General

Trade Union movement

ILO to investigate Aust labour standards

A list of 25 alleged international labour rights offenders, including the Howard Government's workplace laws, will be considered in Geneva on Thursday by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a special agency of the United Nations that monitors labour standards.

This is the third year in a row that the Howard Government's workplace laws have been examined.

The Howard Government failed to provide information previously requested by the ILO within the required timeframe last year. As a consequence of the Howard Government's failure to respond to the legitimate request of the ILO the issue has now been referred to the ILO Conference for further hearing.

The ACTU's Sharan Burrow is also the President of the global union body International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and a member of the board of the ILO.

Ms Burrow said today:

"Australia is a signatory to the international convention on fundamental labour rights.

Someone should be asking the Minister, Joe Hockey, why his Government's workplace laws do not comply with international human rights laws to which it is a signatory?

The ILO is taking the Howard Government to task because it is one of few governments among advanced countries whose workplace laws are alleged to breach freedom of association & the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.

These are fundamental human rights that are laid down in the 1998 ILO 'Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work' that also include the elimination of forced labour, the abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

It is wrong and offensive for the Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey to suggest that unions sought to displace Colombia - one of the world's most dangerous places for trade unionists - from the countries being examined by the ILO this week.

In fact, union representatives, including Australia's, advocated strongly for Colombia to be included in the ILO's agenda. However we were appalled to find international employer representatives vetoed Colombia's inclusion.

Australian working families already know that the Howard Government's IR laws are unfair and they now should know that the unfairness of the laws has not escaped international attention," said Ms Burrow.

More information:

ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

Adopted in 1998, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work covers four areas:

· Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining;

· The elimination of forced and compulsory labour;

· The abolition of child labour, and;

· The elimination of discrimination in the workplace.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20070605_ILO.html
Last Modified: 05 Jun 2007