A delegation of the IFTU participated in the 92nd ILO conference, which opened on 1 June 2004 in the ILO international Offices in Geneva.
The delegation was composed of Mr Al Dlimi, Mahal Hardan, the second Vice-President, Mr Ali Kamel Aziz, an executive member and Abdullah Muhsin, the IFTU foreign representative based in London.
The Iraqi government delegation to the ILO conference consisted of Mr Nori Marza Jaafar, Under Secretary of the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry and a representative of the Employers' Body.
After the election of the President and two Vice-Presidents, the conference split into five committees: Standing Orders Committee, Committee on work in the fishing sector, Human Resources Committee, Resolution Committee and Committee on migrant workers. The IFTU actively participated in the Standing Orders and the Resolution Committees.
During the conference, the IFTU also met with several national trade union centres.
Mr Mahal Al Diliami and Abdullah Muhsin met Mr Yu Lae-Soub, Mr Kang, the Vice-President and the International Secretary of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU).
The meeting focused on the presence of Korean troops in Iraq and the proposal for an additional 600 soldiers to go to Iraq to help with humanitarian needs for construction, and for medical aid. The meeting also discussed the 30 June transfer of power to the Iraqis, the role of the UN and the proposed draft UN resolution on Iraq.
Both sides agreed that the occupation of Iraq must now end, that the UN must take leading role in the rebuilding of Iraq and that real power and sovereignty must be handed to the transitional Iraqi government established on 30 June 2004.
The Korean Vice-President also discussed the FKTU’s invitation for the IFTU to send a delegation to South Korea, as had previously been raised with Hadi Ali, first Vice-President of the IFTU and Abdullah Muhsin during the Spanish CCOO conference .
The IFTU also met with Jim Catterson of the global oil union federation ICEM to follow up issues raised during the IFTU meeting with ICEM General Secretary, Mr Fred Higgs and Jim Catterson in Brussels on 30 May, including the invitation of four leaders of the Iraqi Oil and Gas Union and Abdullah Muhsin to meet the ICEM leadership and member unions in Brussels in August.
Both sides agreed on the importance of holding the August seminar. The ICEM also informed the IFTU of its wishes to follow up this seminar with a visit by the ICEM General Secretary to Iraq.
The IFTU delegation also met with Mr Randall Howered, the General Secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (SATAWU) which is part of the South African COSATU trade union federation. Mr Mahal Al Delimi and Abdullah Muhsin outlined the latest developments.
The IFTU also met Mr Harry Kamberis of the AFL-CIO Solidarity Centre and Shwana Bader responsible for their Washington office. Also present were Mr Kheireddine Bouslah, Programme Officer of the Solidarity Centre in Amman, Jordan.
Mr Mahal Al Delimi, the second vice president met with Mr Benzi, the international officer of CGIL. Mr Mahal outlined the latest developments.
Abdullah Muhsin also held a brief meeting with Mr Benzi of the Italian confederation, the CGIL to discuss further issues raised in Rome Italy during the IFTU visit to CGIL and FIOM in April 2004, led by Hadi Ali and Abdullah Muhsin.
Mr Benzi informed Abdullah Muhsin of the wishes of CGIL to visit Iraq in September to increase their understanding of the IFTU’s situation.
The IFTU held several brief meetings with Walid Hamdon the ILO Regional Officer in Lebanon. Mr Hamdon said he was ready to help.
The International Centre of Trade Union Rights (ICTUR) invited the IFTU to speak at a meeting organized by the Centre on 12 June at the ILO Headquarters.
ICTUR also invited Mr Puertro Miguel, a Colombian human rights campaigner.
Mr Abdullah Muhsin will speak at the meeting referring to the IFTU’s progress on the ground and the current political process, including the formation of Iraq's transitional government and the restoration of Iraq's full sovereignty.
Posted at June 9, 2004 08:45 PM