unrest was rising. Separately, the OECD research body said G20 leaders meeting in Cannes this week need to take "bold decisions". The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said the rescue plan announced by EU leaders on 26...

Brazilian President Lula da Silva urged unions and workers on Monday to take advantage of the global financial crisis to help forge a new world economic order. He also criticized multilateral organizations for having no plans to address the current global crisis. Add to Delicious Add to Digg Add to Facebook Add to Google Add to Reddit Add to Stumbleupon Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Decrease font Increase font PrintShareComment The Brazilian president said it was time to end with “paper” speculation "I address myself now to the labour leaders" Lula da Silva told a global jobs summit at...

Finance crisis 'could lead to war', IMF warns By KIRSTY WALKER 23rd March 2009 Dire warning: Dominique Strauss-Kahn says the global economic crisis could push millions into poverty The global financial crisis could lead to social unrest and even war, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned yesterday. Dominique Strauss-Kahn said that the billions already pumped into the world economy risked disappearing into thin air unless there is massive reform of the financial sector. And he dealt a severe blow to Gordon Brown's plans for another debt-funded Budget giveaway by warning that the money might melt 'like snow in...

Financial job losses accelerating: U.N. agency Mon Feb 23, 6:50 pm ET GENEVA (Reuters) – Jobs in the financial sector are disappearing at an accelerating rate, with knock-on effects for the broader economy in financial centers such as New York and London, the United Nations said on Monday. A report from the U.N.'s International Labor Organization (ILO) for a meeting this week on the impact of the economic crisis on the more than 20 million people employed in the sector said financial services employment is now likely to shrink permanently, in contrast to recent strong growth projections. Announced financial sector...

When unions can’t win collective bargaining agreements at home, they look to U.N. agencies abroad. The AFL-CIO has a preferred legal venue—the International Labor Organization (ILO)—when Congress and the courts don’t see it their way...... Organized labor won last November’s electoral lottery. The unions officially spent $105 million and received in return a promise from the new Democratic majority to push labor’s redistributionist economic agenda. They are desperate to convince politicians to give them what they cannot win in the marketplace. The impact on domestic public policy is clear. Already the House approved a minimum wage hike as part of...

The following draft of the blueprint attempting to address not only the current situation between the government of Union of Myanmar and International Labor Office but also the issue of forced labor in Myanmar: - 1. The ILO liaison officer ad. Interim continues to carry out his functions in Myanmar. ILO does not continue, in its Conventions and Conferences, receiving the reports of those who are neither delegates of a member state nor representatives of the member country concerned, the Union of Myanmar, effectively denying the due respect to Myanmar. 2. The Joint Plan of Action which originates from the...

Myanmar's war veteran's group urged the country to quit the U.N. International Labor Organization, which has repeatedly criticized the ruling junta for allowing the use of forced labor, a state-run newspaper reported Thursday. "Despite the government's sincere cooperation with the ILO, it had unjustly passed a resolution to impose sanctions against Myanmar," Lt. Col. Hla Swe, chairman of Magwe Division War Veterans Organization Supervisory committee, was quoted as saying by the Myanma Ahlin daily. "The ILO is applying political pressure which has nothing to do with labor affairs ... therefore, Myanmar should resign from the ILO," said Hla Swe. The...

Burma was on collision course in March with the one world organization that has the power to do real harm to Rangoon’s military regime. Days before the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, or ILO, was slated to decide how to compel the regime to end its alleged widespread practice of forced labor, a senior government official in Rangoon told the organization in so many words: “Mind your own business.”

The local authorities of Burma’s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) at Kawthaung in southern Burma have been forcing the victims of recent Asia tsunami to rebuild a bridge damaged by the tidal waves. The authorities of Tamaing Aung Thukkha Ward in Kawthaung ordered one person from each household to “volunteer” in the rebuilding of the damaged Paloketonetone Bridge and those who could not, have to pay 2,000 kyat each. When the people asked the authorities if they are not afraid to go to jail as local authorities from Kawmoo, Kalewa and Taungup areas have been sent to...

Another international delegation to Burma has cut short its visit because of a lack of cooperation Burma's military rulers are likely to face increasing calls for tougher economic sanctions following the failure of a recent high-level International Labour Organisation visit to Rangoon. The delegation published its report on the visit earlier this week. It paints a bleak picture of government ignorance and intransigence. The ILO leaders were careful though to try to keep the door open for further dialogue with Burma's generals. When the high-level delegation cut short its visit and left Rangoon a week ago, it left the regime...

An International Labor Organization team in Burma to assess progress on ending forced labor has cut short its visit. Diplomats say the delegation's early departure followed its failure to meet the military government's leader, Senior General Than Shwe. The delegation from the International Labor Organization (ILO), was seeking firm commitments from Burma's military government to end forced labor. The three-member delegation, led by former Australian Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen, had been scheduled to remain in Burma until Friday. Instead, it left Wednesday evening after failing to arrange meetings with Senior General Than Shwe, the government's top leader. On Tuesday, the...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. GENEVA - China, India and Eastern Europe will take more jobs away from the Western world's car workers over the next 10 years, as the automotive industry moves its parts-making operations from industrialized countries, the U.N. labor agency said Friday. Factories in Japan, the United States and Western Europe are becoming assemblers of finished cars from parts made in other countries, where labor costs are a fraction of those in the West, said the International Labor Organization in a 144-page study. "The increasing importance of suppliers will benefit emerging markets, particularly...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick announced that the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force today. The U.S.-Australia FTA is the first FTA between the United States and a developed country since the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement in 1988. More than 99 percent of U.S. manufactured goods exports to Australia have immediately become duty free. Manufactured goods account for 93 percent of U.S. exports to Australia. "As President Bush said when he signed the agreement, 'the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement is a milestone in the history of our alliance,'" said Ambassador Zoellick. "This is the...

UPDATED: 16:19, September 24, 2004 Globalization needs management: UN symposium A large-scale, high-level symposium themed "Fair globalization: to realize UN's Millennium Declaration" was held on the morning of September 20 in the hall of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The discussion is co-chaired by International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia, Finland President Tarja Halonen and Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa. UN Secretary- General Kofi Anan delivered a speech at the meeting. And present at the meeting are UN General Assembly Chairman Jean Ping and leaders of more than 40 countries, including French President Jack Chirac and Brazilian President...

Citizenship test The UN's latest pitch at fostering corporate responsibility isn't all it's built up to be Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, will call on world business leaders tomorrow to help "build an inclusive and sustainable globalisation process" in what is billed as an "historic" event for the corporate responsibility movement. The event marks the latest effort on the UN's part to engage the private sector. In July 2000, the secretary-general made a similar plea to companies to become "good corporate citizens". Only 50 large companies responded at the time. Multinational companies have been invited to sign a voluntary commitment...

<p>The U.N. International Labor Organization, winner of the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize, was founded in 1919. It is the only surviving major creation of the Treaty of Versailles that brought the League of Nations into being, and it became the first specialized agency of the U.N. in 1946. Its self-described mandate is to promote social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights.</p>