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President Thabo Mbeki will address the 91st session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, as a special guest on Wednesday, 11 June 2003. In addition, the President will pay an official visit to Switzerland on Tuesday, 10 June 2003, for a bilateral meeting with the Swiss President, Pascal Couchepin

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Labour, Mr Membathisi Mdladlana; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad; Mr Ebrahim Patel of Cosatu; Mr Nelson Ramodike (Labour Portfolio Committee); Mr Vic van Vuuren, Andre Lamprecht and JW Botha of Business SA).

The ILC, scheduled for 3-19 June 2003, brings together member states of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which is the UN specialised agency that seeks to promote social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights.

The President's participation has greater significance in view of the recent Growth and Development Summit.

South Africa is a Principal member of the ILO Governing Body for the period 2002-5. This position gives South Africa full voting rights, enhancing the country's status as an international role-player.

The ILC will examine the Global Report of the ILC Director-General, Mr Juan Somavia, titled Time for Equality at Work, on the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation.

Key findings of the report are:

* Discrimination is still a common problem in the workplace, with new forms a cause for growing concern;
* Anti-discrimination policies in many instances have provided opportunities for many disadvantaged groups, but this has resulted in inequalities within the groups;
* People who are discriminated against tend to end up in low-paid, informal jobs;
* Poverty is perpetuated by the non-success of overcoming discrimination;
* Discrimination based on grounds such as age, disability, perceived or actual HIV/AIDS status and nationality has raised concern, leading to increased national and international action.

The ILO has developed a Code of Practice in response to many requests for guidance, through a widespread process of consultation with government, employer and worker constituents in all regions. The Code reflects the ILO's commitment to help secure conditions of decent work and social protection in the face of the epidemic: its implementation is at the core of the programme's strategic plan.

South Africa believes that partnership among Government, business and organised labour is the key to the eradication of poverty and underdevelopment at the national and global level.

For more information, contact: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853, Bheki Khumalo on 083 256 9133, Snuki Zikalala on 082 809 3195

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs

9 June 2003