The ILO welcomes and congratulates FEDUSA for the appointment of Ms Riefdah Ajam as General Secretary of the federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA). She is the first female General Secretary to head the Federation.
ILO considers the appointment to be a quantum leap for gender equality in the world of work.
For ILO gender equality is at the core of its mandate. In addition, women workers rights constitute an integral part of the values, principles and objectives that are at the core of the ILos mandate to promote social justice and decent work-fairly paid, productive work carried out in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity.

The ILO does this by:

•  Promoting gender equality through international labour standards;
• Advocating for measurable progress toward gender equality with its constituents (governments, employers and workers organizations ) and in its own structures and processes;
•  Promoting gender equality through its development cooperation work around the world; and promoting gender equality through the management, dissemination and sharing of relevant knowledge.

Five ILO Conventions have been designated as key instruments for achieving gender equality in the world of work:

1.  Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No.100 );
2.  Discrimination (Employment and Occupation ) Convention, 1958 (No.111 )
3.  Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 ( No.156 )
4.  Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No .183 );
5.  Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work,

This appointment, in terms of social dialogue typifies the ILOs inclusive approach to all its work and it underpins gender equality by recognizing the need for women and men to have an equal voice in the world of work.
An important strategy used by the ILO to achieve to achieve gender equality is through strengthening the agency of women in the world of work through the Young Women’s leadership Development Programme. This programme has targeted young women from the employers and workers organizations in Southern and Eastern Africa.
ILO is therefore looking to Ms Riefdah Ajam as the new General Secretary of FEDUSA to being a strong champion for gender equality and women’s leadership.

The ILO welcomes and congratulates FEDUSA for the appointment of Ms Riefdah Ajam as General Secretary of the federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA). She is the first female General Secretary to head the Federation.
ILO considers the appointment to be a quantum leap for gender equality in the world of work.
For ILO gender equality is at the core of its mandate. In addition, women workers rights constitute an integral part of the values, principles and objectives that are at the core of the ILos mandate to promote social justice and decent work-fairly paid, productive work carried out in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity.

The ILO does this by:

• Promoting gender equality through international labour standards;
•  Advocating for measurable progress toward gender equality with its constituents (governments, employers and workers organizations ) and in its own structures and processes;
• Promoting gender equality through its development cooperation work around the world; and promoting gender equality through the management, dissemination and sharing of relevant knowledge.

Five ILO Conventions have been designated as key instruments for achieving gender equality in the world of work:

• Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No.100 );
• Discrimination (Employment and Occupation ) Convention, 1958 (No.111 )
• Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 ( No.156 ) Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No .183 );
• Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work,
• This appointment, in terms of social dialogue typifies the ILOs inclusive approach to all its work and it underpins gender equality by recognizing the need for women and men to have an equal voice in the world of work.

An important strategy used by the ILO to achieve to achieve gender equality is through strengthening the agency of women in the world of work through the Young Women’s leadership Development Programme. This programme has targeted young women from the employers and workers organizations in Southern and Eastern Africa.
ILO is therefore looking to Ms Riefdah Ajam as the new General Secretary of FEDUSA to being a strong champion for gender equality and women’s leadership.