|
|
|
Change low graphic options | Change language | Skip content to navigation
Page context: Home > News online
Union lobby against World Bank labour indicator pays off
29 April 2009
A union movement campaign to end the World Bank’s use of a labour indicator, which pressurises developing countries to deregulate its markets, has reaped rewards after the World Bank decided to refrain from using it.
The World Bank announced the decision to stop using the Employing workers indicator (EWI) on 28 April; managers stated that the EWI, promoted by the bank’s publication Doing business, did not represent World Bank policy. It would no longer be used as a basis for policy advice or in country programme documents, outlining or evaluating a recipient country’s development strategy or assistance programme. The EWI would also be removed from its country policy and institutional assessments, used to establish countries’ eligibility for loans and grants allocated by its concessionary lending arm.
Appropriate weight would be given instead to "issues as diverse as political stability, social safety nets to shield vulnerable parts of society from intolerable levels of risk and protection of rights for workers and households as well as for firms".
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has long criticised the EWI because it rates highest countries with the lowest level of worker protection. It has also been used by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to pressure developing countries to deregulate the labour market.
"In the context of the current global economic crisis, where 50 million more workers could become unemployed this year and pressures to decrease wages and workers' living standards are intensifying every day," said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder, "it is significant that an important development institution like the World Bank is turning the page on a one-sided deregulatory view on labour issues and proposing to adopt a more balanced approach where adequate regulation, improved social protection and respect for workers' rights will be given a higher profile."
The IMF took a similar step concerning the Doing business labour indicator in August 2008.
More information: http://www.doingbusiness.org/documents/EWI_revisions.pdf
Back to current news online stories
Section home:
News online
Other pages for News online:
About News Online | What is RSS | ITF Headlines on your Website
RSS feeds
Download our free RSS news feeds:
English |Español |Français |Deutsch |Svenska
What is RSS?
Main Sections:
Home | About us | Solidarity | Flags of Convenience campaign | Seafarers | Dockers | Civil Aviation | Railways | Road Transport | Urban Transport | Fisheries | Tourism | Inland Navigation | Education | Young Workers | Women | ETF Home | Congress 2010
Transport International Magazine
accessibility | site help | site map
ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR | +44 20 7403 2733 | mail@itf.org.uk
