GENEVA – The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) elected Ms Misako Kaji as Chairperson for 2015-16.

Misako Kaji, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva replaces Apolinário Jorge Correia, Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations in Geneva, who served as Governing Body Chairperson since June 2014.

Ms Kaji looks back at a long diplomatic career in the Japanese Foreign Service, including assignments with the United Nations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Union.

Jørgen Rønnest, Director, International Affairs, Danish Federation of Employers was re-elected as Employer Vice-chairperson. Luc Cortebeeck, President of the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions in Belgium, was re-elected Workers’ Vice-chairperson. The two vice-chairs will also serve as spokespersons of their respective groups.

The three will serve as Officers of the Governing Body during the period 2015-16.

Labour rights

The Governing Body also dealt with two complaints concerning the non-observance by Fiji and Guatemala of ILO Convention No.87 on Freedom of Association and the Protection of the Right to Organize.

In the case of Fiji, the Governing Body urged the Government to review its labour laws through the Employment Relations Advisory Board to ensure compliance with ILO core Conventions and decided to consider at its November 2015 session the establishment of a commission of inquiry.

In the case of Guatemala, the Governing Body urged the Government to implement the roadmap to legislative reforms aligning the country's legislation with ILO Convention No.87. Among the priority issues that require urgent action, the Governing Body noted the investigation, prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators of all trade unionist killings, the unimpeded registration of trade unions and a wide-scale awareness-rising campaign on freedom of association and collective bargaining.

The 324th Session of the Governing Body also considered a range of other business, including a report of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.

The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Organization (the Office is the secretariat of the Organization). It meets three times a year, in March, June and November, and takes decisions on ILO policy, the agenda of the International Labour Conference , and the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference.

It is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers). Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States). The other Government members, and the worker and employer members, are elected by the Conference every three years.