Myanmar, Colombia, Palestinian workers on agenda at ILO talks ( AFP ) November 7, 2002


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Myanmar, Colombia, Palestinian workers on agenda at ILO talks

GENEVA, Nov 7 (AFP)

Myanmar, trade unions in Colombia and a fund for workers in the Palestinian territories are among the main topics to be addressed by the ILO's executive body that opened a two-week meeting Thursday.

The governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will examine reports on developments in Myanmar to eradicate forced labour after measures announced by the ruling junta in recent years.

Delegates are due to be presented reports by the ILO's liaison officer in Myanmar, Hong-Trang Perret-Nguyen, who took up her post on October 7, and by the interim liaison officer Leon de Riedmatten.

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) said in a report last month that forced labour in the country continues and is increasing.

The governing body, made up of representatives from 28 governments, 14 employers and 14 workers, meets three times a year. This meeting will last until November 22.

It will also look at developments in Colombia where, an ILO statement said, reports indicated that about 100 trade unionists had been killed this year.Turning to Palestinian workers, the governing body will discuss progress on plans to set up a Palestinian Fund for Employment and Social Protection.A donors' meeting is to be held in December.

ILO Director-General Juan Somavia has submitted the idea of the fund to the UN, the European Union, Russia and the US, the "quartet" involved in the Middle East peace process. According to the ILO statement, "a number of donors have expressed interest in principle".

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