Steve McQueen, director of this year’s Oscar winner for best film “12 Years A Slave,” mentioned in his acceptance speech last month that 21 million people are living in slavery today. That quoted figure comes from the 2012 report issued by the United Nation’s International Labor Organization (ILO) that has been attempting to gather international data for over a decade now. In the Asia-Pacific region where most of the world’s forced laborers come from at 56%, an estimated 11.7 million people, … [Read more...]
Celebrating Punjab, wins prestigious UN Public Service Award
May 18, 2013 by
The United Nations Public Service Awards is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. Through an annual competition, the UN Public Service Awards promotes the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. The Gender Unit, Department of Labour Punjab, wins … [Read more...]
Policy for domestic workers, ”a matter of urgency” says ILO
April 10, 2013 by
Domestic workers in India have more than doubled in number since 2005. Talking to BBC World News, ILO's, Tine Staermose stressed the importance of policies aimed at protecting a very vulnerable section of the society. India's domestic workers are considered to ''uphold the economy'', with a rising population of over 10 million. Making decent work a reality for domestic workers worldwide: Domestic workers comprise a significant part of the global workforce in informal employment … [Read more...]
UN System Observances for International Women’s Day 2013
March 8, 2013 by
UN System Observances for International Women's Day 2013 In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women's Day. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. For the United Nations, International Women's … [Read more...]
‘When work becomes a sexual battleground’, highlighted by ILO
March 8, 2013 by
International Women’s Day on 8 March, which focuses on ‘Violence Against Women’, the ILO is highlighting the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace – an often subtle but disturbing form of aggression. "I felt violated and scared. Even though I said I was going to report this, I felt I could not because I thought I could easily lose my job if I told." GENEVA (ILO News) - Sisandra, 28, understands all too well the impact of sexual harassment in the workplace. As a … [Read more...]
Women and technology – the attitude gap
January 8, 2013 by
Careers in science and technology are increasing, but the International Labour Organization (ILO) says women and girls are in danger of being shut out of these opportunities. The ILO finds women tend to be over-represented in areas such as the humanities and the social sciences, and the agency has launched a new manual to address progress in achieving gender equality. Beng Poblete-Enriquez spoke to Jane Hodges, Director of the Bureau for Gender Equality at the ILO in Geneva, … [Read more...]
VIETNAM’s Wage Growth increases despite continuing global slowdown
December 14, 2012 by
VIETNAM's Wage Growth increases despite continuing global slowdown Viet Nam has experienced robust wage growth while a new ILO report shows a worse slowdown in global wages. The country, however, still needs to address many challenges, including the informal economy, low productivity and widening gender pay gap. HANOI (ILO News) – Viet Nam has done well in terms of wage growth compared to the world as new ILO figures show a continuing slowdown in global wages, particularly in … [Read more...]
