The Australian Government has announced the nomination of Greg Vines as Australia’s candidate for the International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General.
In endorsing Mr Vines, Attorney-General for Australia and Minister for Industrial Relations Michaelia Cash said Australia is strongly committed to the ILO – the specialist tripartite labour agency of the United Nations that brings together governments, employers and workers from across the globe.
“Australia recognises the critical role that the multilateral system plays in helping to address global challenges, protecting the rules and norms that underpin Australia’s security and prosperity, and maintaining agreed international labour standards,” she said.
The ILO sets international labour standards, promotes decent work and develops policies and programmes in support of social justice.
Having spent almost a decade as the Deputy Director-General of the ILO for Management and Reform, Minister Cash said Mr Vines has demonstrated leadership, and delivered significant organisational reform and governance improvements.
“Mr Vines is an extremely well-qualified candidate for Director-General and if successful, would be the first Director-General from the Indo-Pacific region,” she said.
Mr Vines has a positive vision for the ILO that fosters social justice by pursuing decent work, achieving gender equality and supporting the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nominations for the Director-General elections close on 1 October 2021. The election will be held in Geneva on 25 March 2022. The elected Director-General will commence in the role on 1 October 2022.
“Under my leadership, the International Labour Organization will prioritise a human-centred recovery from the pandemic that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient,” Mr Vines said.
Australia was a founding member when the ILO formed in 1919 and has always played an active role in its operations. The Australian Government has held a seat on the Governing Body of the ILO almost continuously since 1945. The Governing Body is the executive board of the ILO. It makes decisions on ILO policy, programme and budget, and sets the agenda for the International Labour Conference.
