GENEVA (ILO News) - The 87 ^th Session of the International Labour Conference opens on Tuesday, 1 ^st June 1999 at the United Nations Assembly Hall in Geneva and will remain in session until Thursday, 17 June.

A Press Release providing full details of the Conference agenda will be distributed on Monday, 31 ^st May. The telephone and fax numbers of the ILO PRESSE team, which will be operating out of the Palais des Nations as of Monday, 31 ^st May are printed on the overleaf. All Conference documents will be available on that afternoon.

The opening plenary session in the Assembly Hall of the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva will elect the Conference President.

Journalists registered with the UN Information Service at Geneva require no further accreditation. Visiting journalists are requested to obtain accreditation from the ILO PRESSE service in the Palais des Nations as of 31 ^st May in room A-563 above the Assembly Hall.

The Conference proceedings are recorded and video/radio feeds are available for international broadcasts. Photographers and camera crews have access to the Plenary Hall. Journalists requiring video/audiovisual material should contact Mr. Miguel Schapira at the ILO PRESSE office.

The Conference this year will host two distinguished guests of honour who will address special sittings in the Assembly Hall.

Her Excellency Madam Ruth Dreifuss, President of the Swiss Confederation, will address the Conference on 8 ^th June at 3 p.m.

His Excellency Mr. Henri Konan Bédié, President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, will address the Conference delegates on 10 ^th June at 10 a.m.

Mr. Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize for economics winner in 1998, will address the Conference on 15 ^th June at 4.30 p.m.

Other high-level participants are expected and the details of their participation at the Conference will be announced as soon as confirmed.

Among the important roles of Conference is the election of new members of the ILO Governing Body, which will take place on 7 ^th June. The period of office of the Governing Body is three years. The elections will select the 18 Governments which have elective seats and the 14 employers and 14 workers members of the Governing Body. Ten out of the total of 56 members of the Governing Body are appointed by member States of chief industrial importance holding permanent seats.

PRESSE Staff

Contact names and phone numbers during the Conference