26 August, 2009Global Unions releases new guide on how to use performance standards to ensure respect of core labour standards in World Bank funded projects.
GLOBAL: The Global Unions' Washington Office released in August 2009 a new guide on how to use IFC Performance Standards to help enforce workers' rights in World Bank financed projects.
In May 2006 the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank private sector lending arm, introduced social and environmental conditions required for borrowing companies to get loans from the IFC. These requirements include the respect of core labour standards as defined by the International Labour Organization.
So far 22 labour cases have been submitted, usually with assistance from the Global Unions Washington Office, which also monitors international financial institutions and represents the interests of unions' to these institutions. According to the Global Unions office, the complaints or communications on labour violations have delivered positive results in the majority of cases: in 15 of the 22 cases company practices were corrected (at least partially), the project was withdrawn or additional monitoring to verify compliance was added. In one case unions' complaints were rejected and, at this time, outcomes were still pending for six cases.
In January 2009 the IFC instituted a new accelerated online communications form and the Global Unions' guide, published in August, provides advice on how to use it most effectively. You can access a copy of the guide, in English only on the IMF website at this address: http://www.imfmetal.org/files/09082609135966/Guide_to_IFC_Standards.pdf