Caribbean Leader to address 96th International Labour Conference
More than 3,000 government-, worker- and employer- leaders will be conferring until 15th June for the annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) at Geneva to discuss issues ranging from decent work and development to child labour in agriculture, work in the fishing sector, equality at work, forced labour and the promotion of sustainable enterprises.
Six heads of State and government and two crown princes will honour the Conference with their presence this year.
The Rt. Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, and the President of the Republic of Senegal, will address the ILO?s world parliament of labour on 12 June.
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia will provide delegates with an overview of ILO issues and concerns in an address on June 11. The Director-General will also present a new report on ?Decent work for sustainable development? which examines more effective ways of implementing a balanced approach to sustainable development, within which its social, economic and environmental pillars are fully integrated.
The Conference will also focus on child labour in agriculture on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June.
At the closing plenary of the Conference on 15 June, the first annual ILO Decent Work Research Prize will be awarded to Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa and Nobel Peace Laureate, and Dr. Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Professor Emeritus on Economics and Latin American Studies of the University of Pittsburgh, United States.
Each member country has the right to send four delegates to the Conference in Geneva: two from government and one each representing workers and employers, each of whom may speak and vote independently.
