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A.—7

(C) RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS FOR PRESENT AND POST-WAR SOCIAL POLICY (ITEM II) Major decisions reached under this item of the Conference Agenda were embodied in three lengthy resolutions dealing respectively with— (1) Social Provisions in the Peace Settlement.—The resolution on this subject sets forth certain principles which the Conference considered appropriate for inclusion in "a general or special treaty or agreement between nations desirous of giving early effect to the principles of the Atlantic Charter and Article VII of the Mutual Aid Agreement." It was agreed that Governments should, in such a treaty or agreement, reaffirm the Declaration of the Aims and Purposes of the 1.L.0., and place on the Agenda of the International Labour Conference annually the subject of the extent to which the social objectives set forth in that Declaration have been attained. It was agreed also that Governments should recognize their duty to expand production, employment, and the exchange and consumption of goods and to liberate economic activity from unreasonable restrictions ; that they should acknowledge certain stated matters to be of international concern and to be among the social objectives of international as well as national policy ; and that the International Labour Office should be authorized to collect uniform statistical and other economic information on listed matters which are declared to be of direct interest to the 1.L.0. Governments are further required, under this resolution, to report to the International Labour Office on the status of legislation and administration, and, in so far as practicable, of practices under collective agreements between employers and workers, in respect to draft international Conventions and Recommendations. The Conference also recommended that the Governing Body of the 1.L.0. call a special conference of the Organization " when there is danger of a substantial fall in general employment levels for the purpose of recommending appropriate national or international measures to prevent the development or spread of unemployment and to establish conditions under which high levels of employment may bo maintained or restored." Another section of the Resolution, arising from the request of the Australian Government delegates for immediate international action on the problem of full employment, recommends that a Conference of representatives of the Governments of the United, associated, and other Nations be called " at an early date, in association with the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, to consider an international agreement on domestic policies of employment and unemployment ..." In addition, the resolution directs the Governing Body to " correlate the activities of the 1.L.0., toward the end of maintaining full employment, with those of any other international agency or agencies which may be designated by the United Nations to have primary responsibility in related economic fields." It recommends, too, that the Governing Body should appoint a consultative committee on labour provisions in the peace settlement. Other provisions of the resolution deal with the application of the principles and objectives stated to dependent territories. (2) Economic Policies for the Attainment of Social Objectives.- This resolution sets out the general and specific objectives in the light of which both national and international economic policies should be determined in the future. In the sphere of international policy it endorses the establishment of UNRRA; urges the continuation of the existing machinery of international co-ordination and control of supplies as long as it is needed to ensure a fair allocation and to prevent excessive price movements ; supports the establishment of permanent international organizations for food and agriculture, exchange stabilization, and investment"; urges the adoption of those commercial policies which would contribute to the expansion of international trade ; and recommends concerted action among the United Nations to ensure adequate supplies of essential raw materials and foodstuffs at reasonable and stable prices and to ensure to those engaged in the production of the commodities concerned fair wages, satisfactory workingconditions, and adequate social security protection. As to national policies, the Resolution urges the formulation of comprehensive programmes by Governments and employers' and workers' organizations for prompt and orderly reconversion, reconstruction, and economic expansion. Detailed recommendations arc made as to the policies and procedures that should be followed. A separate Resolution requests the Governing Body to examine 'problems involved in labour provisions for internationally financed development works. x (3) Measures for the Protection of Transferred Foreign Workers and of iForeign Workers' and Employers' Organizations.—ln this connection the Conference adopted a resolution recommending that in enemy countries officials identified with totalitarian regimes should be removed from administrative posts dealing with foreign labour power and should be held individually responsible for the preservation of records and documents relating to foreign labour ; that the feeding, accommodation, health, safety, welfare, and general interests of foreign workers should be safeguarded pending their repatriation, and all discriminatory treatment immediately abolished ; that the competent occupation authority should, in matters concerning foreign workers in Axis nations, collaborate with the Governments and trade-unions of Allied countries ; and that arrangements should be made for the restitution of funds or property confiscated by Axis agents in Germany or elsewhere from international and foreign trade-union organizations, co-operatives, and employers' organizations. (D) DECLARATION BY THE DELEGATES OF OCCUPIED COUNTRIES The chief purpose of the representatives of the occupied countries of Europe in presenting this Declaration was to draw attention to the special problems of economic, financial, and social reconstruction with which their nations will be confronted once they have been liberated. The Declaration states that, while the occupied peoples are " minded to undertake themselves, by their own efforts, and under their own responsibility, the great work of national reconstruction," they are aware, nevertheless, " of the parallel need for a concerted effort in the international domain." The hope is expressed that countries which have known neither occupation nor devastation will wish to give the occupied nations priority in the supply of the essential consumption and capital goods required for their economic and social reconstruction. In this connection the Declaration points out that " the rapid reconstruction of the producing and consuming capacity of Europe is . . . indispensable to the return of the prosperity of other countries of the world and more especially to the prosperity of the great producers of raw materials, industrial products, and agricultural produce."

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