ILO in the media

2013

  1. CNN's World Business Today

    ILO welcomes Bangladesh safety accord, but urges respect of labour laws

    16 May 2013

    ILO's Deputy Director-General for Field Operations, Gilbert Houngbo, welcomed the Bangladesh Accord on Building and Fire Safety but said additional issues such as labour laws, freedom of association and collective bargaining must be respected. Speaking on CNN's World Business Today, Mr Houngbo concluded that action should be taken now, "to make sure we are not just talking the talk, but walking the walk".

  2. CNBC Asia

    Clothing retailer workplace safety agreement a "breakthrough", says ILO

    15 May 2013

    Major clothing retailers have agreed to sign a workplace safety agreement, in an effort to avoid future tragedies such as the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh, where over a thousand garment workers lost their lives. Mr. Ryder told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the agreement, which addresses worker safety and health issues, is a breakthrough, but is only part of the answer.

  3. China Central Television (CNTV)

    ILO's Director-General meets with the Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council Ma Kai

    14 May 2013

  4. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

    ILO meets with social partners in Bangladesh following building collapse

    04 May 2013

    CBC news reports on the ILO visit to Dhaka to meet with government, workers and employers organizations following the collapse of the Rana Plaza building, which resulted in deaths and serious injury of hundreds of garment workers. Speaking at a press conference, the ILO's Deputy Director-General for Field Operations, Gilbert Houngbo, described Bangladesh as a victim of its own success with rapid manufacturing growth creating the need for a new "modus operandi".

  5. Al Jazeera English

    Bangladesh building collapse tragedy could easily have been avoided, says ILO

    03 May 2013

    The challenge is for concrete action to be taken now, said the ILO's Deputy Director-General for Field Operations, Gilbert Houngbo in a live interview from Dhaka, with Al Jazeera English Newshour. This will include passing a new labour law in Bangladesh, inspecting over 3500 factories, and importantly, creating a different working environment, where workers, employer and government are in dialogue to prevent any such future tragedies.

  6. ABS-CBN News Channel

    Creating a competitive labour force in the Philippines

    01 May 2013

    ABS-CBN News Channel's Inside Business with Coco Alcuaz interviewed Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines, and former Labour and Employment Secretary, Mr Bienvenido Laguesma, as part of Labour Day 2013. Mr. Johnson talked about achieving sustained and inclusive growth through decent and productive work. He further highlighted the need to address vulnerable employment and to enhance productivity and competitiveness in the Philippines.

  7. BBC World News

    ILO on ground in Dhaka presses the government to make changes

    01 May 2013

    ILO's Deputy Director General for Field Operations, Gilbert Houngbo, pushes for reforms in Bangladesh on freedom of association and collective bargaining to ensure that individuals "do have possibility to negotiate better working conditions" in the field of labour. Mr. Huongbo, in an interview with BBC World News, emphasises the need for reform of labour laws in Bangladesh at the highest levels of government, to make sure that changes will be adopted quickly.

  8. CNN Quest Means Business

    ILO's Director General says "Everything can be done to change the situation" in Bangladesh

    01 May 2013

    The Bangladesh disaster will happen again "if action is not taken now", affirmed ILO's Director General Guy Ryder. Mr. Ryder, speaking to CNN's Richard Quest, urged authorities to take action for necessary measures. While everybody has a role to play in making these changes happen, it is "in the governments capacity" to implement a plan that will adopt a legislation in the field of labour.

  9. BBC World Business Report

    ILO's Deputy Director General, Gilbert Houngbo, called for new labour law addressing occupational safety in Bangladesh

    01 May 2013

    The ILO's high-level mission to Bangladesh is pressing the Government to take action that will improve the working conditions of the garment business that makes up 80% of the country's $24 billion export industry. ILO's Deputy Director General for Field Operations, Gilbert Houngbo, told BBC World Business Report that there is a "need for much higher political commitment" and the root causes can be accounted to the need for labour law, freedom of association, and collective bargaining among the field of labour.

  10. CNN Quest Means Business

    Europe must "Step off the Austerity Pedal", says ILO's Director General

    01 May 2013

    Talking to CNN's Richard Quest, ILO's Director General, Guy Ryder, said that it is now urgent that Europe holds back on austerity and focus more on employment measures. Ryder said that there is space and money to put into the economy, next step is the policy changes that will allow us to see positive outcomes for 2014.