Press release
25 January 2012
Ministry of Employment
The Government nominates Mona Sahlin to the post of ILO Director-General in Geneva
Sweden has nominated Ms Mona Sahlin as candidate for the post of Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. The Government has decided to nominate Ms Sahlin at the proposal of the Minister for Employment and following consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, all party leaders and Swedish employee and employer organisations, who strongly support the candidature.
The current Director-General, Chilean Juan Somavía, will resign on 30 September 2012. Since the ILO was founded in 1919, all its directors-general have been men.
The Government's assessment is that Ms Sahlin has a particularly solid and broad knowledge of the issues of importance to the activities of the ILO. Given her background as Deputy Prime Minister, leader of the Social Democratic Party, minister in various periods with responsibility for labour market and working life issues, gender equality issues, democracy and integration, small businesses, energy issues and industrial policy, the Government considers that Ms Sahlin is extraordinarily well qualified to succeed Mr Somavía. In addition, Ms Sahlin has thorough experience of parliamentary work and very close cooperation with labour market partners and civil society organisations.
In 1997-1998, Ms Sahlin was Chair of the European Year against Racism and of the closing conference. As Chair of the Council for Employment and Social Policy, Ms Sahlin made a major contribution to Sweden's successful Presidency of the EU in 2001. Ms Sahlin is a vice-president of Socialist International and has an extensive international network.
About the ILO
The ILO is the UN agency responsible for employment and working life issues comprising 183 Member States. The ILO's position in the UN system is unique. It has a tripartite structure that governs all of the organisation's activities. Member States are represented by their governments, employers and employees. Supported by international standards and through technical assistance to Member States and extensive research and information activities, the ILO is responsible for promoting employment, good working conditions, respect for employee rights, gender equality in working life and social security at global level.
