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Juan Somavia elected to third term as ILO Director-General
- Says will work to address financial crisis, ensure social justice
Press release 18 November 208
GENEVA (ILO News) -Juan Somavia was elected to a third term as
Director-General of the International Labour Office today, and
pledged to work to ensure social justice amidst a growing series
of challenges in the global economy.
Mr. Somavia, a Chilean who became the first representative of
the Southern Hemisphere to head the ILO when first elected to
the post a decade ago, received 43 of the 56 available votes of
the titular members of the ILO’s Governing Body with 13 abstentions.
The vote was conducted by secret ballot, and there was no other
candidate for the position.
Mr. Somavia is the ninth Director-General to hold the office
in the Organization’s 89-year history and formally begins
his new five-year term in March 2009.
During the past decade, Mr. Somavia has led the organization
on a new course through the promotion of the ILO’s Decent
Work Agenda, which has received support at the highest political
level in all regions of the world as well as across the multilateral
system. Mr. Somavia has also overseen the implementation of the
Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and
Rights at Work adopted in 1998, as well as a massive increase
in the number of ratifications of ILO labour standards.
During his tenure the ILO also adopted a landmark Declaration
on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, in June of this year,
designed to strengthen the tripartite Organization’s capacity
to address the challenges of the 21st century and to promote its
Decent Work Agenda to forge an effective response to globalization.
He has also been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate child
labour and forced labour, end discrimination in the workplace,
and promote adherence to labour standards, employment growth and
sustainable development.
In comments today, Mr. Somavia said: “We stand today at
a significant moment in this Organization’s history. Unemployment
is rising. The crisis continues to batter economies and individuals
across the world. The number of working poor is increasing. And
there is a growing chorus of concern over the balance, fairness
and sustainability of the current model of globalization.”
“Yet the current crisis also reveals the strength and value
of the ILO”, he said. “On the eve of the ILO’s
90th year, we must continue to work for social justice and maintain
and enhance social protection. We must ensure that enterprises
can find the access to credit to avoid layoffs, maintain wages
and find the resources that will permit them to recover. And we
must pursue deeper social dialogue to help move toward long-term
recovery and sustainable development.”
“‘Working for social justice’ is more than just
the theme of our 90th anniversary” he said. “It is our
assessment of the past and our mandate for the future”.
Born on 21 April 1941, Mr. Somavia is an attorney by profession
and has had a long and distinguished career in civil and international
affairs. He has served as both the President of the UN Security
Council and the UN Economic and Social Council. He also was Chairman
of the Preparatory Committee for the 1995 World Summit on Social
Development. His wide experience in all areas of public life –
as a diplomat and academic – and his involvement in social
development, business and civil organizations have helped forge
a vision of the need to secure decent work for women and men throughout
the world.
The Governing Body is the executive body of the International
Labour Office (the Office is the secretariat of the Organization).
It meets three times a year, in March, June and November and takes
decisions on ILO policy, the agenda of the International Labour
Conference and the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization
for submission to the Conference.
It is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers
and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers
and 19 Workers). Ten of the titular government seats are permanently
held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China,
France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation,
the United Kingdom and the United States). The other Government
members are elected by the Conference every three years.
More information: http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_100558/index.htm
