A.—sc.

Recommendation (No. 50) concerning International Co-operation in respect of Public Works. The General Conference of the International Labour Organization, Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and having met in its Twenty-third Session on 3rd June, 1937, and Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to international co-operation in respect of public works, which is included in the third item on the agenda of the session, and Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of a recommendation, adopts, this twenty-second day of June, of the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven, the following recommendation, which may be cited as the Public Works (International Co-operation) Recommendation, 1937 : Whereas the advance planning of public works is a useful method of preventing unemployment and counteracting economic fluctuations : and whereas action for this purpose can be effective only if it is based on adequate information and international co-operation : The Conference recommends that — 1. Each member of the International Labour Organization should communicate annually to the International Labour Office, on the most suitable date, statistical and other information concerning public works undertaken or planned on its territory, including orders for plant, equipment, and supplies. 2. The information communicated by members in accordance with paragraph 1 should be supplied as far as possible in accordance with a uniform plan relating more particularly to the expenditure involved, the method of financing the works, and the number of workers engaged. 3. Each member should co-operate in the work of any international committee which may be set up by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office for the purpose, more particularly, of studying the information communicated in accordance with paragraph 1 and preparing the uniform plan referred to in paragraph 2. 4. Each member should carefully consider what action to take on the basis of any reports which the Governing Body of the International Labour Office may send it as a result of the discussions of the Committee contemplated by paragraph 3. Recommendation (No. 51) concerning the National Planning op Public Works. The General Conference of the International Labour Organization, Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and having met in its Twenty-third Session on 3rd June, 1937, and Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to the national planning of public works, which is included in the third item on the agenda of the session, and Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of a Recommendation, adopts, this twenty-second day of June, of the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven, the following recommendation, which may be cited as the Public Works (National Planning) Recommendation, 1937 : Whereas in the absence of advance planning expenditure on public works tends to increase in years of prosperity and to diminish in years of depression : Whereas fluctuations in the volume of employment of workers engaged on public works are thereby superimposed on the fluctuations in the volume of employment arising out of commercial demand, thus aggravating successively the shortage of certain classes of workers in periods of prosperity and the extent of unemployment in periods of depression : Whereas it is desirable to time public works in such a way as to reduce industrial fluctuations as far as possible : Whereas the uniform application of such a policy of timing to all public works involves the co-ordination of the administrative and financial methods applied by the various authorities : and whereas it is also desirable, if public works are to be fully effective as a remedy for unemployment, that measures should be adopted relating to the conditions of recruitment and employment of the workers engaged on the work : The Conference recommends that each member should apply the following principles : — Part I. —Timing of Public Works. 1. (1) Appropriate measures should be adopted for the purpose of achieving a suitable timing of all works undertaken or financed by public authorities. (2) This timing should involve an increase in the volume of such works in periods of depression, and for this purpose it is desirable to provide for the preparation in advance, during periods of prosperity, of works capable of being held in reserve or exceeding ordinary requirements, and which should be ready for execution as soon as the need is felt. (3) Special attention should be paid to public works which stimulate heavy industries or public works which create a more direct demand for consumers' goods as changing economic conditions may require. 2. The policy of timing public works should apply to all such works (including works in colonies) undertaken by central authorities, regional or local authorities, public-utility undertakings, or any body or individual in receipt of subsidies or loans from a public authority. 3. There should be established a national co-ordinating body the duties of which should be, more particularly — (a) To centralize information relating to the various kinds of public works : (b) To ensftre or encourage the preparation of works in advance ; and (c) To give instructions or advice as to when works should be held in reserve and when works held in reserve should be undertaken, account being taken of fluctuations in the volume of unemployment, changes in the index of wholesale prices, changes in the rate of interest, and any changes in other indices which indicate an alteration in the economic situation.

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