GENEVA (ACTRAV INFO) – Catelene Passchier, Workers’ delegate from the Netherlands, has been elected President of the Workers’ Group of the International Labour Organization at its 330th Session, for a three-year term.


"It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to represent the workers of the world at the ILO, which is of such importance for the protection of workers, their fundamental rights at work and their aspirations for decent work and decent lives”, said Ms. Catelene Passchier after her election.

Among challenges to be addressed, Catelene Passchier stressed the importance of tripartism which gave a unique role to the ILO.

“We all know that fighting for workers’ rights is not easy in today’s world, and that some employers and governments are challenging the very foundations of the ILO, especially when it comes to its unique tripartite nature and normative framework. The ILO is the only international institution where workers really have a seat at the table on an equal footing with employers. It is one of our crucial tasks for the years to come, when the ILO will celebrate its hundred years anniversary, to preserve this unique position and build on it for the future of work, which must provide for more decent work and more equality for millions of workers and their families in the world. In this, women will have an important role to play, and I am proud to be the second woman to lead the workers group at the ILO. ”

Catelene Passchier was until recently vice president of the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) and responsible for international and European policy, ILO matters, international trade policy, labour law and industrial relations, worker participation, migration, and equality. Between 2003-2010, she was elected Confederal Secretary on the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Ms Passchier has served as member of the Governing Body since 2014 and was workers’ spokesperson of the Committee on the Labour Migration during the 106th International Labour Conference.

The Governing Body also re-elected Ms Raquel Gonzalez, currently Director of the International Trade Union Confederation Geneva Office, as Workers’ Group Secretary.

On 12 June 2017, on the fringes of the 106th session of the International Labour Conference, 122 government, employer and worker delegates, were elected to the Governing Body of ILO for a three-year term (2017-2020).

The Governing Body, composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers), is the executive body of the International Labour Office. The Governing Body takes decisions on ILO policy, sets the agenda of the International Labour Conference, and drafts the programme and budget for the Organization before they are submitted to the Conference. It meets three times a year, in March, June and November.

For more information, please contact:

Mamadou Kaba Souare, Communications Officer,
ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities- Geneva,
+41 22 799 74 08, souare@ilo.org