
Issue No 75		27 October 2000

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News

World Bank, IMF To Consult Unions

The leadership of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have welcomed proposals to improve consultations with trade unions.


	IMF Managing Director Horst K�hler

The proposals were tabled on Monday at meetings between the World Bank's President James Wolfensohn, IMF Managing Director Horst K�hler and a high-level international trade union delegation led by Bill Jordan, general secretary of the Brussels-based International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the world's largest trade union body.

"It is time to think more institutionally about how the world trade union movement can interact more effectively with the World Bank, to the mutual benefit of both parties", Bill Jordan told James Wolfensohn at a meeting on Monday.

Trade unions have generally been very critical of the lack of consultation by governments and local Bank and IMF officials, particularly in the preparation of poverty reduction papers, despite their insistence on involving civil society, including trade unions, in the new poverty reduction strategies adopted by the international financial institutions(IFIs).

"The real weight you have given to consultation and to social concerns needs to be demonstrated by the Bank's readiness to step in and insist that governments do consult trade unions and other parts of civil society", Bill Jordan stressed.

Referring to the concern of a wider public about the side effects of globalisation, the trade unions consider that a number of key problems could be avoided should social issues and basic workers' rights be integrated into the programmes run by the international financial institutions.

Etsuyo Washio, President of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation Rengo, proposed that "following the example in the OECD of its Business and Industry Advisory Committee and its Trade Union Advisory Committee, the World Bank should establish a trade union advisory committee of the World Bank".

"We need to do more: co-operation, regular consultation and a dialogue with the institutions with better monitoring of programmes", emphasised Dieter Schulte, President of the German Trade Union Confederation the DGB.

"This would greatly contribute to establishing a global democracy", Mr Washio added.

Trade union reports suggest that the proposals were welcomed by the Bank and the Fund. The 60-member ICFTU delegation also raised a number of other key issues for trade unions ranging from the IFIs' poverty reduction programmes, core labour standards, and social safety nets to international financial reforms.

A major trade union operation to combat HIV/AIDS at the workplace, in particular in Africa, was also on the agenda, with trade unions seeking financial support for badly-needed education and prevention programmes.

At the close of the second day of the meetings, the World Bank made a commitment to an enhanced programme of continued consultations with trade unions at national and international meetings, common action on HIV/AIDS, further debate on privatisation and

joint work to develop core labour standards in World Bank policies and strategies.

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Issue 75 contents

Interview: Civilized Capital
The FNV's Harrie Lindelauff explains to Peter Lewis how a friendly government and moderate employers make for a different sort of workplace in Holland.

Politics: Where Too Much Politics Is Barely Enough
With daily newspapers providing polling and analysis, television, cable, radio and Internet providing 24 hour coverage over a year long campaign -- there's more than enough politics for even the most voracious American political junkie reports Michael Gadiel.

International: US Cleaners on Hunger Strike
A number of US cleaners have this week gone on a hunger strike to back a union campaign for higher wages.

Economics: The Pass The Risk Trick
Derivatives, often seen as the currency of casino capitalism, are the fastest growing, largest and potentially most volatile aspect of capitalist economies. Economist Dick Brian sees behind this image an even deeper danger.

Health: Depressing Workplaces
New technologies and the impact of globalisation have sparked more stress and bouts of depression for workers, while causing a growing burden for social security systems, a new ILO report says.

Unions: Costello's Con
The low paid are bearing the brunt of the GST with inflation at a 10 year high argues the ACTU's Greg Combet.

Satire: Bush campaign an in-joke, admit advisors
TEXAS, Thursday: Following Bush's disastrous performance in the first Presidential debate it has been revealed that his bid for president is actually the result of a in-joke about how stupid the American people are.

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» World Bank, IMF To Consult Unions

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