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15 May, 2000
This might sound crazy to most readers. But I think it is time to help the employers get organised internationally. They need it, and so do we.
Why? Simply because it is necessary to have social dialogue at international level aimed at bringing some order to one of the most crucial issues which will dominate working life for the next few decades, and that is workers' rights.
If we have a representative and strong counterpart, it would be much easier to discuss and to come to agreement on fundamental issues.
Let me tell you what happened last week at the ILO, to illustrate what I mean.
There was a tripartite meeting for one of the most industrialised sectors -- Manufacture of Transport Equipment. These sectoral activities organised by the ILO are very important for us, as this is the only place where workers and employers can confront one another and argue at international level.
The purpose of these meetings is to discuss a document, normally prepared by experts, and then to draw conclusions and make recommendations to the Governing Body of the ILO. There are also possibilities to submit special resolutions for consideration. All this takes place under a normal negotiating procedure that is familiar to all trade unionists and employers.
Last week's meeting was no exception. Thanks to very good preparation by the ILO as well as capable and experienced negotiators on all sides, the meeting ended with two very important documents which were accepted and will be submitted to the ILO Governing Body.
However, on a couple of points in the discussion there remains some doubt, and we need to talk this over with a representative organisation for employers in the metal industry.
The first of these points is the question of social dialogue. The employers adamantly refused to make any reference to good experiences resulting from the European Works Councils. I think the employers should just ask the more than 300 companies which have already negotiated agreements on EWCs so they can know that experience so far has been positive in most cases.
No one believes that EWCs will solve all problems, but they can definitely contribute to the development of social dialogue at enterprise level. This should encourage the employers to extend the dialogue to international level as well.
The second point, where the employers' reaction was even more in contradiction with policy adopted by many companies, is their refusal to allow any reference to promotion of health and safety standards and to the protection of women. Here, we need also mention that the spokesperson for the employers at the meeting openly said that the company she works for was already implementing ILO labour standards with no restrictions!
Now, the conclusions, the resolution proposed by the IMF delegation, along with a special report on the discussion will be submitted to the Governing Body in November 2000. Then it will be up to the three partners to implement them.
We all share a responsibility vis-à-vis all people employed in this sector as well as to those depending on it. And this would be much easier to fulfil if we could continue the discussion with a valid, strong and representative counterpart.
Employers, get together and get organised!!!
Why? Simply because it is necessary to have social dialogue at international level aimed at bringing some order to one of the most crucial issues which will dominate working life for the next few decades, and that is workers' rights.
If we have a representative and strong counterpart, it would be much easier to discuss and to come to agreement on fundamental issues.
Let me tell you what happened last week at the ILO, to illustrate what I mean.
There was a tripartite meeting for one of the most industrialised sectors -- Manufacture of Transport Equipment. These sectoral activities organised by the ILO are very important for us, as this is the only place where workers and employers can confront one another and argue at international level.
The purpose of these meetings is to discuss a document, normally prepared by experts, and then to draw conclusions and make recommendations to the Governing Body of the ILO. There are also possibilities to submit special resolutions for consideration. All this takes place under a normal negotiating procedure that is familiar to all trade unionists and employers.
Last week's meeting was no exception. Thanks to very good preparation by the ILO as well as capable and experienced negotiators on all sides, the meeting ended with two very important documents which were accepted and will be submitted to the ILO Governing Body.
However, on a couple of points in the discussion there remains some doubt, and we need to talk this over with a representative organisation for employers in the metal industry.
The first of these points is the question of social dialogue. The employers adamantly refused to make any reference to good experiences resulting from the European Works Councils. I think the employers should just ask the more than 300 companies which have already negotiated agreements on EWCs so they can know that experience so far has been positive in most cases.
No one believes that EWCs will solve all problems, but they can definitely contribute to the development of social dialogue at enterprise level. This should encourage the employers to extend the dialogue to international level as well.
The second point, where the employers' reaction was even more in contradiction with policy adopted by many companies, is their refusal to allow any reference to promotion of health and safety standards and to the protection of women. Here, we need also mention that the spokesperson for the employers at the meeting openly said that the company she works for was already implementing ILO labour standards with no restrictions!
Now, the conclusions, the resolution proposed by the IMF delegation, along with a special report on the discussion will be submitted to the Governing Body in November 2000. Then it will be up to the three partners to implement them.
We all share a responsibility vis-à-vis all people employed in this sector as well as to those depending on it. And this would be much easier to fulfil if we could continue the discussion with a valid, strong and representative counterpart.
Employers, get together and get organised!!!