Brussels, 10 May 2007: The ITUC has welcomed a new report from the International Labour Office (ILO), released today in Geneva, on the state of discrimination in the world of work. The new major publication entitled “Equality at work: Tackling the challenges” examines the status of traditional and new forms of discrimination and analyses progress in combating them at the national and global levels.
According to the ILO report, the world is witnessing growth in particular forms of discrimination, such as unfair treatment in hiring of younger and older workers, against people with disabilities and those living with HIV/AIDS, and also on the basis of sexual orientation. Another point highlighted by the study is the emergence of practices that discriminate against people with genetic predisposition to developing certain diseases or who have lifestyle issues considered unhealthy, such as tobacco use and obesity.
The report also highlights the significance of discrimination based on gender, age, race and social origin and concludes with a range of policy suggestions and a plan of action for achieving equality at work for all.
Intolerance and discrimination are, in the ITUC’s view, being exacerbated by globalization, with unemployment and poverty contributing to polarization and marginalization in societies. “Even through there is a high rate of ratification of the ILO Conventions 100 and 111 on discrimination and increased development of policies and programs, equality at the workplace still a challenge”, emphasized Guy Ryder, ITUC General Secretary. “Globalisation should be helping to bridge gaps in incomes and opportunity but in reality, divisions between and within countries are growing”, he added.
The gender gap in the labour force participation is also a real global problem. The World Bank’s annual Global Monitoring Report on attainment of the Millennium Development Goals describes improvement in education for girls, but without a corresponding increase in women’s share of non-agricultural employment. Today, it is crucial that active policies, including through social dialogue, put in place to ensure decent work and extension of workers rights to all workers without distinction.
For more information on the report: http://www.ilo.org
Founded on 1 November 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 304 national affiliates.
For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.
