Maravi

ILO needs leader with passion, says Shamenda

ILO needs leader with passion, says Shamenda
By Moses Kuwema
Tue 29 May 2012, 13:28 CAT

LABOUR minister Fackson Shamenda says the International Labour Organisation needs a director general with passion, zeal and commitment in addressing youth unemployment and other challenges faced by member states.

According to a statement by the press and public relations unit of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour, Shamenda who spoke ahead of yesterday's voting at the ILO headquarters in Geneva and was expected to cast a vote on behalf of the Zambian government in the election of the new director general of ILO, said what was important was to vote for the right person.

Nine candidates were vying to succeed the current director general, Juan Somavia, who retires this September after 14 years at the helm of the organisation.

The candidates included Charles Dan of Benin, Ibrahim Assane Mayaki of Niger and Senegal's Assane Diop.

Others are Britain's Guy Ryder, Angelina Garzon of Columbia, Gilles de Robien of France, Ad Melkert of the Netherlands, Malaysia's Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Mona Sahlin of Sweden.

This is the highest number of candidates for the position of director general in the ILO's 89 year history.

Zambia is a member of the ILO governing body which, among other responsibilities, elects the director general of the ILO every five years.

The governing body comprises 56 regular members that include 28 governments, 14 employers and 14 workers, 66 deputy members that include 28 governments, 19 employers and 19 workers.

Labels: FACKSON SHAMENDA, ILO

posted by MrK @ 3:23 PM