2 August 2001

FICSA Update No. 39 2001

    The European Commission Adopts Strategy To Promote Core Labour Standards And Social Governance Globally

  • The European Commission on 18 July 2001 adopted a communication proposing an EU strategy to promote core labour standards and social governance globally. The communication proposes action at European and at international levels, to support the effective application of core labour standards at the global level. The development dimension is central to the strategy, which aims at helping developing countries to apply core labour standards for social development.

  • Commenting on the launch of the proposals, Commissioners Pascal Lamy (Trade) and Anna Diamantopoulou (Employment) said:
    "Citizens feel there is a need for an equitable global economic system which promotes social development and fundamental rights and that our current governance model does not adequately address this. Global market governance has developed more quickly than global social governance. We should rebalance the system to help promote social development and ensure that globalisation benefits all people and all countries."

  • The full text of the Communication can be found at: europa.eu.int/comm/trade/miti/devel/cls.htm

  • FICSA has written to Mr. Lamy and to Ms. Diamantopoulou to draw their attention to the fact that most international civil servants in the United Nations system do not enjoy certain labour rights, particularly the right to collective bargaining. They were also requested to promote core labour standards within the intergovernmental organizations.