DHAKA, March 25, 2022 (BSS) - The International Labour

Organization (ILO) Governing Body has elected Gilbert F.
Houngbo as its 11th Director-General (DG) for five-year term,
who will take office in October 2022.

According to a message received here today, Houngbo is
currently President of the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD).

He was elected by the ILO’s Governing Body, comprising
representatives of governments, workers and employers, during
their meeting in Geneva.

The newly elected DG will be the first African to hold the post of
ILO, it said.

Speaking after his election, Houngbo said, “Although my origins
are African my perspective is global. In an age, unfortunately of
dividedness, my commitment to be a unifying Director-General
stands firm… I will be the Director-General of nobody and the
Director-General of everybody.

 “Governments, employers and
workers alike from all regions across the world can rely and
should rely on my total readiness to represent and advocate the
views of all tripartite constituents of the organization.”

“I commit to represent the voices of those who rely on us in ILO.
I’m thinking about the four billion people around the world who
do not have access to social protection. I’m thinking about the
200-plus million of women and men who face unemployment.”

“The 160 million children in child labour. The 1.6 billion people
in the informal sector. The enterprises, particularly the small
and medium sized enterprises that are facing supply chain
disruption or closure due to crises’ including the pandemic,
climate change and armed conflict.”

 “I’m thinking about the women and men who face discrimination, violence and harassment in the workplace and elsewhere. These are all expressions of unacceptable social injustice that we are morally if not legally bound to address.”

The new Director-General’s five-year term will begin on 1
October 2022. The current Director-General, Guy Ryder, from
the United Kingdom, has held the office since 2012.

The ILO’s Governing Body is composed of 56 titular members
(28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66
deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19
Workers).

 The Employer and Worker members are elected in their individual capacity.

 The ILO is the oldest specialized agency of the UN. It was founded in 1919 and has a mandate to promote decent work for all. It has 187 Member States, the release added.