Tracking International Labour Organization – Candidate Greg Vines
Category: Labour
By: Annah-Grace Kemunto,
Australia was one of the founding nations of the United Nations in 1945. 77 years on and it is the 12th largest contributor to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets. Australia is not new to taking on the top position in one of the United Nations’ governing bodies as in 1946 it held the first presidency of the UN Security Council. This time round the country is in the running for the position of the Director General at the International Labour Organization. In a letter from the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Australia nominated Greg Vines for this position whose term will run from 2022-2027.
Greg Vines has a rich assortment of academic qualifications from distinguished institutions. A lawyer by training, he holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) from the University of Tasmania and a graduate diploma in legal practice from New South Wales College of Law. He also holds a second bachelor’s degree from Monash University in Business. Mr Vines is a graduate of the Harvard University’s executive programme in labour relations with a certification in mediation from Melbourne Law, suggesting that he would be in good stead for this position.
In a biography published by the Australian Government, Greg Vines states that he believes he is uniquely positioned to lead the ILO out of a global crisis and towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient Future of Work for all. Mr Vines adds that he began his career with the idea that it is possible to make a difference to the world of work and indeed in his 40 years of work he has led programmes on ethics, integrity and employment policy in Australia and in other countries too.
Mr. Vines is described as a lifelong advocate for social justice and decent work for all. Truly, throughout his career, Greg Vines has employed his expertise in working on complex multilateral negotiations, organised reform and labour relations. He has worked in private sector and public service on several occasions representing employers, workers and governments in labour and reform issues. In particular, in his early years between 1984 and 1999, Greg Vines successfully litigated one of Australia’s first pay equity cases which recognised the professional status of librarians.
If elected as the first Director General from the Asia-Pacific, Greg Vines commits to six main objectives which inform his vision statement:
- Ensuring ILO labour standards are fit for purpose, provide strong minimum protections and foster an environment in which enterprises can grow and create decent jobs
- Reinvigorating social dialogue, shared ambition and trust to respond to the changing realities of the world of work
- Delivering transformation in the world of work through gender equality, just transitions for climate change, digitalisation and intergenerational challenges
- Engaging strategically, globally and regionally to build partnerships for success
- Representing and responding to the values and diversity of the constituency that the ILO serves
- Leading the ILO into its next centenary by ensuring that it operates at the highest standards of integrity and excellence, and by utilisation of its resources in the most effective and efficient manner.
Compared to the other 4 candidates for the position of Director General of the ILO, Greg Vines has the advantage of a wealth of experience working at the ILO both in rank and tenure. He has spent the last 12 years of his career working at the ILO in various positions. He marked his debut at the ILO in 2009 by virtue of him being Australia’s Minister of Labour. In this position, he represented the Australian Government at the ILO and other multilateral forums dealing with labour and employment issues. Later on in 2011 Greg Vines was appointed the Chair of the ILO Governing Body where he led negotiations and implementation of the reforms of the Governing Body and International Labour Conference. In his one-year tenure in this role, he facilitated multilateral and bilateral interaction between foreign governments, employers and unions, and with other UN agencies. If elected as the Director General he could leverage already existing relationships to deliver on his promise to build partnerships for the ILO’s success. Most recently, since 2012, Greg Vines has served as the ILO’s Deputy Director General for Management and Reform. Not long ago in this capacity he led the ILO’s tripartite COVID-19 response: The Covid-19 Global Call for Action. Greg Vines also led the development of the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work which is the guiding document for the next century of the ILO. Once again, an instance where his previous work at the ILO places him in a very strategic position to deliver on his set objectives as the next Director General.
With a sparkling track record of delivering on the job, Greg Vines is an articulate visionary, a celebrated labour expert and a leader with legal background and a wealth of experience. When compared to other candidates, Greg Vines knows better the inner workings of the ILO and is a formidable candidate for the position of Director General.
Photo credit: Marcel Crozet & ILO
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Tracking International Labour Organization – Candidate Greg Vines
| Post date: Thu, Mar 24, 2022 |
| Category: Labour |
| By: Annah-Grace Kemunto, |
Australia was one of the founding nations of the United Nations in 1945. 77 years on and it is the 12th largest contributor to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets. Australia is not new to taking on the top position in one of the United Nations’ governing bodies as in 1946 it held the first presidency of the UN Security Council. This time round the country is in the running for the position of the Director General at the International Labour Organization. In a letter from the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Australia nominated Greg Vines for this position whose term will run from 2022-2027.
Greg Vines has a rich assortment of academic qualifications from distinguished institutions. A lawyer by training, he holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) from the University of Tasmania and a graduate diploma in legal practice from New South Wales College of Law. He also holds a second bachelor’s degree from Monash University in Business. Mr Vines is a graduate of the Harvard University’s executive programme in labour relations with a certification in mediation from Melbourne Law, suggesting that he would be in good stead for this position.
In a biography published by the Australian Government, Greg Vines states that he believes he is uniquely positioned to lead the ILO out of a global crisis and towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient Future of Work for all. Mr Vines adds that he began his career with the idea that it is possible to make a difference to the world of work and indeed in his 40 years of work he has led programmes on ethics, integrity and employment policy in Australia and in other countries too.
Mr. Vines is described as a lifelong advocate for social justice and decent work for all. Truly, throughout his career, Greg Vines has employed his expertise in working on complex multilateral negotiations, organised reform and labour relations. He has worked in private sector and public service on several occasions representing employers, workers and governments in labour and reform issues. In particular, in his early years between 1984 and 1999, Greg Vines successfully litigated one of Australia’s first pay equity cases which recognised the professional status of librarians.
If elected as the first Director General from the Asia-Pacific, Greg Vines commits to six main objectives which inform his vision statement:
- Ensuring ILO labour standards are fit for purpose, provide strong minimum protections and foster an environment in which enterprises can grow and create decent jobs
- Reinvigorating social dialogue, shared ambition and trust to respond to the changing realities of the world of work
- Delivering transformation in the world of work through gender equality, just transitions for climate change, digitalisation and intergenerational challenges
- Engaging strategically, globally and regionally to build partnerships for success
- Representing and responding to the values and diversity of the constituency that the ILO serves
- Leading the ILO into its next centenary by ensuring that it operates at the highest standards of integrity and excellence, and by utilisation of its resources in the most effective and efficient manner.
Compared to the other 4 candidates for the position of Director General of the ILO, Greg Vines has the advantage of a wealth of experience working at the ILO both in rank and tenure. He has spent the last 12 years of his career working at the ILO in various positions. He marked his debut at the ILO in 2009 by virtue of him being Australia’s Minister of Labour. In this position, he represented the Australian Government at the ILO and other multilateral forums dealing with labour and employment issues. Later on in 2011 Greg Vines was appointed the Chair of the ILO Governing Body where he led negotiations and implementation of the reforms of the Governing Body and International Labour Conference. In his one-year tenure in this role, he facilitated multilateral and bilateral interaction between foreign governments, employers and unions, and with other UN agencies. If elected as the Director General he could leverage already existing relationships to deliver on his promise to build partnerships for the ILO’s success. Most recently, since 2012, Greg Vines has served as the ILO’s Deputy Director General for Management and Reform. Not long ago in this capacity he led the ILO’s tripartite COVID-19 response: The Covid-19 Global Call for Action. Greg Vines also led the development of the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work which is the guiding document for the next century of the ILO. Once again, an instance where his previous work at the ILO places him in a very strategic position to deliver on his set objectives as the next Director General.
With a sparkling track record of delivering on the job, Greg Vines is an articulate visionary, a celebrated labour expert and a leader with legal background and a wealth of experience. When compared to other candidates, Greg Vines knows better the inner workings of the ILO and is a formidable candidate for the position of Director General.
Photo credit: Marcel Crozet & ILO
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