OFFICIAL TEXT
Wednesday, November 2nd, 1977
UNIT
INF
5.
STATES
SERV
VICE
AMERICAN EMBASSY, 55/56 UPPER BROOK STREET, LONDON W1A 2LH
ORMATION
U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION
A Statement by
U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR, RAY MARSHALL
November 1st, 1977
AS THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT INDICATED, WE HAVE DECIDED TO ALLOW OUR LETTER OF WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION (ILO) TO TAKE EFFECT.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION. WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE ILO'S POTENTIAL TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF WORKING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. IT SADDENS US THAT THE ILO IS NOT LIVING UP TO THAT POTENTIAL.
THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. MINIMUM LABOR STANDARDS ARE A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS ALONE DICTATE THE NEED FOR WORKERS TO HAVE DECENT WAGES, WORKING CONDITIONS AND THE FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION. BUT, IN ADDITION, WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WORKING CONDITIONS IN ONE COUNTRY AFFECT WORKING CONDITIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. A LIBERAL TRADE POLICY IS
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ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN MINIMUM LABOR STANDARDS APPLY AND COUNTRIES please
COMPETE FAIRLY.
THESE ARE THE TYPES OF ISSUES THAT THE ILO WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ILO HAS IN RECENT YEARS INCREASINGLY DISREGARDED ITS BASIC PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES. THERE ARE FOUR PARTICULARLY ALARMING TRENDS. THEY ARE THE SELECTIVE APPLICATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE DENIAL OF DUE PROCESS, THE INTRODUCTION OF POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE ILO'S MANDATE AND THE EROSION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF TRIPARTITE REPRESENTATION. AS A RESULT OF THESE TRENDS, THE UNITED STATES FELT COMPELLED ON NOVEMBER 5, 1975
TO GIVE THE ILO THE TWO YEAR NOTICE OF INTENT TO WITHDRAW REQUIRED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S CONSTITUTION.
IN THE 1975 LETTER IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT THE UNITED STATES DID NOT WANT TO WITHDRAW FROM THE ILO AND WOULD WORK TO MODIFY THESE DISTURBING TRENDS. DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO EXPLAIN THE
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