Atwoli re-elected member of International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the fifth time

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli will continue to serve as a member of the global workers lobby group after his reelection for a record fifth time. 

Atwoli was on Monday, re-elected with 97 votes out of 130 in an election conducted during the ongoing 112th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

He will be discharging his duties for the next three years as the longest-serving titular member of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body for the next three years. 

While welcoming his re-election, Atwoli said the re-election signified his commitment to serving the interest of workers globally terming it historic.

“This historic re-election not only marks my continued commitment to the international labour movement but also establishes me as the longest-serving member of the ILO Governing Body and I don’t take it for granted," he said.  

The ILO which became a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1946, was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I with the aim of addressing social injustices. 

Serving as the executive council, the ILO Governing Body shapes the policies of workers globally while ensuring that the rights of workers around the world are upheld 

COTU-K welcomed Atwoli's victory, saying it demonstrates his pivotal role in the labour movement on both national and international fronts.

"His (Atwoli's) extensive tenure in this role attests to his unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of workers in the country," COTU-K said in a statement on Monday.

"Additionally, Dr. Atwoli continues to serve as one of the Vice Presidents of the Global International Trade Union Confederation, Brussels (ITUC Brussels) and General Council Member of the ITUC African Regional Organization (ITUC-A)," read the statement in part. 

Expressing his gratitude Atwoli said the re-election will help in issuing both governance and strategic direction of key institutions within and without Kenyan borders.

“As a key figure in the ongoing efforts to champion workers' rights, social justice, and economic development, I will ensure that the rights and welfare of workers, globally, are upheld and respected," he said.