GENEVA (ILO News) - Against a backdrop of heightened concern over the link between global security and economic development, the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization begins work here on 25-26 March to forge a blueprint for reducing inequities in the global economic system.

The 25-member World Commission, launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO) last month, is co-chaired by Finland's President Tarja Halonen and Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa. It will seek to harness the globalization process to foster growth and reduce poverty.

The Commission is a "response to the needs of the people as they struggle to cope with unprecedented changes which globalization has brought to their daily lives and to the landscapes of national societies everywhere," according to the Co-chairs.

They believe the Commission provides "a space to move from confrontation to dialogue, to review the facts and the perceptions; and an opportunity to seek a consensus for action on globalization."

ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, an ex officio Commission member, said in opening remarks that "globalization has raised aspirations and widened opportunities for greater prosperity and development. At the same time, increased integration of economies has been accompanied by widening inequalities."

Mr. Somavia said the message from recent high-level economic and social conferences in New York, Porto Alegre and Monterrey was clear: "Globalization's opportunities must be shared and used more effectively to deal with the growing problem of insecurity, inequity and exclusion. Labour unions, citizens and, increasingly, enlightened business leaders around the world have made their point: we can no longer ignore the social dimension of globalization."

The Commission's first meeting will be taken up with discussions on identifying the key issues to make globalization sustainable and promote the fair sharing of its benefits. The Commission has scheduled a series of meetings during the course of next year, after which it will submit a final report to the ILO Director-General.

The Commission was completed last week with confirmation of membership of Russian deputy prime minister Valentina Matvienko and leading Japanese businessman Taizo Nishimuro, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toshiba Corporation.

Other members, drawn from all regions of the world, are Eveline Herfkens, Minister for Development Co-operation of the Netherlands; former Italian Premier Giuliano Amato; Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize for Economics; Julio Maria Sanguinetti, former President of Uruguay; Ruth C.L. Cardoso, First lady of Brazil and President of that country's Community Solidarity Council; Ann McLaughlin Korologos, Vice Chair of the Rand Corporation and former US Secretary of Labour; Surin Pitsuwan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; Deepak Nayyar, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi and former Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India; Hernando de Soto, author and President of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy in Peru; John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO; François Perigot, President of the International Organization of Employers and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, France; Heba Handousa of Egypt, Managing Director of the Economic Research Forum for the Arab countries, Iran and Turkey; Lu Mai, Secretary-General of the China Development Research Centre of the State Council; Victoria Tauli-Corpuz of the Philippines, the chair-rapporteur of the Board of Trustees of the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations; Aminata D. Traore of Mali, author and Coordinator of the African Social Forum; Ernst Ulrich von Weizaecker, scientist and German parliamentarian; and Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

Other ex officio members, serving together with Mr. Somavia, are the President of the ILO's Governing Body, Alain Ludovic Tou; Chairman of the Workers' Group, Lord Bill Brett; and Chairman of the Employers' Group, Daniel Funes de Rioja.

The formation of the World Commission drew strong endorsement from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who said he was confident that "it will play an important role in creating a consensus on the facts about globalization and finding ways to make globalization work for all."

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization Mike Moore, in an address to the ILO's Governing Body on 18 March, reiterated the WTO's commitment to the observance of internationally-recognized labour standards and its "belief that the ILO is the competent body to deal with these standards." He said he was "very pleased to be able to take part in this important extension of the debate on globalization and contribute to the work of the Commission."

In separate comments, European Commissioner Pascal Lamy expressed his support for the Commission, saying it would help the international community "understand the complex interface between globalization, trade liberalization and social development... We will then be better equipped to harness globalization and maximize the economic and social benefits of globalization and trade."

Note to correspondents:

There will be a photo opportunity when the Commission begins its work on Monday, 25 March in Room VII. Interested correspondents and photojournalists should be at the ILO building no later than 9.30 a.m. Journalists will have the opportunity to speak to Commission members during a coffee break 9:45-10:15 a.m.

For more information, please contact:
Michael Keats, ILO Department of Communication
Tel.: +4122/799-6690
Fax: +4122/799-8577
E-mail: keats@ilo.org