Atwoli Elected To Co-Chair Workers' Group At Global Conference
Atwoli took to his Twitter handle to celebrate being elected to co-chair the conference, which is the highest decision-making body of the International Labour Organization (ILO)
Marvin Chege 
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli was on Sunday, June 4 unanimously elected as the Vice Chairperson of the worker’s group of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Atwoli took to his Twitter handle to celebrate being elected to co-chair the conference, which is the highest decision-making body of the International Labour Organization (ILO), where Atwoli has been serving as a titular member.
"Arrived at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 111th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC). I’m grateful for being elected by workers globally as the Vice Chairperson of the conference," tweeted the COTU boss while sharing a photo of himself in Geneva.
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli in Geneva, Switzerland on June 4, 2023. /TWITTER.FRANCIS ATWOLI
Atwoli's election came during the 111th ILO session where he is leading a delegation of Kenyan workers comprising 30 delegates drawn from trade unions from Kenya.
"It meets annually, bringing together the tripartite delegations from the organization's 187 Member States and a number of observers from other international actors to consider a series of topics related to the world of work, placed on its agenda by the Organization's Governing Body," COTU stated on Monday, June 5.
Each of the ILO’s 187 Member States is represented by a delegation embodying the government, employers and workers in each country, and their respective advisers. It meets annually, bringing together the tripartite delegations from the organization’s 187 Member States.
This year's session will have three key areas of focus, among them just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships, and labour protection. The theme of the conference is "Social justice for all".
The Atwoli-led delegation will participate in the discussion of how the rights and welfare of workers can be improved globally.
Atwoli will serve under Catelene Passchier from the Netherlands who was elected as the Chairperson for the Workers Group of the International Labour Conference. She equally serves as the Vice Chairperson of the ILO Governing Body Workers.
The COTU boss has a glittering CV that also includes the secretary general of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) - a position he has held since 1994, the President of the Trade Union Federation of Eastern Africa (TUFEA) as well as a member of the National Labour Board, Kenya (NLB), a Trustee at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Director at the National Bank of Kenya (NBK).
Also included is the President of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and the Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Through Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore, Atwoli on Friday, May 5 was appointed by President William Ruto to be a member of the National Labour Board for a period of three years.
