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Vol. 1985/0 119 
  
 
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Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation. 
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen 
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983, 
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003 
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit 
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben. 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COMC85) 266 final
Brussels, 30 May 1985
C om m unication from  the C om m ission to the Council
P R E P A R A T I O N  O F  T H E  71st S E S S IO N  O F  T H E  I N T E R N A T I O N A L  L A B O U R  C O N F E R E N C E
G E N E V A , 7-27 June 1 9 8 5
C0MC85) 266 final

PREPARATION OF THE 71st SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE
G E N E V A , 7-27 June 1 9 8 5
T h e  71st session of the International Labour Conference will take place in 
G E N E V A  from  7  to 2 7  June 1985. T h e  following items are included o n  the 
agenda :
- occupational health services.(second discussion)
- revision of the Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and 
Hours of Work, 1938 (No. 63) (first discussion)
- safety in the use of asbestos (first discussion)
- equal opportunities and equal treatment for men and women in 
employment (general discussion).
As the revision of the Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours 
of Work, 1938, and the occupational health services are of interest to the 
Community, they will be the subject of Community coordination on the spot.
Safety in the use of asbestos and equal treatment for men and women come 
within the competence of the Community and should be given particular 
attention by the Commission. The Community position on these subjects 
should be clearly defined. That is the purpose of this document.
The Commission is therefore requested to approve this communication and to 
forward it to the Council.

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SAFETY IN THE USE OF ASBESTOS 
(sixth item o n  the agenda)
A t the 224th session (N o v em b er 1983), the Governing B o d y  of the I L O  
decided to place the question of safety in the use of asbestos o n  the 
agenda of the 71st session of the International Labour Conference.
Following this decision and in accordance with Article 3 9 of the 
Conference Standing Orders w hich deals with the preparatory stages of the 
dual discussion procedure, the IL O  sent a  questionnaire to the M e m b e r 
States and the C om m ission with a  view  to preparing a  preliminary report 
to serve as a  basis for the first discussion at the 71st session of the 
International Labour Conference.
C o m m u n ity  com petence in this area is based o n  :
- the Council Resolution of 2 9  June 1 9 78 o n  a  C o m m u n ity  action p rogram m e 
for health and safety at the place of w o rk  (O J.N o C.165, 11.7.1978, p.1) 
w hich stresses the need to give priority to carcinogenic substances an d  
in particular to asbestos;
- the Council Directive of 2 7  N o v em b er 19 8 0  o n  the protection of workers 
from  the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological 
agents at w o rk  (0J.No.L.327, 3.12.1980, p. 8) and the Council Directive 
of 1 9  Septem ber 19 8 3  o n the protection of workers from  the risks related 
to exposure to asbestos at w o rk  (second individual Directive within the 
m eaning of Article 8  of Directive 80/1107/EEC) (OJ.No.L.263, 24.9.1983, 
p. 25) w hich lays d o w n  specific obligations for the protection of workers 
exposed to asbestos;
- the Council Directive of 1 9  Septem ber 1 9 83 am ending for the fifth tim e 
(asbestos) Directive 76/76 9 /E E C  o n  the approximation of the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions of the M e m b e r States relating 
to restrictions o n  the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances 
and preparations (OJ.No.L.263, 24.9.1983, p. 33) w hich prohibits certain 
uses of asbestos and requires that all products containing asbestos 
m ust be so labelled.

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O n  this L egal basis, the C om m ission, in a  com m unication to the Council 
of 7  Septem ber 1 9 84 (C 0M (84)460 final), forwarded a  draft reply to the 
questionnai re*
A  letter, signed jointly b y the President of the Council and the President 
of the C om m ission, w a s  sent o n  1 3  N o v em b er 1 9 8 4  to the Director-General 
of the IL O , with an  annex containing the C o m m u n ity  reply to the question­
naire. (Decision of the C om m ittee of Perm anent Representatives of 
7  novem ber 1984). IL O  Report VI(2) for the 71st session contains a  
reference to the C om m u n ity  reply. A  certain num ber of M e m b e r States sent 
a n  identical reply to the IL O .
In the opinion of the Com m ission, for this first discussion at the 71st 
session of the International Conference of the IL O , the proposed conclusions 
prepared b y  the IL O  o n the basis of the replies to the questionnaire 
broadly take account of the C o m m u n ity  positions. H ow ever, the following 
am endm ents should be m a d e  to the proposed conclusions aim ed at a  convention, 
nam ely :
- after point 23, a  point 23a should b e added w hich repeats point 5 6  
of the conclusions proposed with a  view  to a  recom m endation;
- point 2 4  should be am ended as follows :
"W orkers exposed to asbestos should have the possibility of undergoing 
such health examinations as m a y  be considered necessary to ensure that 
their health is supervised in relation to the occupation hazard";
- after point 24, a  point 24a should be added w hich repeats point 5 4  of the 
conclusions proposed with a  view  to a  recommendation.
In conclusion, and at this stage of the discussion, the Council is 
requested to :
- adopt the position of the Community on the basis of the elements described 
above, this being the position of the Community at the Conference in the 
form of declarations and amendments;

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to authorize the on-the-spot coordination in G eneva to finalize the 
C o m m u n ity  position in the light of the discussions taking place, whilst 
ensuring that the texts proposed for the draft convention an d  recom m enda­
tions forming the subjects of the final discussion at the 72nd session 
of the International Labour Conference in 1986 are compatible with the 
relevant C o m m u n ity  regulations.

-  5  -
E Q U A L O PP O R TU NITIES A N D  E Q U A L TREATM ENT F O R  M E N  A N D  W O M E N  IN E M P LO Y M E N T 
(seventh item on the agenda)
1. The general discussion on th is  subject at the 71st session of the 
In te rn a tio n a l Labour Conference also f a lls  w ith in  the framework of the 
preparations fo r the United Nations Conference to appraise the Decade 
fo r wom en and define fu tu re  prospects, which is to be held in Nairobi in 
July 1985.
In th is  context, i t  should not norm ally re su lt in a  binding instrument 
but rather in general guidelines fo r action (conclusions or re s o lu tio n ).
2. The subjects covered in the ILO report on the Conference are fo r the 
most part the subjects of Community p o lic ie s , notably pursuant to :
-  D irective  75/117/EEC -  Equal pay fo r m en and wom en
-  D irective  76/207/EEC -  Equal treatment fo r m en and wom en as regards
access to employment, vocational tra in in g  and 
promotion, and working conditions.
-  D ire ctive  79/7/EEC -  Equal treatment fo r m en and wom en in matters
of so cia l s e c u rity .
-  the Resolution of 12 July 1982 on the promotion of equal opp o rtun itie s 
fo r women.
-  the Council Resolution of 7 June 1984 on measures to combat women's 
unemployment.
-  the Council Recommendation of 13 December 1984 on the promotion of 
p o s itiv e  action fo r women.
In th is  general context, the p a rtic ip a tio n  of the Community and the 
presentation of the Community's p o s itio n , both as regards statements 
and the presentation of the te xt and amendments should be done in 
accordance with the rules defined by the Council fo r the above-mentioned 
Nairobi Conference (1).
(1) Doc. 4664/83 SOC. 35

-  6 -
3. The Community p o sitio n  should be based on the fo llo w in g  facto rs :
3.1. The Community should support the p rin c ip le  of the adoption by the 
Conference of a re so lu tio n  on the promotion of equal opp o rtun itie s (1).
3.2. The re so lu tio n  should comprise guidelines fo r general a ctio n , at both 
national (2) and in te rn a tio n a l le ve ls. The conclusions contained in 
the ILO report form a  very good basis fo r th is  which the Community 
should generally support by proposing amendments linked with the 
development of its  p o lic ie s  and p r io r itie s  in th is  f ie ld .  I t  should 
in p a rtic u la r present and urge amendments and proposals in respect
of the fo llo w in g  points (3) :
3 .2 .1 . A c c è s s_to_emgloyment_and_trai_ni_ng
-  the equal rig h t of wom en and m en to work and, thereby, to 
acquire personal resources on equal terms and equal conditions 
regardless of the economic s itu a tio n  (c f. Resolution on 
unemployment);
-  importance of developing an o ve ra ll p o lic y  of p o sitive  
measures fo r wom en (4) in the fie ld  of tra in in g  and employment, 
and of adopting a framework to th is  end;
-  the various types of p o s itiv e  measures and the fie ld s  they 
should concern (5);
-  the importance of promoting local employment in itia tiv e s  fo r 
women -  inclu ding  cooperatives -  and of givin g  them equal 
access;
(1) A  Resolution was adopted in 1975, the f i r s t  year of the U N  Decade fo r 
Women.
(2) The term n ational level includes the Community fo r cases of Community 
competence and Community p o lic y .
(3) given in the order of the t it le s  contained in the conclusions of the 
ILO re p o rt.
(4) c f. Council Recommendation of 13 December 1984 referred to above.
(5) c f. Council Recommendation of 13 December 1984.

-  7 -
-  the need fo r p o s itiv e  action to combat unemployment among 
young women;
-  the measures to be adopted to promote the placement of w om en 
and the development of measures to d iv e rs ify  occupational 
choices in order to fo s te r the desegregation of employment, in 
p a rtic u la r in the fie ld s , sectors and occupations connected 
with the in tro d u ctio n  of new technologies, and tra in in g  mea­
sures fo r women wishing to return to work;
-  the promotion of s p e c ific  p o s itiv e  action fo r least-favoured 
groups, in p a rtic u la r migrant women, single parent fa m ilie s ,e tc
-  the importance of a ta xa tio n  system tha t is neutral towards 
the employment of women, e sp e cia lly married women;
-  the promotion of support measures to f a c ilit a te  a b ette r 
d is trib u tio n  of occupational, so cia l and fa m ily re s p o n s ib ili- 
t i es ;
-  the role of the two sides of in d u stry in working out and 
applying equal o pp o rtun ity measures, in p a rtic u la r the promo­
tio n  of p o s itiv e  measures;
-  the need syste m a tica lly to develop inform ation and awareness 
campaigns aimed both at the targe t groups with decision-making 
powers and at p ublic opinion in general in order to encourage 
changes in a ttitu d e s .
3 .2 .2 . §gua].i_ty_of.remuneration
-  in the context of the proposed guidelines on occupational 
c la s s ific a tio n s , re fe r to the importance of providing a  
d e fin itio n  of work of equal value;
-  emphasize the importance of the burden of proof in the 
e ffe c tiv e  a p p lica tio n  of that p rin c ip le  (common to a ll legal 
instruments on e q u a lity ).
3 .2 .3 . Worki_ng_condi_t 2ons_and_Envi_ronment
-  the importance of e q u a lity  in a ll p ro te ctive  measures 
should be emphasized;
-  analyses should be undertaken to see whether s p e cific 
p ro te ctio n  fo r women is necessary in connection with the

-  8 -
reproductive function or whether such pro te ctio n  should 
be e g a lita ria n  (1 ).
3.2.4. Socjal_securi_ty
-  e q u a lity  fo r m en and women should be general, e lim in a tin g  
a ll d iscrim in a tio n  (2);
-  the in d iv id u a liz a tio n  of rig h ts should be gradually
established.
3.2.5. Participation
-  p o s itiv e  action should be taken to improve the s itu a tio n  
of women in the decision-making process.
3.2.6. Imprgving_the_data_base
-  measures should be taken to improve q u a lita tiv e  and q ua n tita ­
tiv e  data, in p a rtic u la r on the employment and tra in in g
of women and th e ir p a rtic ip a tio n  in economic and social 
lif e  in general.
3.2.7. Acti_on_by_the_ILO
The research a c tiv itie s  and the dissem ination of inform ation 
are of p a rtic u la r in te re s t.
As regards le g is la tiv e  a ctio n , the ILO should give some 
p r io r it y  to the review and amendment of p ro te ctive  le g is la tio n , 
with p a rtic u la r emphasis on night work and the problem of work 
of equal value in connection with equal pay.
As regards the "a n a ly tic a l" aspect of the ILO's Report V II, there are 
two matters which could be of concern to the Community :
-  the re la tiv e ly  negative analysis of the s itu a tio n  in in d u s tria liz e d  
countries in comparison with other countries (notably countries with 
planned economics).
-  the fa ct tha t Community achievements are barely referred to (with the 
exception of ce rta in  Judgements of the Court o f Justice concerning equal
pay).
(1) The conclusions proposed by the ILO on th is  subject should not be 
supported.
(2) D ire ctive  79/7/EEC.

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The Community should therefore take a more positive stand as regards 
the achievements of Community policy in this field.
The Community statements on th is  su bject, to be fin a liz e d  during the 
on-the-spot co ordin a tion , should re fe r p a rtic u la rly  to the themes i t  has 
developed as part of the preparatory work fo r the above-mentioned Nairobi 
Conference and fo r the Seminar i t  held in 1984.
5. In conclusion, the Commission proposes that the Council decide that the 
p o sitio n  of the Community at the 71st In te rn a tio n a l Labour Conference w ill 
consist in :
-  proposing a re so lu tio n  in general terms based'on the conditions set out 
in Report V II together with proposals fo r amendments based on the 
considerations set out in point 3;
- taking a positive stand on the achievements of Community policy in 
matters of equality and the links with ILO standards and activities;
-  acting in th is  respect in accordance with the rules approved by
the Council concerning Community participation in the Nairobi Conference 
and in its preparatory work.
The finalizing of the Community position in the lights of the ongoing 
discussions will take place in the framework of the on-the-spot coordination.