Discrimination is everybody's business
Organized by: International Labour Organization (ILO)
and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

August 11, 2003

Madame January-Bardill, Ambassador of South Africa to Switzerland and member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, opened the meeting by introducing the members of the panel. The theme of the discussion focused on combating discrimination and racial prejudice in the workplace and wider community.

Madame Teklè (InFocus Programme on Promoting the Declaration, ILO) commented on the ILO Global Report, entitled "Time for Equality at Work." This report was published and discussed at the ILO conference in June 2003. The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa in 2001, highlighted racism at the workplace as an issue. The 2003 Global Report was issued as part of the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. It examines the various forms of discrimination at the workplace that have been identified and formally condemned nationally and internationally. This includes discrimination on the bases of race, colour, sex and religion. Madame Teklè insisted that a dialogue has to be settled between all the parties (workers, employers, governments, trade unions, etc.), and that working together is the only way to eliminate discriminations at all the levels of an enterprise.

Sub-Commission Expert, Mr. Weissbrodt, said that the Sub-Commission has prepared a declaration on fundamental principles. This document addresses the member States, and acknowledges that the States have the duty to: promote Human Rights, eliminate discriminations, and guarantee equality at work. He said that the multinational societies have to ensure equality of treatment and eliminate all forms of discrimination. Although these societies have already chosen to begin considering contracts norms, they should also be obliged to do so. This declaration is still to be adopted; consideration is only a first step.

Mr. Kjaerum, the Director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights and member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, agreed with the previous speakers about the importance of an interaction between human rights and enterprises. He then described a working project about this very subject at the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The Institute decided to help educate enterprises on human rights. It also teaches them to apply human rights, because the existing norms were written by the States for the States, and thus do not correspond with the world of enterprises. They set up a more simple and subtle mechanism, in order to be efficient in the complex economic environment. They also set up a process of consultation, which is available free on the Web.

Mr. Dahlberg, Human Resources Manager, ISS Sweden, explained how certain Swedish companies are grouped in a society named Plural that uses "diversity as a strategy for business development." They exchange experiences between companies involving all parts of the organisation. They identify co-operation's possibilities and they set up a multi-stakeholder dialogue between NGOs, government bodies, UN bodies, trade unions, etc. Since it is an initiative coming from companies, they hope it will encourage others to do the same.
Madame Biondi-Bird, Assistant Director at the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Geneva Office, said that the Durban Conference has changed the attitude of the trade union movements. They are now ready to examine their own working. They participated with the elaboration of the ILO report, "Time for Equality at work." She then said that norms should be "translated" for national legislation. There is no serious dialogue if all the participants are not respected at the same level. There is a need for laws for collective negotiations and for the right to create trade unions. She concluded by saying that this all has to be put in perspective, and that everybody has to think about the possibilities for a good workplace environment.

Madame January-Bardill, speaking of the situation in South Africa, also outlined that a dialogue and negotiation are needed for a more equitable environment.

After a rather negative comment about ILO of an NGO representative, Madame Teklè explained that the ILO can encourage the States, but sometimes this is not sufficient. It is difficult to reach workers who do not have the right to organise themselves in trade unions. To find a way to let them do so is a question the ILO is dealing with.
Madame Biondi-Bird added that the application of norms is difficult depending on the country. She reminded of the need for international agreements and good national legislations.

By: Melvina ARAMAN

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