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International Labour Organization

International Labour Organization

The International Labour Organization is responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. It is the only ‘tripartite’ United Nations agency bringing together representatives of governments, employers and workers to shape policies and programmes.

Workers load flash-frozen fish onto a truck from a boat near Indonesia’s Bali island. Indonesian fishermen have sued Bumble Bee Seafoods for forced labour, alleging abuse and withheld wages on Chinese-owned vessels in its supply chain. Photo: AFP

Indonesian fishermen sue Bumble Bee Seafoods in landmark forced labour case

The human-trafficking case highlights the exploitation within the seafood industry, emphasising the need for corporate accountability and systemic reform.

28 Mar 2025 - 7:47AM

Over 1 in 5 young Indonesians are out of work. Fixing that won’t be easy

11 Mar 2025 - 9:49AMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the Trump pick Democrats, surprisingly, like

23 Feb 2025 - 6:00AM

‘More dangerous than Covid’: outrage over call for 7-day work week in India

The comments betray a traditional mindset that equates productivity with long hours of work and are ‘removed from reality’, experts say.

15 Jan 2025 - 12:12AM

Workers operate a machine at a manufacturing facility in Kanchipuram district in India. Photo: AFP

China’s controversial jobless rate needs to be reformed, scholar urges

After a revamp of the youth-unemployment rate sparked concerns over data transparency, calls have come for comprehensive metrics to convey economic reality.

8 Jan 2025 - 6:00AMvideocam

Inside the hidden world of modern slavery in Australia’s diplomatic heart

Recent court rulings reveal harrowing stories of abuse and neglect at the hands of envoys operating under diplomatic immunity in Canberra.

9 Sep 2024 - 8:00AM

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Why will Filipino helpers earn more in South Korea than Hong Kong, Singapore?

Foreign domestic workers will enjoy high wages under a government pilot project – raising affordability concerns among Korean families seeking care.

30 Aug 2024 - 8:01AMvideocam

A group of 100 Filipino women arrive in Seoul on August 6 to take part in South Korea’s first-ever pilot project for domestic workers from the country. Photo: Yonhap/EPA-EFE

Sri Lanka defends envoy in Australia fined for ‘modern slavery’ of maid

The Federal Court of Australia found that Himalee Arunatilaka had breached the Fair Work Act, and was ordered to pay more than US$360,000 in back wages to her former housekeeper.

19 Aug 2024 - 4:30PM

Education, social welfare essential for Asia to grow rich, cope with ageing: UN

The UN report said that growth in productivity has slowed, hurting incomes and undermining the purchasing power of the region’s 2 billion workers.

28 May 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Criminals reap US$236 billion in yearly profits from forced labour: UN agency

This is up by 37 per cent, or US$64 billion, compared with its last estimate published a decade ago in 2011, the International Labour Organization says.

19 Mar 2024 - 5:23PMvideocam

Workers and supporters attend a demonstration to mark International Women’s Day in Bangkok, calling for better employment conditions and a good quality of life, equal rights for female labour. Photo: EPA-EFE

South Korea doctors ask ILO to intervene as strike shows no signs of ending

The issue isn’t likely to be settled soon as President Yoon’s party has large public backing for the plan to increase medical school places, senior doctors say.

14 Mar 2024 - 7:17PM

Doctors in Seoul chant slogans during a rally on March 3 to protest against government plans to increase medical school admissions. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

EU reaches deal on forced labour ban, with China’s Xinjiang in its sights

Provisional agreement would target sectors and regions profiting from state-imposed forced labour based on database drawn up by European Commission.

5 Mar 2024 - 6:02PMvideocam

Artificial intelligence

How AI development has fostered a digital ‘sweatshop’ in poor countries

The development of artificial intelligence has created opportunities for educated workers in the Philippines and other developing countries. But they are poorly paid and lack training.

13 Jan 2024 - 7:52AM

Hong Kong workers/labour rights

How overworked are Hongkongers? More than half log 45-hour weeks: survey

Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions says 7.3 per cent of respondents work more than 70 hours a week, well above International Labour Organization recommendation.

17 Jun 2023 - 10:53PM

The International Labour Organization recommends a 40-hour work week and considers more than 48 hours excessive. Photo: Elson Li

Video | Child labour is on the rise again, ILO warns

13 Jun 2023 - 10:00PM

Child labour on the rise after 20 years of progress

Taiwan’s migrant-worker reputation hit as Greenpeace flags labour violations

With the world’s second-largest fishing fleet, Taiwan is at risk of being shunned by foreign workers from Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, at a time when it is desperate to shore up its workforce.

20 Jun 2023 - 5:59PMvideocam

US lifts import ban on Malaysia’s Smart Glove

In November 2021, US Customs and Border Protection sanctioned imports from the company over the alleged use of forced labour at its production facilities

28 Apr 2023 - 5:21PM

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Malaysia probes cases of migrant workers left jobless, no passports

They risk forced labour as their plight is worsened by debt bondage, poor living conditions, isolation and limited freedom of movement.

20 Apr 2023 - 6:10PM

Migrant workers queuing to use one of four toilets shared among 104 construction workers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last year. Photo: Reuters

Business of climate change

‘There is no escape’ from EU ESG disclosures, says global trade body head

‘If you don’t start preparing now, you will be late if and when the legislation kicks in,’ trade body head warns Asian suppliers to global brands

14 Feb 2023 - 12:30PM

China's economic recovery

‘China’s doors will be opened wider’: Premier Li tells trade, finance heads

Li Keqiang vows to ‘facilitate international exchanges and people mobility’, at annual round-table gathering featuring face-to-face exchanges with heads of IMF, World Bank, WTO and others.

9 Dec 2022 - 9:02PM

China's economic recovery

‘Not an easy job’: China premier promises steady economic growth despite Covid

China’s Premier Li Keqiang met with the heads of the World Bank, World Trade Organization and International Monetary Fund on Thursday in Huangshan, Anhui province.

8 Dec 2022 - 9:17PM

China Premier Li Keqiang met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva in Huangshan, Anhui province, on Thursday. Photo: CCTV

Qatar says worker deaths for World Cup ‘between 400 and 500’

Since Fifa awarded the tournament to Qatar in 2010, the country has taken some steps to overhaul its employment practices such as setting a minimum wage and enhancing worker safety laws.

29 Nov 2022 - 9:11PMvideocam

Labourers remove scaffolding at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. Migrant labourers who built Qatar’s World Cup stadiums often worked long hours under harsh conditions and were subjected to discrimination, wage theft and other abuses as their employers evaded accountability. Photo: AP

Fifa World Cup 2022

Fifa World Cup 2022: South Asian workers watch match from outskirts

A cricket ground in Asian Town outside the city is where migrant workers from some of the world’s poorest countries enjoy the tournament they helped create. The World Cup spotlight has compelled Qatar to overhaul its labour system.

27 Nov 2022 - 12:03AMvideocam

Qatar rejects compensation fund for World Cup migrant workers

Labour Minister says Qatar is already handing out hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid wages – and accused the Gulf state’s critics of ‘racism’.

2 Nov 2022 - 10:25PM

Human trafficking

Inside Out | Focus on economic growth, education to prevent harms of ‘modern slavery’

‘Modern slavery’ is terrible, but practices such as forced labour and forced marriage have existed for centuries and hoping to end them is misguided. Our best bet is to stay alert, develop practices to minimise harm and work on economic growth, good education for everyone and reducing poverty.

10 Oct 2022 - 5:15AMvideocam

An activist from the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body holds a placard during a protest urging the Immigration Department to review its accommodation and visa polices for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong in 2018. Photo: AFP

UN: 50 million in ‘modern slavery’, cites Xinjiang, Fifa World Cup host Qatar

UN report said nearly one out of every 150 people in the world are caught up in modern forms of slavery, highlighting the situation in Xinjiang, where several UN agencies warned of possible forced labour.

12 Sep 2022 - 11:13PMvideocam

A UN report released on Monday said that nearly one out of every 150 people in the world are caught up in modern forms of slavery. Photo: Shutterstock

Women and gender

Opinion | Don’t leave women and girls behind in pandemic recovery

During the pandemic, many countries have gone backwards on gender parity. Fewer women are regaining employment, and millions of girls may drop out of school. But, as countries rebuild economies, there is no better time to implement inclusive policies, with women’s needs and concerns at the forefront.

10 Sep 2022 - 9:15AMvideocam

Zero-Covid creating ‘universal’ unemployment among China’s young graduates

Youth unemployment rate rose from 15.3 per cent in January to 19.9 per cent in July as record 10 million university graduates entered the job market.

31 Aug 2022 - 9:12AMvideocam

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