In Confidence to Members
OLCC(1977) 3
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
OVERSEAS LABOUR CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
ITEM 5:
DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE ILO'
(Paper by the Department of Employment)
1.
At its last meeting the Committee discussed the United States' notice of intention to withdraw from the ILO in November 1977, on the basis of a note (OLCC (1976)7) prepared by the Department of Employment. The United States had complained about the erosion of tripartism, selective concern for human rights, disregard of due process and increased politicisation; and indicated that their notice was intended to serve as a rallying call to like-minded members and to help the ILO to return to its basic principles and objectives. The Committee recognised that the United States contributed much to the ILO both in experience and in financial terms. Withdrawal would significantly reduce the ILO's programmes and its ability to help workers in both the developing and the industrialised countries. There was general agreement by the Committee that the notice, far from being a mere public gesture, had to be taken very seriously and that members should take what action they could through their respective contacts to avert the withdrawal. This paper describes developments over the past 15 months with special regard to the issues which are emerging as those of most importance to the United States.
2. One reaction to the US notice has been more effective consultation between the representatives of Western governments both within the EEC and, under Canadian chairmanship, within the wider group of industrialised market economy countries (IEC) which have become a regular accompaniment to Governing Body and Conference proceedings.
3. The 1976 World Employment and International Labour conferences (which took place simultaneously in June 1976) threw up a number of testing issues:
the
(a) invitation of observers from the Palestine Liberation Organisation to attend the World Employment Conference. Although approved in the end by the Governing Body, this was only on a second vote. and the margin was a narrow one: US representative was grateful for the strength of the opposition that was mustered.
1.