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International Labour Conference

Press accreditation and preview of the Centenary International Labour Conference

Media advisory | 27 May 2019
The 108th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) will take place at the UN’s Palais des Nations and the ILO headquarters in Geneva from 10-21 June, 2019.

More than 5,700 worker, employer and government delegates from the ILO’s 187 member States will address a wide range of issues at the ILC, which is the ILO’s highest decision-making body.

To mark the ILO’s Centenary year, the meeting’s Plenary will hold a number of high-level session throughout the conference, to accommodate the visits of a large number of heads of State and Government. Additional security measures will be in operation. Details of these can be found below.

Below is a preview of the main events:

Opening ceremony: June 10, 11:00

The Conference will elect its President and Vice-Presidents, to be followed by the opening address of ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, the spokespersons of the Employers’ and Workers’ groups, and the Chairperson of the ILO Governing Body.

High level section opening: June 10, 15:15

The high level section of the Plenary will begin after the opening of the Conference and continue on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 (AM). It will resume on Wednesday 19 June and continue all day on Thursday 20 June. More information can be found, as it becomes available, on the High-Level visits webpage.

For information on covering the high level visits please see “Security/Access” below.

Discussion of the Report of the Global Commission on the Future of Work: 12 – 18 June

This year’s report of the Director-General, which will be discussed in the Plenary, will be the Report of the Global Commission on the Future of Work, Work for a brighter future , which examines how to achieve a better future of work for all at a time of unprecedented change and exceptional challenges in the world of work. This will be discussed in plenary on Wednesday 12 June (PM), Thursday 13, Friday 14, Monday 17 and Tuesday 18.

Conference committees: 10 – 20 June

Most conference committees will begin their work soon after the opening sitting and will continue until the middle of the second week. Committees are expected to finish their work by 13:00 on Thursday, 20 June and present the outcomes of their deliberations for debate and adoption by the Plenary on Friday 21 June.
Please note that committee sessions are not accessible to journalists without prior authorization. Requests should be sent to newsroom@ilo.org at least 24 hours in advance so that the request can be put to the Chairs and Co-chairs of each committee, who can decide to grant or refuse access.

Thematic forums: 13 – 18 June

To mark the Centenary a number of thematic forums relating to the future of work will be held during the conference between 13 – 18 June in Room XX. All sessions will be open to the media.
  • 13 June: ‘Together for a brighter future without child labour’, marking World Day Against Child Labour 2019
    ‘Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining: A foundation of decent work’ 
  • 14 June: ‘Jobs and skills for a brighter future’
     ‘Securing sustainable transitions over the life course’
  • 17 June ‘Technological pathways for decent work’
  • 18 June ‘Multilateralism for an equitable future of work’
    ‘Businesses for decent work’

Media accreditation

Journalists not accredited to the UN should complete an accreditation form on the online registration platform by 6 June with all the information requested, (including a valid passport, a copy of a valid professional press card and a letter of assignment from the Editor-in-Chief of the media concerned). For further information please refer to the media advisory that was issued on 17 April.

Security/Access

Due to the large number of VIPs expected to attend there will be a high level of security during the Conference.

Those wishing to bring in photo, video or audio equipment will have their equipment screened by security at the Pregny Gate and will be escorted into the Palais by staff from the Department of Communication (DCOMM).

Once journalists have arrived at the Palais, and gone through security, they may go to Hall 14 where a press point will be set up to enable coverage of the arrival of high level visitors. Please note that part of Hall 14 is a restricted area and journalists must stay behind the designated cordon.

Media arriving with delegations at Door 13 will be taken to Hall 14 by a member of DCOMM.

Print journalists wishing to follow the high level speeches will be escorted to the 6th floor gallery on the Lausanne side of the Assembly Hall. Photographers will be allowed into the Assembly Hall floor, accompanied by DCOMM staff, to cover the start of VIP speeches. Movement on the Assembly Hall floor will be restricted. There will be two areas available for photographers to take pictures.

Video and journalists who are not part of official delegations will have access to Room XVI where they can pick up the feed. Videographers will not be allowed to film from the Assembly floor.

Photographers wishing to access the Assembly Hall should contact newsroom@ilo.org ahead of time.

Journalists may also cover the proceedings from the media centre which will be on the 8th floor of the building where the Assembly Hall is located (Building A). Directions to the media centre will be clearly posted.

The plenary will be webcast on the ILC site and footage will available for use by media. For more information contact newsroom@ilo.org.

Social media

The following hashtags will be used during the conference:
English: #ILO100
French: #OIT100
Spanish #OIT100

A live Daily Show will be broadcast from the ILC, with highlights of the day’s events, interviews and reports.

For more information contact newsroom@ilo.org.