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World Bank adopts CLS for infrastructure projects |
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The World Bank has reportedly agreed to apply all four ILO core labour standards to its funded infrastructure projects, according to the ITUC. Previously the Bank screened for child labour and forced labour. The new pledge, made by World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz at a meeting with trade unionists in Washington DC, will add freedom of association/right to collective bargaining and non-discrimination to the requirements applied to projects. Guy Ryder, ITUC General Secretary said "This is an important step in the right direction...."
While it appears that the commitment only covers infrastructure projects these are worth some $8 billion a year, out of total World bank lending of $22 billion in 2005. The move comes several months after the International Finance Corporation (IFC) - the private sector lending arm of the World Bank - adopted its new Performance Standards, including a widened commitment to labour rights and human resource issues. The IFC's policy currently goes further than the World Bank's new commitment. www.ituc-csi.org
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