The Unit makes on-the-spot inspections and some have revealed short- comings which have been the subject of frank reports. The ILO's Governing Body has also set up a tripartite team, which visits pro- jects and seeks an opinion from the Government, trade unions and employers of the country concerned as to the results achieved.
32.
Members expressed some concern over the ILO's Industrial Committees and especially over the items selected for the agendas. Mr Healy pointed out that the agenda is proposed by the Office to the Governing Body. The proposals usually take account of resolutions adopted at past meetings of the Committee on issues such as Multinationals and Pollution.
The Governing Body however are able to discuss and amend the draft agenda in the light of proposals put forward by any of the three Groups. Mr Hargreaves felt that too many items reflected, with the subsequent report, facets of the ILO's own aims and policies. Some Committees were valuable, for example, that dealing with the Docks industry; but often agenda items were not defined narrowly enough and, in consequence, subsequent reports did not relate specifically to the problems of concern to the industry. He agreed that the Workers' Group on the Governing Body had a chance of securing amendments, but the Office needed to be much more adept in finding and defining the topics of concern to the particular industry dealt with by a Committee. Mr Morgan also spoke of the difficulty of relating the work and findings of a Committee to matters of direct relevance to the Industry dealt with.
33. The Chairman expressed satisfaction that it had been possible to negotiate a lower UK contribution to the ILO's budget and over the continuing recruitment of British experts. He thought that, by certain tests, Britain was still the most highly industrialised country in the world and as such could make an important contribution in recruiting experts for assignments in developing countries.
He appreciated the useful discussion on the work of the ILO's Industrial Committees and hoped that the Groups comprising the Governing Body would work towards improving the subject matter of the agendas. There was also a need to examine overgeneralised
resolutions.
The Future of the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee
34. The Chairman felt that though the Committee had not previously met for four years, the morning's business showed it was now beginning to deal with important matters. He wished to take an early opportunity of informing the Committee of his impressions resulting from his imminent visit to Hong Kong. Mr Coates agreed that the meeting had been interesting and worthwhile. He would like the dialogue to continue. Mr Hargreaves agreed with these views.
Date of next Meeting
35. As regards the date of the next meeting it was agreed that Mr Foggon should take informal soundings of committee members.
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