Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands : Ploumen joins forces with ILO for better working conditions

News item | 24-01-2014

During the next four years, the Netherlands will continue to work with the UN's International Labour Organization (ILO) for better working conditions in low- and middle-income countries. Lilianne Ploumen (Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) signed an agreement with the ILO to this effect at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.

'Better work is a form of poverty reduction,' said Ms Ploumen. 'The ILO works with business and government to achieve this goal, which also lies at the heart of my new agenda for aid, trade, and investment. For this reason, the Netherlands will continue during the next four years to support the important work carried out by the ILO.'

The new partnership establishes a framework for cooperation between the ILO and the Netherlands from 2014 to 2017. Half the Dutch contribution (€2.5 million a year) will go to the successful Better Work Programme, which has acted, for example, to deal with abuses in the textile industry in Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The other half is a general-purpose contribution to enable the ILO to act fast and effectively wherever necessary. The ILO draws up global standards for decent working conditions and helps put them into practice. It steadfastly involves the business sector in its activities and promotes corporate social responsibility.