1. About the ILO
2. Topics
3. Regions
4. Meetings and events
5. Publications
6. Research
7. Labour standards
8. Statistics and databases

SIXTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA

Report of the Building Subcommittee

1. The Building Subcommittee met on 8 March 1999 under the chairmanship of Mr. Khurshid Ahmed, Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Subcommittee, to review a progress report⁽¹⁾  on the construction of the ILO premises in Islamabad.

2. At its 273rd Session (November 1998), the Governing Body was informed that the building contractor, United Builders (Pvt) Ltd., had abandoned the building site and shown no intention to resume work to complete the office building, despite repeated requests made by the ILO.⁽²⁾  In view of the circumstances, the ILO served notice on the contractor that it had decided, in the exercise of its rights under the contract, to complete the remaining work itself, at the contractor's risk and cost.

3. The Office therefore entered into a new contract with another construction company, Metrix Builders, to perform the unfinished work and complete the building for an amount of approximately $50,000, which corresponded to the amount that had been withheld by the Office from the original contractor.

4. The office block was completed in November and the staff of the Islamabad Office moved into the new premises at the beginning of December 1998. All the construction work in the auditorium had now been completed, and the final phase of laying the carpets and installing the furniture was in progress and would be completed in early March.

5. The air-conditioning equipment had been assembled and shipped to Pakistan and would be operational on schedule.

6. The Office had taken steps to initiate legal proceedings against United Builders (Pvt) Ltd. in order to pursue its claim against the contractor for the reimbursement of the additional costs incurred to complete the work, and also for penalties due under the contract, including those for the delay in completion of the project.

7. The Chairperson reported that he had personally visited the new office premises in Islamabad and he confirmed that the building was now complete except for the installation of the air-conditioning. The completed project was a credit to the ILO and would be a valuable forum for its activities in the region.

8. Mr. Anand (Employer member) observed that it was not always easy to complete such a project within its timetable and he commended ILO headquarters and Islamabad Office staff for bringing this project to a successful conclusion. The premises were an excellent investment and would give greater visibility to the work of the ILO, in particular technical cooperation programmes for the promotion of social justice and development for Pakistan and other countries in the region. He expressed the hope that the Director-General and other members of the Building Subcommittee would have the opportunity of visiting the new office premises.

9. The representative of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed appreciation to the Office for the completion of the project despite the difficulties that had been experienced during the course of construction.

10. The representative of the Government of France agreed with the remarks of the previous speakers, but regretted that Mr. Chotard was not present to see the completion of the project.

11. Mr. Kikongi Di Mwinsa (Worker member) also congratulated the Office and was pleased to see that the problems encountered during the course of construction had been successfully overcome.

12. All the members of the Subcommittee as well as the representative of the Director-General paid tribute to Mr. Chotard and recognized the important role he had played in his capacity as Chairperson of the Building Subcommittee in promoting the project and committing himself to its successful completion.

13. The Chairperson, on behalf of the Subcommittee, asked the Treasurer and Financial Comptroller to convey to the Director-General the wish of all members to pay tribute to Mr. Chotard, by way of a commemorative plaque on site, in recognition of the vital role he had played in both the conception and execution of this project. He hoped that a formal ceremony would be held for the inauguration of the building with the participation of the Director-General and members of the Building Subcommittee.

Geneva, 8 March 1999.

(Signed)  Khurshid Ahmed, Chairperson.

1. GB.274/PFA/BS/1.

2. GB.273/PFA/4.