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Gambia News : Gambian VP says economic downturn timely at ILO's anniversary
Gambian Vice President, Dr. Isator Njie-Saidy, has said that the
celebration of the 90th International Labour Organisation (ILO) came at
an appropriate time when the global economy is facing enormous
financial crisis, with rising unemployment, low labour productivity and
income.
Njie-Saidy made the remarks on the occasion of the 90th anniversary
celebration of the ILO Wednesday, with the theme “Social Dialogue for
Decent Work and Fair Globalisation.”
She said the government had
expressed commitment to an intensive industrial deve lopment effort in
order to transform the Gambian economy from low levels of output and
income to a diversified economy, driven by a sound industrial base,
capable of integrating with other sectors of the economy.
This
development objective and strategy, she said, was being complemented by
national employment policy and action plan, in order to increase
employment, increase productivity and technological transfer in the
country.
Njie-Saidy said the policy objectives of the government
were being realized through a stable and conducive macro-economic
environment, efficient and reliable infrastructural and financial
services and skilled labour force.
She said in 1983, technical
assistance was provided to review and revise the then existing labour
legislation and the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1940 which resulted
in the enactment of the Labour Act in 1990.
Through broad
national tripartite consultations, she said an ILO consultant assisted
the Gambia in the drafting of the labour Bill 2005, which was enacted
in 2007.
Mrs. Janis James, economic adviser at UNDP, speaking on
behalf of UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Chinwe Dike, said the
dynamism of the world today continues to determine the focus of
development agenda in the United Nations system.
James said in 1919, the UN established the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as an arm to promote social justice.
She
quoted the preamble of the ILO constitution which reads: “Whereas
universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon
social justice; an d whereas conditions of labour exist involving such
injustice, hardship and privatization to large numbers of people as to
produce unrest so great that the peace and harmony of the world are
imperiled; and improvement of those conditions is urgently required.”
According
to her, almost a century later (1999), in response to globalization,
director general of ILO Juan Somania in his first report to the
international labour conference, analysed the central role of work and
its quality anchored on the challenge of modernising the production
structure and creating employment and de cent work for all.
Mrs.
James said the report culminated the introduction of a comprehensive
concept of work and the work place which he called Decent Work.
She explained that the report broadly defines decent work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.
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