CHIEF DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNICATION

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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF AMENDMENT
TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
ORGANISATION (ILO)
PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC
AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ON THE RATIFICATION OF
THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
ORGANISATION (ILO)
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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• BACKGROUND
• In 1986 the International Labour Conference
  discussed and adopted an Instrument of Amendment
  proposing changes that affect 11 of the 40
  articles within the Constitution of the
  International Labour Organisation (ILO).
• The main objective of the proposed Amendment is
  to make membership of the Governing Body of the
  International Labour Organisation more
  representative by providing a means of
  appointment that takes into account the various
  geographic, economic and social interests of its
  constituent groups.

Chief Directorate Communication 2011.00.00
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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• BACKGROUND Cont.
• With this Amendment members of the Governing Body
  will increase to 112 - and the manner of their
  allocation will also be affected.
• Of these 56 seats are allocated to government
  representatives, 28 each will be allocated to
  employers' and workers' representatives. There
  would no longer be seats guaranteed for the
  member States of chief industrial importance.

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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT
• The Amendment addresses four main areas
• The composition and governance of the Governing
  Body of the Office
• The principal reasons for proposing the
  amendment were to give the Governing Body a more
  representative membership by providing a means
  of appointment of its members that took into
  account in a more contemporary manner the
  various geographic, economic and social
  interests of its constituent groups.
• The procedure for appointment of the
  Director-General
• The Director-General of the ILO would continue
  to be appointed by the Governing Body but the
  appointment would be submitted to the
  International Labour Conference for approval.

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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT Cont.
• Voting at the International Labour Conference
  and
• Constitutional provisions relating to
  international labour conventions and
  recommendations would require three-fourths of
  the votes cast and would have to be ratified by
  three-quarters of the Members for it to come
  into effect.
• Rules governing how the Constitution may be
  amended.
• Any amendment to the Constitution, will require
  two-thirds of votes cast and ratification by
  two-thirds of the Members would be required to
  take effect.

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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• THE AFRICAN GROUP DELIBERATIONS
• The composition of the Governing Body has been of
  significant interest to the African Group. The
  Group has been actively engaged in deliberations
  within the International Labour Organisation
  governance structures on ways to address the
  historical geographical imbalance in regional
  representation on the Governing Body.
• The African Group was clear and unanimous in its
  view that Africa has been historically
  discriminated against in terms of the composition
  of the Governing Body. The Group also agreed that
  the 1986 Amendment represents the ultimate goal
  of equitable, non-discriminatory representation
  of all regions within the Governing Body.

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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• ENDORSEMENTS
• The ratification of the ILO instrument was
  endorsed by
• The African Renaissance Committee on 21 May
  2013
• The International Cooperation Trade and Security
  (ICTS) cluster on 21 July 2013 and
• The National Economic Development and Labour
  Council (NEDLAC).
• Cabinet

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RATIFICATION OF THE 1986 INSTRUMENT OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• RATIFICATION OF INSTRUMENT OF AMENDMENT
• As at 03 February 2014, ratification stands at
  102 Member States, including two of Chief
  Industrial Importance (India and Italy). In this
  regard, entry into force of the 1986 Amendment
  requires a further 22 ratifications including at
  least three more from the States of Chief
  Industrial Importance.
• 44 African countries have ratified the
  Instrument.
• THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR REQUESTS
• The approval by the Labour Portfolio Committee
  with the view to finalise the ratification
  process.

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Thank You