Belgian Luc Cortebeeck elected chairperson of the ILO

Luc Cortebeeck / ILO / Flickr / CC 2.0

The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) has elected former Belgian KAJ (JOC-YCW leader, Luc Cortebeeck, as its Chairperson for 2017-18.

He has also been President of the ILO Workers’ Group and Vice-President of the ILO Governing Body since 2011,

He replaces Dr Ulrich Seidenberger, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations Office at Geneva, who served as Governing Body Chairperson since June 2016.

Luc Cortebeeck looks back at a long career within the trade union movement, both in Belgium and internationally. He is also Honorary President of the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions of Belgium (ACV-CSC).

The Governing Body is the Executive Body of the International Labour Office (the Office is the secretariat of the Organization). It meets three times a year, in March, June and November, and takes decisions on ILO policy, the agenda of the International Labour Conference, and the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference. 

Luc began his involvement with the Belgian KAJ during the early 1970s, reviving the movement in the town of Tisselt.

Later he worked for the Christian Trade Union (ACV-CSC), becoming national secretary in 1987 and president in 1999.

In September 2016, he addressed a gathering of alumni of the IYCW-JOCI at Aachen, Germany.

SOURCES

ILO Governing Body elects Luc Cortebeeck as new chairperson (ILO Media Release)

Luc Cortebeeck (CSC) élu président de l'Organisation internationale du travail (RTBF)

International Colloquy and Public Opening of the XIVth International Council (IYCW)

Wat kan er nu uit Tisselt komen? (Dorpskrant)

Luc Cortebeeck verkozen tot voorzitter van IAO (ACV)

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ILO must analyse transformation of work: IYCW

L to R: Ludovicus Mardiyono, Edson Rolandes Flores Morales, Nadiya Oksyutovych, Andy Predicala, James Denteh

The ILO must analyse the transformation of work from agricultural to industrial, to services and now to robotics technology, according to a submission presented to the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva from 1 - June 13, 2015.

This year's ILC discussed three main topics, namely the transition from the informal to the formal economy, SMEs and decent and sustainable employment and the third is the labour protection policy, which includes wages, maternity policy, working hours and occupational health and safety.

The IYCW delegation actively expressed their political views in all committees. In the informal economic committee and social protection, IYCW highlights some important issues, among others, urged adopted the concept of a living wage for all sectors of work and social protection should be inclusive apply to all types of workers and universally applicable.

Responding to ILO Director-General report on The Future of Work Centenary Initiative, Andy Predicala, International Treasurer of IYCW expressed that the centenary conversation must evaluate deeply the globalization, neo-liberalisation and free-market policy because it does not generate enough jobs but instead it creates multi-crises in the society, and does not warrant fair distribution of wealth. It must also analyse the transformation of work from agricultural to industrial, to services and now to the robotics technology.

The IYCW also urged that social protection coverage must be extended to all workers in the informal sector and all informal workers should be entitled to enjoy all basic rights of workers.

ILO Declaration on Universal Labour Protection

IYCW President, Ludovicus Mardiyono, added that labour protection is a global issue and requires a shared responsibility.

"We propose to the ILO to take the political steps to agree upon and immediately sign the ILO Declaration on Universal Labour Protection, and this declaration should be inclusive and universal," said Ludovicus from Indonesia.

"IYCW along with other Catholic organizations and trade unions continue to voice social justice and peace for all workers in the world," he concluded.

SOURCE

YCW at the International Labour Conference: Proposing ILO Declaration on Universal Labour Protection  (International YCW, Media Release)

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Fr Bonnie appointed to Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace

Caritas Asia regional coordinator Fr Bonnie Mendes of Pakistan will join International Labour Organisation director-general Juan Somavia of Chile as newly appointed members of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace.

Fr Mendes will be a keynote speaker at the Vatican 2+50: A Cardijn Perspective conference to be held in Manila from 11-14 October.

Here is the full list of new appointments: His Beatitude Fouad Twal, patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins; Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno S.J. of Huancayo, Peru; Bishop Yves Boivineau of Annecy, France; Bishop Michele Pennisi of Piazza Armerina, Italy; Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier, Germany; Fr. Bonnie Mendes (Pakistan), regional coordinator of Caritas for Asia and executive director of the Society for Human Development; Rodrigo Guerra Lopez (Mexico), director of the Centre for Advanced Social Research; Fayez Georges Nahal (Egypt), accounting and budget director of the Confederation of African Football; Juan Somavia (Chile), director general of the International Labour Organisation; Hania M. Fedorowicz (Austria), director of formation at the Community Based Conflict Resolution Institute; Marie-Madeleine Kalala (Democratic Republic of Congo), lawyer and member of the Panel of the Wise of the African Union; Roza Pati (U.S.A.), professor of law and executive director of degree courses in inter-cultural human rights at the St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, and Elizabeth Joyce Villars (Ghana), founder of Camelot Ghana Ltd.

SOURCE

http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2012/10/other-pontifical-acts.html (Vatican Information Service)

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CCI welcomes Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention

In March 2008, the ILO Governing Body decided to place an item on the agenda of the 99th Session (2010) of the Conference with a view to setting standards on decent work for domestic workers. At that Session, the Conference decided, by a resolution adopted on 16 June 2010, to place on the agenda of its 100th Session an item entitled Decent work for domestic workers, for second discussion, with a view to the adoption of a comprehensive standard (a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation)

On the 7th June, 2011, the dream of millions of domestic workers and the entire working class became a reality with the adoption of the text of the historic convention on domestic workers. This landmark convention recognises domestic work as genuine ‘work’ and places domestic workers on par with other categories of workers.

However, the final text of the convention and recommendation will come up for voting at the International Labour Conference next week. Cardijn Community International (CCI) hopes that the convention will be approved.

CCI salutes the efforts of the domestic workers’ movements, associations, NGOs and other civil society organisations including the International YCW (IYCW) and National Domestic Workers Movement in India for their tireless decades long struggle to get this declaration adopted.

CCI is of the view that mere adoption of a convention will not change the life of the domestic workers around the world. Much has to be done in sensitizing the people and to bring about a change in the ‘mind-set’ of those who employ domestic workers. The active cooperation of the member states is very essential in the implementation and monitoring of the spirit and motive of the convention.

CCI for its part will continue to be in solidarity with the cause of the domestic workers and shall include in its activities a campaign to implement the convention in letter and spirit.

International Coordination

Cardijn Community International (CCI)

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