Gilbert Hungpo was the first African to head the ILO
The former Togo Prime Minister was elected this Friday as the Director-General of the International Labor Organization. He will succeed Britain’s Guy Rider.
Togolese Gilbert Hungpo (second from left) will become the 11th Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva. (Illustrated photo)
Keystone / AB / Alastair Grant
The International Labor Organization (ILO) is set to appoint an African for the first time next October. Former Togolese Prime Minister Gilbert Hungbo, 61, has been appointed after two rounds of voting in Geneva on Friday. General Manager.
With many functions in international organizations, Gilbert Hungbo is the most beloved, elected by 30 of the 56 members of the board of directors formed by governments, employers and unions. He is currently the Chairman of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and was the Deputy Director General of the ILO.
He specifically highlighted his desire to extend funding for the struggle against social work or social security for more than 150 million children in the world. On Friday, he pledged to 187 member states after his election to “make no effort to meet expectations” in the face of the uncertainties currently prevailing in the world.
Select “Historical”
He praised the “symbol” of this name. “Africa had no seat at the table when the ILO adopted its constitution in 1919,” he said of the “historic” choice.
“I will not be the CEO of anyone, I will be the CEO of everyone,” he stressed, promising to unite the working world. Workers and employers want an effective ILO, he said.
He thanked the current chief executive, the British trade unionist Guy Ryder, for joining the affiliate in 2013. Of the four candidates facing Gilbert Houngbo, Mthuzi Mdwaba, vice-president of the ILO and representative of the International Organization for Employers (IOE), Mthuzi Mdwaba from South Africa, was not supported by his government.
Two women were expelled
Of the two women running, South Korea is the first woman in her country to hold this position, having ambushed her former foreign minister, Kyung-wa. But reports from People say that’s just what’s happening.
Another rival, former French Labor Minister Muriel Benigad, led an intense campaign, but amassed a number of obstacles. First of all, Europe led the ILOs, much like the American continent. Another problem is that Muriel Pénicaud is not supported by the unions in his country and is often ridiculed for his public interventions.
Australian player Greg Vines was eliminated in the first round. He served as Deputy General Manager and later as Chairman of the Oversight Committee. He said he was a “consensus” candidate.
Waiting for the restart
For the first time in five years, Togolis is the third African to head a major international body in Geneva. Ethiopia’s Tetros Adonom Capreos will be re-appointed as Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) next May, following the death of Nigerian Nakoshi Okonjo-Ivela, who will head the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Gilbert Houngbo was appointed for a five-year term. He is particularly eager to support governments, employers and unions in recovering from the epidemic.
The head of the federation, Ignacio Casis, recently said at the start of a meeting on the issue that the international community must unite for a “new world after Govt.” He called for diversity that connects labor, health, the environment, trade and security.
The UN and the ILO have launched a mechanism to finance 400 million additional jobs and social security for billions of people. People-centered recovery will range from decent jobs to green jobs to reasonable access to the corona virus vaccine.
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