ILO annual Conference elects officers

GENEVA (ILO News) – The 96th Session of the International Labour Conference, which will run here till 15 June, elected as its President Mr. Kastriot Sulka, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of Albania.

The Conference elected as Vice-Presidents H.E. Mr. Carlos Antonio da Rocha Paranhos (Governments), Mr. Michel Barde (Employers) and Mr. Marc Blondel (Workers). Ambassador Da Rocha Paranhos is Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Brazil in Geneva. Mr. Barde is the employers’ delegate from Switzerland. Mr. Blondel is a member of the ILO Governing Body and the workers’ delegate from France.

The annual Conference draws some 3,000 delegates and advisers, including labour ministers and leaders of workers’ and employers’ organizations from the ILO’s 180 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.