Speaking in plenary
The Conference has detailed rules on the right to address its plenary, in particular during the discussion of the Reports of the Director-General and of the Chairperson of the Governing Body for which it is necessary to register.
Please note that this concerns registration only for those wishing to take the floor in plenary during the discussion of the Reports of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and of the Director-General. Requests to speak in Plenary during the adoption of Committee reports, or to speak in the committees must be addressed to the President of the Conference or to the Chairperson of the committee during the debates.
It is therefore strongly recommended that delegates reduce courtesies to a minimum, so as to enter into the substantive elements of their statements without delay.
Furthermore, all delegates who are registered to speak in plenary are requested to send an electronic copy of their speech to ilcspeeches@ilo.org at least 24 hours before they are scheduled to speak. It is important that speeches should be clearly marked with the name of the speaker, the name of the delegation, and should bear the mention “Check against delivery”. This text version will be posted on the Conference website shortly after delivery, together with the audio recordings in the original language, as well as any interpretation into English, French and Spanish.
Who can speak?
Delegates must be accredited either as regular delegates or as “advisers and substitute delegates” acting on behalf of regular delegates. Delegates accredited as “advisers” are normally not entitled to speak in plenary. Please refer to the Explanatory note on credentials for national delegations.How to register?
Delegates wishing to speak in plenary are encouraged to register in advance, as from Monday, 23 April, by email (orateurs@ilo.org), fax (+41 22 799 89 44) or telephone (+41 22 799 65 02). They may also register during the Conference at the speakers’ registration office (A.563 Palais des Nations open Monday to Friday, starting on Monday 28 May) and are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. The list of speakers closes on Thursday, 31 May, subject to the decision of the Selection Committee. Speakers will be notified beforehand by email from the Speakers’ Registration Office of the sitting and the approximate time at which the President will give them the floor.Please note that this concerns registration only for those wishing to take the floor in plenary during the discussion of the Reports of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and of the Director-General. Requests to speak in Plenary during the adoption of Committee reports, or to speak in the committees must be addressed to the President of the Conference or to the Chairperson of the committee during the debates.
What is the time limit for speeches?
To allow as many speakers as possible to take the floor during the discussion of the Reports of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and of the Director-General, the time limit for speeches is set at a maximum of five minutes (ILC Standing Orders, article 14(6)). This time limit will be strictly applied. For participants’ information, this time allowance corresponds to approximately two-and-a-half typewritten double-spaced A4 pages (or 650 words), read at a speed that allows accurate simultaneous interpretation.It is therefore strongly recommended that delegates reduce courtesies to a minimum, so as to enter into the substantive elements of their statements without delay.
Furthermore, all delegates who are registered to speak in plenary are requested to send an electronic copy of their speech to ilcspeeches@ilo.org at least 24 hours before they are scheduled to speak. It is important that speeches should be clearly marked with the name of the speaker, the name of the delegation, and should bear the mention “Check against delivery”. This text version will be posted on the Conference website shortly after delivery, together with the audio recordings in the original language, as well as any interpretation into English, French and Spanish.