GENEVA (ILO News) ─ The 97th Session of the International Labour Conference, which will run here till 13 June, opened today, electing as its President Mr. Edwin Salamín Jaén, Minister of Labour and Labour Development of Panama.

“This conference brings together the world’s highest labour authorities to discuss, analyze and resolve the most serious problems affecting working people. We must deal with important issues such as the promotion of rural employment for poverty reduction, the increase of productivity, employment growth and development, as well as strengthening the ILO’s capacity”, said Mr. Salamín Jaén.

The Conference elected as Vice-Presidents Mr. Tayeb Louh (Governments), Mr. Ashraf W. Tabani (Employers) and Ms Rabiatou Sérah Diallo (Workers). Mr. Louh is Algeria’s Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Mr. Tabani is the President of the Employer’s Federation of Pakistan. Ms Sérah Diallo is the Secretary General of the National Confederation of Workers (CNTG) of Guinea.

The annual Conference draws some 3,000 delegates and advisers, including labour ministers and leaders of workers’ and employers’ organizations from the ILO’s 181 member States. Each member State has the right to send four delegates to the Conference: two from government and one each representing workers and employers, each of whom may speak and vote independently.

The role of the International Labour Conference is to adopt and oversee compliance with international labour standards, set policy for the Organization, establish the budget of the Organization and elect members of the Governing Body. Since 1919, the Conference has served as a major international forum for debate on social and labour questions of worldwide importance.