The Consultative Assembly has considered carefully and with great interest the 11th Report presented to it by the International Labour Organisation, covering the period from August 1960 to July 1961.
The Assembly is pleased to note that, in this period of rapid development in the economic and social fields in Europe, the relations between ILO and the European organisations as well as between the former and individual European countries have been close and fruitful.
Before dealing specifically with certain points of the Report, the Assembly would like to make some general remarks :
Representing all the Members of the Council of Europe, the Assembly is of course particularly interested in the widest possible social collaboration and in the contribution which the ILO so generously gives to this collaboration. In this connection, the Assembly would stress the importance of the European Social Charter and express its gratitude to the ILO for the important part that it has played in the preparation of this instrument.
However, the Assembly is not disposed to view the European Social Charter as something which is finished. It should rather be regarded as the starting-point of a closer and more systematic social collaboration in Europe, and the contribution of the ILO will continue to be needed.
With regard to specific points of the Report, the Assembly would like to make the following brief comments :
Vocational training
In its Recommendation 307 (1962), the Assembly advocated the establishment, within the framework of the International Vocational Training Information and Research Centre, of a European office to supply films and other educational material for use in vocational guidance and training. The Assembly hopes that this initiative to enlarge the field of activity of the Centre will meet with the approval of the Committee of Ministers and of the ILO.
The provisions of the European Social Charter concerning vocational training make a special reference to the training of the handicapped. It would be desirable, therefore, that, within the framework of the activities of the Centre, special emphasis be placed on this question. The Assembly would also focus attention on the need for vocational training in agriculture. It welcomes the action which the ILO, the FAO and other organisations have taken in this respect.
The Assembly has noted with interest that the International Labour Conference will undertake, at its 1962 session, a second discussion with a view to the adoption of a recommendation concerning vocational training. This may perhaps be a subject which could be further developed in the European framework.
Social Security
Considering that the principles embodied in Regulations Nos. 3 and 4 of the European Economic Community concerning the protection of the social security rights of migrant workers and foreigners are, no doubt, the most liberal and efficient that exist in any multilateral instrument, the Assembly will support the recognition of these principles by as many member States as possible. It notes with satisfaction that the preparatory work concerning the establishment of a new European Convention on the social security of migrant and foreign workers is progressing.
The new International Labour Convention, which is in preparation, concerning equality of treatment of nationals and non-nationals in the social security field also seems to mark a step forward in this important matter, to which the Assembly has always attached great importance. The Assembly therefore welcomes this initiative and hopes that the International Labour Conference at its 1962 session will be able to adopt both the Convention and the supplementary recommendation.
Labour Inspection
The Assembly would have liked to see this question dealt with in more detail in the European Social Charter. It realised, however, that it would be difficult to incorporate such detailed provisions in the text of the Charter. It hopes that the study which the governmental Social Committee is now undertaking in collaboration with the ILO will result in the adoption of conclusions or even recommendations which may guide the policy of member Governments.
Workers' Housing
The Committee of Ministers, to which the Assembly has submitted a Recommendation on certain social and financial aspects of the housing problem in Europe, has stated that it will examine the Recommendation on Workers'Housing adopted by the International Labour Conference. The Assembly therefore expects to be informed in due course of the details of the substance of this Recommendation.
The Assembly is pleased to note that, apart from the relations between the ILO and various European organisations, the relations between the former and individual European countries have been mutually beneficial.
Thus, the Annex to the 11th Report of the ILO shows that many technical assistance projects have been carried out by the ILO in dependent territories of States members of the Council of Europe. On the other hand, Members of the Council of Europe have been able to contribute to the ILO operational activities by supplying experts and by receiving a considerable number of beneficiaries of technical assistance fellowships.
The Assembly also notes with satisfaction the interest which Members of the Council of Europe take in the legislative activities of the ILO, as shown by the important number of ratifications by these countries of International Labour conventions.
In the opinion of the Assembly, this aspect of the ILO activities is of particular importance to European countries in connection with the present development towards closer collaboration in the economic field.