ILO annual Conference gets underway with election of officers

GENEVA (ILO News) - The 95th Session of the International Labour Conference, which will run here till 16 June, opened today, electing as its President Mr. Cestmir Sajda, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Referring to the Czech Republic as one of the 42 founding members of the ILO, the President stressed in his address the fact that "the ILO has retained its relevance in a changing world".

The Conference elected as Vice-Presidents Mrs. Aisha Abdel Hady (Governments), Mr. Jorge de Regil (Employers) and Mr. N.M. Adyanthaya (Workers). Mrs. Abdel Hady is the Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt, Mr. de Regil is the employers' delegate from Mexico, and Mr. Adyanthaya is the workers' delegate from India.

Delegates to the International Labour Conference are to consider a wide range of issues. These include progress in efforts to end child labour, the labour situation in Myanmar and other countries, and international labour standards on occupational safety and health, the employment relationship and labour inspection.

The annual Conference draws some 3,000 delegates, including labour ministers and leaders of workers' and employers' organizations from most of the ILO's 178 member States.