GENEVA - The ILO Governing Body elected Philippe Séguin, Government delegate of France, as Chairperson for its 2004-05 Session. The 290th Session of the Governing Body also considered a range of other business, including a report of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.
Philippe Séguin replaces H.E. Eui-Yong Chung, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, who served as Governing Body Chairperson during the 2003-04 Session. Mr. Séguin was French Minister for Social Affairs and Employment from 1986 to 1988 and President of the National Assembly from 1993 to 1997. He has been the delegate of the French Government to the ILO Governing Body since 2002.
Sir Leroy Trotman, General Secretary, Barbados Workers' Union and spokesperson of the Workers' Group in the Governing Body, was re-elected Workers' Vice-chairperson. Daniel Funes de Rioja, President of the Social Policy Department of the Argentine Industrial Union and Chairman of the Employers' Group of the Organization of American States from 1995 to 1998, was re-elected as Employer Vice-chairperson.
The three will serve as Officers of the Governing Body during its 2004-05 Session. The Governing Body is the executive council of the ILO and meets three times annually in Geneva. It takes decisions on policy and establishes the programme and budget of the 177 member States Organization.
Director-General offers proposals for fair globalization
The Governing Body received proposals on how the ILO can effectively and efficiently address key issues raised by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization in its report published in February 2004, and considered the debates at the 92nd International Labour Conference on the issue
"The message of the Commission to the ILO is that, given our mandate and our constituency, we have a special role in promoting a fair globalization," said Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO. "The debate in this year's [International Labour] Conference suggests to me that the ILO's constituents are ready to rise to this challenge."
Mr. Somavia outlined proposals designed to meet the challenges posed by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, which issued a landmark report on the global economy and its social elements in February of this year. He said these proposals, which include a new strategic policy framework, and programme and budget for the period 2006-09 would provide concrete guidelines on "how the ILO can effectively and efficiently address key issues raised by the Commission which fall within its mandate, and which have received support in the Governing Body and the Conference".
"The debate in the Conference was wide and rich," Mr. Somavia said. "The point of departure is to note that the political impact of the World Commission's report has gone - probably - beyond all expectations. The message that decent work must be a global goal is still echoing."
These new policy guidelines were to be discussed by the Governing Body at its next meeting in November.