.. -An enthusiastic and encouraging experience
.International Labour Organisation hosted the 113 Labour Conference at Geneva from 2nd to 13th June, 2025. Com. K. G Jayaraj, being the Vice Secretary of TUI (P&R) got an invitation from the General Secretary of TUI (P&R) to join the TUI(P&R) Delegation to the ILC with the condition that all the expenditure to be borne by the affiliated organization. So the issue was discussed in the Central Executive Committee Meeting held virtually on 07-05-2025. The CEC felt that it is an honour to our AIBDPA and should accept the invitation and bear the expenditure.
It was then communicated to the TUI(P&R) leadership and Com. Anda Anastasaki, Deputy General Secretary who is coordinating the registration for the participation. Considering the huge expenditure that may incur for 11 days, we wanted to minimize the stay at Geneva and asked Comrade Anda about it. She clarified that actually WFTU activities are only for three days, ie June 9th, 10th and 11th. Accordingly Visa to Switzerland was applied and processed. Flight tickets and hotel accommodation for three nights were also booked.
The journey started on 8th early morning, the flight to Dubai from Kochi was at 1030 AM. The Emirates flight reached Dubai at the scheduled time and the connection flight of Emirates to Geneva was from the same terminal at Dubai time 2.30PM. Fortunately, I happened to be on a window seat and just one hour before the arrival time, it was a wonderful experience to see the mighty Alps mountains beneath the flight, most of them covered with the white snow. Thus the flight reached Geneva at 7.30PM Swiss time, almost all the passengers in a relaxed mood. But the sun was very much there and it looked to be 3PM.
After the immigration formalities, came out of the airport within an hour. With the clear written directive received from the Hotel, there was no difficulty to find out the Nash Hotel vehicle. The hotel building could be seen from the airport but it took about 10 mts to reach the hotel, Nash Pratik. The Reception staff was nice and accorded a cordial welcome. The restaurant was just adjacent to the Reception. I found the menu on a white board at the entrance. The cost of food items varies from 25 to 32 Swiss Franc, one Franc is ₹108. So I skipped the dinner and managed with the biscuits I had brought from India. Hotel is giving one bottle( 350 ml) water as a welcome drink and no more drinking water after the first day. You can purchase the water bottle by paying 3 SF.
On 9th June I have to reach the venue of the ILC by 9AM to attend the TUI(P&R) delegation meeting. ILO is a bit far from the hotel. So I got up at 5AM and was ready by 6.30. Breakfast at the hotel is free, inclusive of the rent and available from 05 to 11 AM. I took the breakfast by 07.30. Some of the delegates to the ILC from Mauritius, Senegal, Zambia, Nigeria were there in the hotel. So I accompanied them. The hotel vehicle will take us to the airport and from there two public transport buses are to be boarded to reach the venue. Altogether it took 40 mts.
Then to enter the venue there was a queue of delegates and some of them told me that only those with badges are allowed the entry. When my turn came, the security staff directed me to the nearby counter. They asked me for my passport, checked my registration details in the computer and within two three minutes issued me the badge with my photo. After entering the premises I could see the United Nations building. But the Hall A where I have to reach for the meeting was not trace able. So went to the Reception and they told me that there are two venues, one is the UN and other the ILO office, just one km away and Hall A is at ILO office. There is free shuttle service to ILO and Vice versa and I boarded the vehicle and reached ILO by 0910.
Our meeting was being held at a small room in front of Hall A. The meeting had already started and Com. Dimos Koumpouris, President, TUI(P&R) presided. There were 15 participants including Coms.Quim Boix, General Secretary, Anda Anastasaki, Deputy General Secretary, Bachir Hakem, Secretary ( Organization ).The delegates belonged to Spain, Greece, Columbia, South Africa, Peru, Algeria, Senegal, Morocco, Congo, Albania and India. There was one comrade who could translate three languages, French, Spanish and. English. Generally, the situation in the respective country, main challages being faced were to be focussed. I had prepared a note and 100 copies brought and distributed to all the participants before I spoke.The meeting was concluded at 1055AM and all moved to Hall A to attend the WFTU session.
WFTU session on “80 years of struggles “
The session started exactly at 11AM. Before the meeting started I could meet the Indian delegation of the Central Trade unions. They were Com. K. N. Umesh ( CITU ) Com.K Somashekar ( AIUTUC ) Com. Kumar and Com.Daswinder Kaur ( both AITUC ) and gave them our note. The meeting was presided over by Comrade Mzwandile Makwayiba, President, WFTU who controlled the meeting very well. Comrade Pambis Kyritisis, General Secretary presented the paper on” 80 years of class struggles.” He narrated the history of WFTU with particular focus on formation of WFTU on 3rd October, 1945 at Paris, an organised split in 1949 and formation of an yellow union, ITUC to suit the interests of capitalism, the crisis consequent on the dissolution of Soviet union and some of the socialist countries in Europe, the great revival after the Havana Congress in 2004 after which there has been a steady growth under the committed General Secretary Com. George Mavrikos with 110 million membership of workers of 143 countries. It is worth mentioning here that our beloved leader, Com. V A N Namboodiri was a delegate to this historic Havana Congress. Comrade Pambis Kyritisis also came down heavily on the capitalist countries and ILO for giving monopoly status to the yellow union,ITUC. He concluded the speech stressing that WFTU is committed to continue its 80 year path of struggles for a world without wars, imperialist interventions, exploitation and discrimination. And a world where work will be permanent, stable, regulated and safe.
15 comrades representing various countries participated in the dicussion that followed. Comrade Bachir Hakem, Secretary ( Organisation ) spoke on behalf of TUI(P&R). Notable speeches were from China and South Africa. Most of the speakers utilized the opportunity to emphasize the issues being faced in their respective country. The brutal and inhuman genocide in Gaza, continuing unabated by the Zionist Israel was condemned by one and all. The meeting was finally concluded by 2.30PM.
Comrade Quim Boix, General Secretary then led us to the adjacent restaurant and offered lunch. After the lunch we proceeded to UN and attended the General session in the main hall with all the facilities. The vast number of delegates from almost all the countries and the deliberations were really encouraging. I returned to the hotel in a different route covering the main parts of the city. With the pass issued by the ILO, the delegates could travel in any bus.
On 10th morning I reached the ILO and at the small room our TUI(P&R) leaders were waiting. The management of the TUI(P&R) had sought a meeting with Comrade Pambis Kyritisis, General Secretary, WFTU to have a discussion on certain important issues. Comrade Pambis Kyritisis reached the room at 0930AM with Comrade Chris, the translator. Com. Quim Boix initiated the discussion mainly on Palestine as there was difference of opinion about the stand taken by WFTU by some of the office bearers of TUI(P&R). Com. Pambis Kyritisis had a patient hearing and clarified the issue at length.
During this meeting, I got an opportunity to have an interaction personally with Com. Pambis Kyritisis and invited him to our All India Conference being held on 17-18 December, 2025 at Coimbatore. He replied that there are a lot of activities of WFTU in the coming months including the 80th Anniversary of WFTU being celebrated at Paris on 3rd October, 2025 and unable to confirm now.
Democratization of the ILO.
The WFTU session on ” Democratization of the ILO ” started at 11AM on 10-06-2025 in the Hall A. Presiding over the meeting, Com. Mzwandile Makwayiba, President, WFTU delivered the introductory speech. Then Com. Pambis Kyritisis, General Secretary presented the detailed paper on the issue. He categorically protested against the discriminatory and step motherly treatment meted out to WFTU by ILO while patronising the yellow union ITUC. Comrades from different countries and representing various organisations participated in the discussion. Com. Quim Boix, General Secretary, TUI(P&R) effectively presented the views. Another notable intervention was that of Com. K. N. Umesh ( CITU ) who specifically wanted the WFTU leadership to launch a worldwide campaign for Democratization of the ILO.
” The challenges of pension and retirement in the current crisis. “
The TUI(P&R) session focusing “The challenges of pension and retirement in the current crisis.” was held at the Hall A from 1545 to 1700 on 10-06-2025. Com.Dimos Koumpouris, President, TUI(P&R) presided. Com. Quim Boix, General Secretary presented the paper on the subject He stated that since 1980, there has been an attempt to reverse social security policies, especially pension and retirement benfits with a tendency toward privatization of pension funds. He called upon to continue the Struggle by all the organisations in all the continents.
Com. Pambis Kyritisis, General Secretary, WFTU congratulated TUI(P&R) for organising several struggles against attack on pension and attempts to increase the retirement age. Com. Mzwandile Makwayiba, President, WFTU also addressed and supported the initiatives of TUI (P&R) in defending the rights of retirees. I too got an opportunity to speak on the occasion and highlighted the Validation of Pension Rules, Restoration of OPS, Denial of Pension Revision to BSNL MTNL Pensioners and the General Strike on 9th July, 2025. The copy of the written speech was circulated to all the participants. After conclusion of the session I had a brief talk with Comrade Mzwandile Makwayiba, President, WFTU.
Excellent and Effective speeches by Comrade Pambis Kyritisis and Comrade Dimos Koumpouris at the Plenary Session.
We had to hurry to reach the UN main hall for the speeches of both Comrades Pambis Kyritisis and Dimos Koumpouris in the Plenary session at 6PM on 10-06-2025. In his effectively delivered speech,Comrade Pambis Kyritisis minced no words in condemning the genocide in Gaza by the Zionist Israel. Fascism is on the rise and threatening again. Democratic and trade union freedom are shrinking. The workers are choosing the path of struggles to meet their contemporary needs. Regarding Democratization of ILO governance, Comrade Pambis Kyritisis stated that WFTU will continue fighting for a representative and pluralist ILO. The speech of Comrade Dimos Koumpouris, President, TUI (P&R) and leader of PAME in Greece was equally effective. So on this day we had a tight schedule of hectic events but completed everything successfully. And that was the end of WFTU activities at 113 ILC in Geneva. I left for the hotel by 7.30 PM bidding farewell to all the comrades.
Next day, ie on 11th June, 2025 I statrted my return journey by Emirates flight at 1520 from Geneva to Dubai and from Dubai to Kochi at early morning, 03.30 AM on 12th June and reached Kochi at 09AM on the same day.
And there ends my successful and enthusiastic mission to the 113 ILC Geneva. The participation in the ILO, WFTU and TUI(P&R) Conferences at Geneva was a great honour to AIBDPA as also to NCCPA. It was indeed a wonderful and encouraging experience .
