Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Former ITUC General Secretary Elected as ILO Director-General

1. Prior to the 101st Session of the ILO Conference, an election to elect a successor of Mr. Juan Somavia, current Director-General of the ILO, was held at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 28 and Mr. Guy Ryder, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was brilliantly succeeded in the election. Mr. Guy Ryder will start his five-year term as Director-General on October 1, 2012. It is the first outstanding achievement since the foundation of the ILO in 1919 that the person from the trade union movement has been elected as the Director-General of the ILO. RENGO would like to congratulate him on his success together with the workers and trade unions around the world.
   
   
2. The election this time was a severe one with nine candidates standing from Asia, Africa, Central and South America and Europe. The international trade union movement acted in concert and made a strong approach for the victory of Mr. Guy Ryder as the most appropriate candidate. RENGO also made all possible efforts for his election as one of the members of the ITUC. In the election by secret ballot by the titular members of the ILO tripartite governing body, Mr. Guy Ryder could get many votes cast by other members besides the workers’ members. It can be rightly said that his election was the result of expectations shown to his ability to solve employment and labor issues which many countries face.
   
   
3. The most urgent issue to be tackled today in the midst of developing globalization is to realize a fair and sustainable society. For that purpose, it is essential to strive for a policy conversion to a new economic and social model which is accompanied with high-quality employment. In that sense, the role which the ILO should play is very important. We firmly believe that Mr. Guy Ryder who is backed with the experiences of having borne a heavy responsibility in the international trade union movement and puts importance upon setting international labour standards and supervising their applications will certainly meet the expectations of the workers all over the world.
   
   
4. RENGO will play its role and bear its responsibility as a member of the international trade union movement so as to secure decent work for all workers, while positively participating in the ILO activities under the leadership of new Director-General.