November 18th, 2008, witnessed the election of Juan Somavia for a third term as Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO). Juan Somavia has helped to lead the ILO into the era of decent work. During Mr Somavia’s previous two terms, many of ILO’s labour standards were ratified by Member States, thus introducing ILO standards into their own national legislation. Mr Somavia has also supervised the implementation of ILO’s core declarations.

During the past decade, the ILO International Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork) has also had major turning points, two of which were the launch of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health in 2003, and of the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), and its associated Recommendation, 2006 (No. 197), both adopted in 2006. Mr Somavia formally begins his third five-year term in March 2009. He has vowed to make sure social justice remains an important factor in the emerging challenges in the global economy.

This is apparent in the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, adopted in June of this year, in which workplace safety and health is mentioned as a requisite for a fair globalization.

Concerning the present financial crisis, Mr Somavia said: “Yet the current crisis also reveals the strength and value of the ILO... On the eve of the ILO’s 90th year, we must continue to work for social justice and maintain and enhance social protection...” Therefore, as safety and health at work continue to be given a high priority in the ILO’s agendas of decent work and social justice, SafeWork can be considered fortunate in having the full support of Mr Somavia, echoed clearly in the past and future mandate of the ILO.

For more information, see the Press release, ILO Department of Communication and Public Information.