Swiss government holds talks with ILO director-general

Swiss cabinet members on Tuesday presented the International Labour Organisation’s Director-General Juan Somavia with the ratification documents on two key ILO conventions.

Swiss cabinet members on Tuesday presented the International Labour Organisation’s Director-General Juan Somavia with the ratification documents on two key ILO conventions.

The formal handover of the documents came during talks in the Swiss capital Berne, where Somavia was welcomed by President Ruth Dreifuss, Economics Minister Pascal Couchepin and Finance Minister Kaspar Villiger.

The government presented Somavia with the documents for the ILO’s right to organise and collective bargaining convention as well as the minimum age convention.
Both were ratified by the Swiss parliament in March.

Ratification of the convention banning the worst forms of child labour — which was approved by the ILO in June — was also being prepared, the government said Tuesday.

The Swiss economics ministry underlined the importance of the Geneva-based ILO, describing it as one of the top world institutions, along with the World Trade Organisation and the Bretton Woods Institutions.

Geneva will host the International Labour Conference next year, when social development pledges will top the agenda.
In June, the ILO’s executive council, known as the Governing Body, elected Jean-Jacques Elmiger of Switzerland as its chairman for the 1999-2000 session.


From staff and wire reports.