106th session of ILC opens in Geneva

AS Labour Minister inaugurates Committee; Urges Nigeria to harnesses gains

The 106th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) opened in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, with a strong mandate to Nigerian delegations to harness the gains of the conference.

This year’s session brings together over 4,000 delegates from around the globe to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world of work today.

The session, which holds between June 5 and 16 2017, will focus on Shaping the world of work; including migration.

In today’s globalised world, labour migration is a rising policy priority. Economic hardship and geopolitical crises leading to the lack of decent work are resulting in growing and diverse migratory movements.

This is why this year’s International Labour Conference (ILC) will hold a general discussion on labour migration governance and fair recruitment. The discussion is expected to make a major contribution to the global debate on migration and a possible new global compact of the United Nations on migration.

Another item on the conference agenda is expected to support ILO efforts around the globe to promote decent work for people in countries emerging from conflict or disaster: the revision of ILO Recommendation 71 on employment and decent work for resilience.

Two other issues to be discussed at this year’s ILC include green jobs, the theme of the report of the ILO Director-General to the conference, and the adaptation of international labour standards to new realities in the world of work.

Meanwhile, Nigerian delegations have started arriving in Geneva, with the Labour Group, led by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, arrived on Sunday, while the leader of Nigerian Delegations, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige will arrive in Geneva today.

Before Nigerian delegations left for Geneva, the Federal Government has inaugurated membership of various committees on the ILC to articulate the position of Nigeria at the 2017 IILC.

This, according to the Deputy Director (Press) in the ministry, Prince Samuel Olowookere, is to ensuring that Nigeria is effectively represented and maximally harness the gains of the conference.

While inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Dr Ngige said the idea is for Nigeria delegations, be it from labour, employers or government, to represent the country well.

He said Nigeria is going to the conference at a very critical period when the nation is just coming out of recession, and emphasised the need for Nigeria to be re-admitted into the Governing Board of the International Labour Organisation.

On the issue Nigeria presence on the board of ILO Governance Board, the minister revealed that his Ministry’s ground work and diplomatic shuttle in this regards has yielded positive result.

He stated that Nigeria candidacy into the Governing Body has been approved by other African countries.

The minister said  “We, therefore, have to harness all resources as a country, hence my ministry thought it is imperative for Nigeria to get back to the Governing Board of the ILO.

“We have started the ground work and diplomatic shuttle and I am happy to announce to you that we are going to Geneva this time around with Nigeria having been nominated by other African countries under the auspices of Africa Union Commission for a place in the Governing Board of ILO with all the attendant benefits that accrue to countries that are in the Governing Body. We are going to represent West Africa at the Governing Board meeting. ”

Ngige added that the meeting will be very momentous for Nigeria as a lot of benefits will accrue to Nigeria in terms of technical assistance, human and material resources that will assist the nation’s drive towards economic recovery.

The inaugurated committees include: Committee on the Application of Standards, Committee for Labour Migration, Committee on Employment and Decent Work for the Transition to Peace, Committee for the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Finance.