ADDRESS BY THE MOST HON. PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER, ON, MP, PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA TO THE 96TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE, GENEVA

What a delight it is for me to address this august assembly and to bring you warm greetings from the Government and people of Jamaica.
I extend congratulations to the esteemed Director General, Ambassador Somavia and to the staff of the ILO for another successful year of operation.
In the past I had the honour to participate in these annual assemblies on a number of occasions as Minister of Labour.
I am especially pleased to do so today as Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister.
As a leader, with experience in smashing proverbial glass ceilings, I am happy to note that your strong efforts to have more women represented in delegations to this conference are yielding some positive results.
For us in the ILO, gender empowerment is not a fad or a clich