International Labour conference takes steps to combat industrial hazards, ensure women's equality.

International Labour Conference takes steps to combat industrial hazards, ensure women's equality

Aware of growing world-wide concern over the increasing rate of work-related accidents and disease, the International Labour Conference, at its seventy-first session, took steps to reduce occupational hazards and to safeguard workers' safety and health.

This annual assembly of the International Labour Organization (ILO)--attended by a record 2,000 government, employer and worker delegates from the ILO's 141 member States--was held from 7 to 27 June 1985 in Geneva.

The Conference adopted an International Labour Convention and Recommendation to promote development of occupational health services covering all workers and called for action against risks and accidents arising from the use of dangerous substances and processes in industry.

The need for reliable labour statistics for use in planning and monitoring social and economic progress and for industrial relations led to the adoption by the Conference of a Convention and Recommendation on the subject.

The Conference also paved the way for the adoption next year of new safety standards in the use of asbestos.

The Conference also debated on the report of ILO Director-General Francis Blanchard on industrial relations and tripartism, and discussed equal opportunities and equal treatment for men and women in employment.

In other action, it adopted conclusions on action taken on the ILO Declaration concerning the policy of apartheid in South Africa; approved resolutions on the most urgent problems of Africa and on hazard prevention in connection with the use of dangerous processes and hazardous substances; reviewed the observance by member States of their obligations in respect of ILO standards; examined questions relating to the ILO's structure; and adopted the organization's programme and budget for 1986-1987.

Conference President was Mohamed Ennaceur, Tunisia's Minister of Social Affairs; Vice-Presidents were Vladimir Grekov (Government, byelorussian SSR), Charles H. Smithy, Jr. (employer, United States), and Shirley Carr (worker, Canada).

Asbestos hazards: Responding to the great concern not only of employers and workers and their organizations and health and labour authorities, but also of the general public about the harmful effects of exposure to asbestos dust, the Conference formulated a draft Convention and Recommendation for further discussion and adoption next year.

The draft Convention...