STRASBOURG HIGHSCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATIONS
SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE February 21st 2014
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Strasbourg, February 2013 Stras’ Diplomacy United Nations Society
Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Strasbourg Model United Nations Ensemble Saint-Georges 47 avenue de la Forêt Noire 67000 Strasbourg Email : strasdiplomacy@gmail.com
Under the direction of Mrs. Delannay In partnership with with the highschools of Altkirch, Colmar, Guebwiller, Molsheim, Mulhouse, Munster, Sélestat, Strasbourg and Wissembourg.
Content: Floriane Ettwiller and Camille Dupont
Print : IEP Strasbourg
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STUDY GUIDE International Labour Conference
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CONTENTS
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Topic The Social Aspect of Globalization Promoting Decent Work for All -History and Organization of the Committee……………………......pg. 6 -Topic Definition…...………......pg. 8 -Discussion of the Problem....pg. 9 -Bloc Positions.... ...................pg. 16 -The Future………………………….pg. 18 -Points the Resolution Should Address......................pg. 19 -Bibliography and Further Reading………..….....................pg. 20 21
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A MESSAGE
Dear Delegates, welcome! Congratulations on your admittance to the 2nd annual Strasbourg Highschool MUN! You have been selected to address a crucial issue in an essential UN organ: the ILO. This study guide is an introduction to our topic, providing a firm foundation for you to then research in greater detail. It will serve you in the writing of your position paper, defining your country’s position on the matter. Reading this document will be the first step to becoming an outstanding delegate, as the old adage says, knowledge is power: nowhere is this truer than in Committee. Good luck in your research. Committee Directors Dupont Camille camille.dpnt@gmail.com Ettwiller Floriane floriane.e@hotmail.fr
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HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a UN agency. It was founded in 1919 to guarantee international labor standards. Created as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, the organization reflects the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if based on social justice.
Its values and fundamental principles are embodied in the ILO Constitution (drafted by the Labour Commission and the in 1919) and its annex, the Declaration of Philadelphia, of 10th May, 1942. ILO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
They include security, humanitarian care, economic and political considerations in order to guarantee the world’s peace. It was notably stressed that “Labour is not a commodity" and that "Freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress". "Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere". Its promotion of common welfare and technical assistance to developing countries resulted in being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969. Dealing with crucial issues such as child labor, domestic and migrant workers, youth employment, forced labor, the ILO sets the agenda for social justice today. “Working for social justice is our assessment of the past and our mandate for the future”, Juan Somavia, former Directorate-General of the ILO This quote reminds of the one written on the ILO main office in Geneva: “Si vis pacem, cole justitiam” (If you desire peace, cultivate justice).
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ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE
The ILO is the only tripartite UN agency, bringing together governments, employers and trade unions (with a ratio 2:1:1) from 185 member States. This structure provides a unique platform for discussing lasting conditions of peace, prosperity and progress through work. 102nd Session of the ILO, 5th – 20th June 2013
A strategic objective of the ILO is therefore to strengthen social dialogue on workrelated issues. It relies on a wide variety of expertise, educational and research programs. The organizations carries out its work through three main bodies: 1) The International Labour Conference, which meets annually in Geneva. Decisions are made about the general policy of the ILO. 2) The Executive Council of the Organization, which meets three times a year. The governing body of the ILO addresses budgetary and logistic matters. 3) The Office (Secretariat and the ILO Research Center and Publishing House).
AT OUR HIGHSCHOOL MUN We will simulate the International Labour Conference and the committee will be comprised only governments’ representatives. The body adopts resolutions that are binding for the member states. Therefore, the task of each delegate will be to represent his country in a balanced way, trying to incorporate both general and private interests.
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TOPIC DEFINITION The concept of “Decent Work” has been formulated by the ILO tripartite constituents and sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It understands work as a source of personal dignity, family stability and peace. The concept mainly includes: Opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income Security in the workplace and social protection for families Better prospects for personal development and social integration Freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives
Four pillars of issues to consider: 1) Rights at work 2) Employment creation and enterprise development 3) Social protection and labor market governance 4) Social dialogue
Decent work also requires satisfaction of the Article 6 and 7 of the International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, multilateral treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966 (in force from 3 January 1976) Our societies are challenged by a deficit of Decent Work in a globalized world. The opening up of economies and their growing integration has increased competitive pressures among countries and their people. The phenomenon inevitably led to laws and practices giving greater freedom to employers in matters concerning employment, usually to the detriment of decent work. The 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work guarantees imposes a global social platform to its members: Freedom of association & recognition of the right to collective bargaining No forced/compulsory labour No child labour Elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation
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POINTS OF DISCUSSION Regarding the scope of what is at stake, the ILO presents a multifaceted Decent Work Agenda. Noteworthy is the fact that this agenda is consistent with the Millennium Developpment Goals. Adopted by the 2010 United Nations Summit in the Millennium Development Goals, they seek to achieve eight antipoverty goals by the target date of 2015.
2010 Millennium Development Goals – Fight Development Goals for 2015
OUR AGENDA Four points of discussion are encouraged by the ILO’s definition of Decent Work: 1) 2) 3) 4)
The Rights at Work The Employment Creation The Social Protection The Social Dialogue
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1. The Rights at Work Agenda “The rules of the global economy should be aimed at improving the rights, livelihoods, security, and opportunities of people, families and communities around the world."1
Achieving this goal of Decent Work in the globalized economy requires an international action built upon a solid legal basis: “Normative action is an indispensable tool to make decent work a reality ”2
1.1 International Legal Instruments The world community is responding to this challenge in part by developing international legal instruments on trade, finance, environment, human rights and labour. The ILO contributes to this legal framework by elaborating legal instruments promoting certain standards to be backed by governments, employers, and workers alike. The ILO thus establish the basic minimum social standards agreed upon by all actors in the global economy.
1.2 The ILO’s Own Instruments They are either conventions (legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by Member States) or recommendations, which serve as non-binding guidelines. They are backed by a supervisory system. The ILO regularly examines the application of standards in Member States and points out areas where they could be better applied.
1
“ILO: A Fair Globalization: Creating opportunities for all”, Report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization (Geneva, 2004), p. 143 2
Juan Somavia, ILO Director-General in “ILO: Reducing the Decent Work Deficit: A global challenge”, Report of the Director-General, ILO, 89th Session (Geneva, 2001), p. 59.
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The ILO has identified eight Fundamental Conventions (see Bibliography and Further Reading). In 1995, the ILO launched a campaign to achieve universal ratification of these eight conventions. There are currently over 1,200 ratifications of these conventions, representing 86% of the possible number of ratifications. Their principles are also covered in the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998), previously developed in our study guide. Besides the Fundamental Conventions, the ILO encourages the Member States to ratify four Governance Conventions, essential for the functioning of the international labour standards system. They are referred as such since 2008, as they were identified by the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization as the most significant standards from the viewpoint of governance.
1.3 An International Consensus and Multi-level strategies People are standing up for rights at work and fair work all over the world. The defense can be led by governments, NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs), political parties, specific groups of the population, etc.
Drawing of the Communist Party of Australia
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Amnesty Campaign, 2011
2. The Global Employment Agenda Persistent poverty, slow job growth and increasing income inequality are critical constraints on economic and social progress. Further exacerbated by financial and economic crises and climate change, they represent central challenges for our societies that the ILO need to address in its Global Employment Agenda.
ILO website: The rise of unemployment rates after the global economic crisis
ILO statistics paint a grim picture of the current global employment situation with 210 million people out of work – the highest number in history; and over half of the global workforce in vulnerable employment. In the next 10 years, more than 440 million new jobs will be needed to absorb new entrants into the labour force, and still more to reverse the unemployment caused by the recent crisis. These numbers are posing enormous long term social and economic challenges, including threats to social cohesion. They point to the need for greater international coordination of macro-economic policies.
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2.1 Eradicating the Plague of Poverty Work is to be considered as a way to fight the scourge of poverty, the top priority of the previously evoked Millennium Development Goals. “The proportion of people whose income is less that $1 a day has to be reduced by half”. Many economists (like Amartya Sen) base their approach to employment on the human capacities to access the factors of production, education and basic services such as infrastructures (water) and health. The UN MDG Report for 2010
2.2 Putting Employment at the Center of Economic and Social Policies Governments shall implement skills development policies to increase the employability of workers. Policies and programs have to be designed to promote sustainable enterprises and entrepreneurship, in the respect of the workers. Youth unemployment is becoming more and more critical.
Cover of the TIME magazine, March 2012 General strike in Madrid, Spain
2.3 Fighting against Income Inequality The pace in assuring equal conditions of work for all has to be accelerated. Countries shall focus on eradicating many discriminating divides still afflicting the work market, such as discriminations based on gender, color of skin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
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3. The Social Protection Agenda 3.1 A basic right, still trampled The UN and ILO standards considerer social protection as a basic right, instrumental in promoting human welfare and social consensus on a broad scale. Nevertheless, today only 20 per cent of the world’s population has adequate social security coverage, and more than half lack any coverage at all. They face dangers in the workplace and poor or non-existent health insurance coverage. The situation reflects levels of economic development, with fewer than 10 per cent of workers in least-developed countries covered by social security. The economic crisis is deepening the issue, pressuring governments and companies to decrease the scope of social protection in their budgets. Example of the situation in Ireland Graph from the Irish Left Review’s website
The ILO has set out three main objectives: Extending the coverage and effectiveness of social security schemes Promoting labour protection (wages, working time, occupational safety) Focusing on such vulnerable groups as migrant workers and their families 3.2 The Social Protection Floor Initiative The Initiative has been adopted in April 2009 by the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination as one of the nine UN joint initiatives to cope with the effects of the economic crisis. This initiative is co-led by the International Labour Office and the World Health Organization. It promotes access to essential social security transfers and social services across the life cycle. It covers the areas of health, water and sanitation, education, food, housing, life and asset-savings information.
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4 The Social Dialogue Agenda 4.1 The essential role of dialogue The international legal instruments evoked in the Rights at Work Agenda are able to find their full significance only through dialogue. Along with a prerequisite of dialogue, the rule of law can achieve solutions and build up social cohesion. Social dialogue includes all types of negotiation, consultation and exchange of information between, representatives of governments, employers and workers on issues of common interest.
4.2 Integrating the cultural variable How social dialogue actually works varies from country to country and from region to region. It can exist as a tripartite process or may consist of bipartite relations between labour and management, with or without indirect government involvement. It can be informal or institutionalised, and often is a combination of the two. It can take place at the national, regional or at enterprise level. It can be interprofessional, sectoral or a combination of these.
4.3 The conditions of social dialogue and freedom of association The efficiency and success of social dialogue however depends on certain factors: Fundamental rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining Independent workers' and employers' organizations with the technical capacity and knowledge required to participate in social dialogue Political will and commitment to engage in social dialogue Appropriate institutional support The ILO’s work is thus to help creating the conditions for effective dialogue with governments and with each other. The ILO adopted the Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining. In 1961, it also set up the Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) for the purpose of examining complaints about violations of freedom of association, whether or not the country concerned had ratified the relevant conventions.
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BLOC POSITIONS 1. Europe and Central Asia Their responses would focus on improving economic effectiveness while caring about social inclusion. Within this bloc, you must distinguish different groups. The member states of the European Union are generally greatly in favor of enhancing Decent Work and the Union plays the role of a trigger in social change. Its action takes into account different factors of a changing European society, such as technological progress and an ageing population. As reflected in the "Compact for Growth and Jobs" adopted by the heads of State and Government in June 2012, the EU aims at “boosting employment for both men and women, and in particular for young people and the long-term unemployed”. According to A. Nesporova and V. W. Nero (ILO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Eastern Europe), Central Asia and Turkey face more challenges: “The period since 2000 has seen very rapid economic growth (…) Structural imbalances have persisted which threaten the sustainability of development in these countries in the longer term.” National economies have also suffered from negative impacts of the global financial and economic crisis.
2. The Americas The social situation accurately reflects what is happening in the labor market, the main source of livelihoods and advancement for families. Thus Decent Work is a key issue in the Americas. Regarding North America, the United-States tend to prioritize national sovereignty, and has rejected anything that has the potential of limiting its unilateral control. The idea of decent work will be related to the country’s own crisis and to its strong trade relationship with the Democratic Republic of China. Regarding Latin America and the Caribbean, countries are notably concerned by the employment crisis and the crucial plague of youth unemployment.
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3. Africa The African Union Summit in Ouagadougou shifted the development logic away from a narrow preoccupation with adaptation to growth that delivers decent work. The continent attended the United Nations 2005 World Summit and participates in the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s calls. Africa is home to the largest number of working poor in the world; it is high time to implement policies that match their ambitions.
4. Arab States Social Justice, decent jobs and respect for fundamental rights were at the heart of the popular uprisings which affected a number of Arab countries. Inspired by similar protests in Tunisia and Egypt, Jordan witnessed an unprecedented number of strikes and protests in 2011. Moreover, in the recent period, the Arab region has witnessed a relatively strong and sustained growth driven in large part by the oil boom and the rise in energy prices. This has been accompanied by one of the highest rates of labor force growth in the world due to increased labor force participation of women and labor migration. The delegates of this conference might want to think further on the tension created by the contrast between mushrooming economies and traditional values and habits, still critical in societies.
5. ASIA & PACIFIC During the past decade, the region has faced many challenges that have seriously tested its social-economic infrastructure -natural disasters, economic crises and continuing conflicts. In addition, shifts in the international economic environment and the spread of globalization keep generating new challenges to address. The main actor of this bloc will be the Democratic Republic of China with a strong influence on the topic of Decent Work. The constant opening of the Democratic Republic of China toward the “Western World” and its engagement (or nonengagement) in terms of work’s decency will be the core of the debate in this area of the world.
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THE FUTURE Throughout this study guide, we have understood decent work as a current issue, essential for the future of our societies. The topic thus belongs to a more global reflection on a sustainable and long-lasting growth and development. European and other “rich” countries tend to witness a weakening of social dialogue institutions. At the same time, these institutions are being reinforced in some parts of Asia and Latin America. There is a need to expand and promote the social dialogue at cross-border, regional and interregional levels, either in the context of global supply chains or within the framework of intergovernmental cooperation. ILO principles and standards should continue to be promoted.
Green Jobs are Decent Jobs The report prepared by the Office as a basis for this general discussion (ILC.102/V), reviews the growing body of evidence from country experiences and finds that environmental sustainability is crucial to the labor market. For the ILO, the notion of green jobs summarizes the transformation of economies, enterprises, workplaces and labor markets into a sustainable, lowcarbon economy providing Decent Work. Much needed innovative strategies to promote green jobs can only succeed with the full involvement and participation of workers and enterprises.
Gender Equality Progress in this area is continually challenged. Many issues remain such as poor implementation and enforcement of national policies. Complacency, “stagnation” (sometimes referred to as “gender fatigue”) can slow the step of reforms. Sexual discrimination has not disappeared from the world of work, which shows a lack of political commitment and – in some contexts – legal laxity. But the underlying cause remains embedded in societal behaviors and beliefs.
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THE POINTS A RESOLUTION SHOULD ADDRESS
On which international Treaties or Agreements should the ILO base its proposal on the aforementioned topic? Which types of non-respect of Decent Work are the most common ones, from what do they derive and how can they be combatted? What are the target groups that deserve a specific attention regarding their work conditions? How can countries form a common policy promoting Decent Work, while complying with their aim of having a competitive economy? How can we cooperate and exchange views, while suffering from a global economic recession affecting the structures of our society? What kind of motives can be given to the companies in order to hire more people and to comply with prescriptions of Decent Work? Can we focus our efforts to the public sector, or the private investing groups?
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BIBLIOGRAPHY And Further Readings / Viewings
General Knowledge on the Topic -Website of the International Labour Organization http://www.ilo.org -Oxford MUN ILO study guide on youth unemployment and green jobs -The ILO page on decent work http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/decent-work/lang--en/index.htm -The Wikipedia page on decent work http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decent_work -Key documents, case studies, forum documents and technical reports on decent work http://www.decentwork.org.uk/resources -Measuring Decent Work and Monitoring and Assessing Progress on Decent Work (MAP) http://www.ilo.org/integration/themes/mdw/lang--en/index.htm http://www.ilo.org/integration/themes/mdw/WCMS_123804/lang--en/index.htm -The UN page on the MDGs http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ -Une rapide familiarisation avec les théories de l’économiste Armatya Sen http://www.economie.gouv.fr/facileco/amartya-sen -The ILO newsroom to keep up with current events and be up to date at the MUN http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/lang--en/index.htm
On the Rights at Work Agenda and Social Dumping -The fundamental conventions and recommendations drawn up by the ILO http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/introduction-to-international-labour-standards/conventions-andrecommendations/lang--en/index.htm -The Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Covenant_on_Economic,_Social_and_Cultural_Rights#Labor _rights -Working Conditions Laws Database http://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/travmain.home -Rights Work Reports http://rightswork.org/research/rightswork-reports/
On the Global Employment Agenda and Green Jobs -An Interactive Map to Explore Poverty around the World http://www.ophi.org.uk/multidimensional-poverty-index/mpi-data-bank/mapping-the-mpi/ -An ILO advocacy guidebook on decent work and poverty reduction http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/--integration/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_079966.pdf
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strategies
-Mise en œuvre de l'Agenda global pour l'emploi: Stratégies de l'emploi en appui au travail décent http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_140848.pdf -ILO Green Jobs Program http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/lang--en/index.htm -Panel: “The role of decent work in a fairer, greener and more sustainable globalization" http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/100thSession/events/decent-work-sustainable-globalization/lang-en/index.htm
On the Social Protection Agenda -Panel “Employment and Social Justice in a Globalizing Economy" with the Greek Minister of Labour and Social Security and the Egyptian Finance Minister addressing the Panel http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/100thSession/events/employment-and-social-justice/lang-en/index.htm -“Social protection can help fill gaps left by the Millennium Development Goals” http://www.ilo.org/newyork/news/WCMS_222824/lang--en/index.htm
On the Social Dialogue Agenda -The International Labour Standards on Freedom of Association http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-covered-by-international-labour-standards/freedom-ofassociation/lang--en/index.htm
Bloc Positions -Employment and Social Policy in the European Union http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=82 http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/employment_and_social_policy/index_en.htm -EU Statement at ILO, November 2012, on Global Economic Prospects and the Decent Work Agenda http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un_geneva/documents/eu_statments/ilo/20121113_ilogb316_globa l_eco_decent_work_agenda.pdf
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