The ITF has welcomed an ILO (International Labour Organization) meeting designed to tackle border delays, corruption and sexually transmitted infections that affect international professional drivers.
Held in Geneva from 23 to 26 October, the UN agency's initiative brought together governments, employers and trade unions, and adopted conclusions that recognised road transport's role in economic development and the need for far ranging joint action to improve conditions and procedures so that professional drivers are not victimised - and to stave off a possible future shortage of skilled drivers.
The meeting opened with the release of a report* that stated that international drivers are among the most vulnerable workers in the world and that governments need to take responsibility for fighting corrupt and unnecessarily bureaucratic and delay-causing procedures, and for providing adequate rest facilities. To back up this point the ILO report quoted ITF research that revealed how drivers in seven African countries all had to endure border delays of two to five days.
The ILO meeting concluded that without global and regional approaches by governments to coordinate and harmonise procedures with employers and unions, the negative social and economic impact of current border conditions will worsen, and ultimately endanger recruitment. It also stated that HIV/Aids must be tackled by the social partners as a workplace issue at frontiers, and that a cross-border monitoring mechanism must be developed by the ILO.
Mac Urata, Secretary of the ITF's Inland Transport Section and one of the representatives of workers' groups at the meeting, said: "This was a timely and, largely, a successful event. Recognising that this is a global problem that is dragging down drivers, braking economic development and hitting the pockets of consumers is a first step, which must be followed by further progress and government action."
He continued: "For us one of the highlights of this meeting was the co-operation between ourselves and the employers' organisation the IRU (International Road Transport Union). We welcome their global commitment on freedom of association and collective bargaining. It was heartening to see how much a realisation of the need for action was mirrored by both organisations and we look forward to working with them through the ILO on our follow up activities, including those on HIV/Aids."
For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson, direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260. E-mail: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF: HEAD OFFICE, ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR,Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733, Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7357 7871, Email: mail@itf.org.uk Web-page: www.itfglobal.org
Source: ITF (International Transport Workers Federation)