Feature articles

May 2005 

• Modern forms of slavery in industrialized countries
  11 May 2005 - A new report by the ILO estimates that more than 12 million people worldwide are victims of forced labour. But this modern day form of slavery is not restricted to developing countries, and can also be found in industrialized countries, where approximately 360,000 people are forced to work. ...

April 2005 

• World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2005 ILO project aims to take some of the strain from Viet Nam's farmers
  26 April 2005 - The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is held on 28 April each year. A key focus this year is on the prevention of work-related accidents and ill-health. Bangkok based journalist Sam Taylor reports from Viet Nam where a recently tested ILO project aims to give agricultural workers the skills to improve safety on farms in Viet Nam.
• World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2005 Promoting construction safety in Cambodia: Prevention is far better than cure
  25 April 2005 - There are annually at least 60,000 fatal accidents on construction sites around the world, according to an ILO report published for World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2005. The focus of this year's World Day to be held on 28 April is on the prevention of work-related accidents and ill-health, particularly in the construction sector. ...
• The Global Social Trust: Health Insurance in Ghana
  25 April 2005 - As part of its campaign to improve and extend social security to all, the ILO has launched the idea of a Global Social Trust that links developed and developing countries to kick-start social protection schemes in the latter. ...
• After the tsunami Preventing child exploitation in Aceh
  15 April 2005 - The Indonesian province of Banda Aceh was the worst hit by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on 26 December 2004. Among the victims of the disaster are many children between the ages of 15-17 who survived the initial disaster, but are now living in camps for displaced persons. ...
• After the tsunami In Thailand, the tourist industry fights back
  11 April 2005 - The December tsunami hit Thailand's tourist resorts and beaches hard, both in human terms as well as in lost incomes and livelihoods. Now, the tourist industry is making a comeback. Journalist Clifford Coonan looks at how the job situation is faring, and what the ILO and Thai authorities are doing to boost reconstruction.

March 2005 

• Employment Services Centres in Afghanistan In Afghanistan, "Men who work, have no time to make war"
  30 March 2005 - An estimated 30 per cent of the Afghan work force is unemployed. In addition, approximately 100,000 ex-combatants are about to enter the labour market and hundreds of thousands of refugees are returning home. ...
• After the tsunami Rebuilding lives: A first step to rebuilding a community
  23 March 2005 - The Indian Ocean tsunami took some one million lives in Sri Lanka and Indonesia alone, mostly among fishing, tourism and small business workers. In Sri Lanka, the disaster also cost some half a million persons their jobs – adding to the 750,000 already out of work. ...
• Labour inspectors: Killings in 2004 highlight the need for new preventive measures
  18 March 2005 - The killing of two labour inspectors in France and three inspectors and their driver in Brazil in the line of duty last year drew media headlines. But according to the ILO, these two extreme examples are only the tip of the iceberg as far as problems facing labour inspection are concerned. ...
• 7th European Regional Meeting To survive means to succeed
  15 March 2005 - After the democratic changes in October 2000, the Serbian economy opened up to the world. As a consequence, many local companies were unable to compete with foreign companies and had to close down. In 2001, the ILO started a local economic development project in South West Serbia followed by a new, more comprehensive one in 2004 covering South East Serbia. ...