What will 3D printing mean for the world of work?

Posted on 14 March 2014 by ILO Blog

David Seligson, ILO Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Specialist

3D printing is poised to revolutionize the manufacturing industry. What impact will that have on today’s manufacturing jobs?

My wife drives a Honda, which we bought second-hand. But if I wanted to, today I could print a new life-sized or miniature Honda at home, using a 3D printer and computer files which are freely available at Honda’s website.

OK, it wouldn’t be a real car but a plastic model — which is usually what comes to mind when people think about 3D printing. Now that’s starting to change. Continue reading →

Five things everyone should know about work and HIV

Posted on 28 February 2014 by ILO Blog

Yahir Zavaleta Rocha, HIV Programme Director for Espolea

I was first diagnosed with HIV when I was 22. I had successfully completed an apprenticeship at a private company in Mexico and was about to be hired when I was told that I was not “medically suitable” for the job.

I remember asking myself: “Does this mean that I cannot be efficient at what I am doing because I am living with HIV?” Continue reading →

Life at sea: Sailing with the Maritime Labour Convention

Posted on 19 February 2014 by ILO Blog

Marco Minocri, ILO Communications Officer

We had arrived in China at just about the same time as Typhoon Utor.

Which was a bit of a problem, since our cameraman Damien Riunaud and I had travelled to Shenzhen to board the Singapore-bound APL Boston container ship and produce video footage documenting life at sea.

Continue reading →