Social Security

 

The Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) and subsequent International Labour Organisation (ILO) declarations recognised that availability of an "adequate level of social protection" is a basic right of all people.

 

From various UNDP and World Health Organisation reports; and from Third World Network - What does globalisation mean for health? by Diana Smith; and Experts attack shift in global health strategy, by Martin Khor.

 

Guangzhou municipal government has earmarked 60 million yuan1 over three years to entice students back to the city from overseas. Each returnee will be granted 100,000 yuan1 with which to 'start up or invest in special enterprises'. China Daily, 18 May 2000.

 

The local government of Kerala recently published a report suggesting the revival of the co-operative medical sector in the state.

 

Nothing quite unnerves the Australian government like illegal 'boat people' landing on its shores. The outcry over the 8,000 or so who washed up on beaches during 1998-99 proves that much at least. Perhaps the thought of a welfare recipient 'getting something for nothing' is the only thing that comes as close to upsetting the government. Or so it would seem if recent moves to reform the welfare system are anything to go by. 'Work for the Dole' schemes have been on the agenda for years, but not until this year has the government taken steps to implement one.

 

The government's labour policy is determined by an economic system that places capitalist growth above all. This enables the capitalist system to continually reproduce itself because capitalist growth requires state protection, which the state provides through legal and political systems. The state thus presents itself as the guarantor of economic growth as well as the guardian and key player in the economy.

 

South Korea's economy has fallen into serious crisis since 1997 and is now under the control of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The current economic troubles were unexpected, but the causes seem to be rooted deep in the South Korean economic structure.

 

I was very interested to read your article 'Labour movement and the Internet' in Asian Labour Update, May 2000. What you describe ties in closely with my experience.