Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry delivers a presentation on the International Labour Organisation's initiatives for promoting industrial relations harmony in the port industry during the Shipping Executives Conference of the Caribbean Shipping Association held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico from May 14-16. Also pictured is Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) President Mike Bernard who chaired the session. - contributed

A highlight of the recent Shipping Executives Conference of the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) was a presentation on 'The International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Social Dialogue Approach to labour relations and collective bargaining'.

The presentation was delivered in Puerto Rico last week by Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry (LL.B, LL.M, Ph.D. - international law), director of the International Labour Standards Department of the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILO is the United Nations specialised agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights.

Social dialogue

Dr. Doumbia-Henry explained that 'tripartite cooperation' refers to all dealings between the Government and workers and employers' organisations concerning the formulation and implementation of economic and social policy, while 'social dialogue' includes all types of negotiation, consultation or simply exchange of information between, or among, those groups on issues of common interest, relating to economic and social policy.

Human dignity

She stated that tripartism and social dialogue are integral components of "decent and productive work, for all women and men", and constitute essential channels for achieving this "in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity".

Commenting on Dr. Doumbia-Henry's presentation, Michael Bernard, president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) and chairman of that session, noted that Port Bustamante's Joint Industrial Council (JIC) was formed under similar principles of social dialogue to promote harmonious industrial relations at the Port of Kingston.

As director of the International Labour Standards Department, Dr. Doumbia-Henry is responsible for the ILO's supervisory bodies and procedures governing international labour standards, including its complaints mechanisms. She is also responsible for the ILO Maritime Labour Conventions.

Dr. Doumbia-Henry began her career as lecturer of law at the University of the West Indies, Barbados. She is barrister-at-law and solicitor, entitled to practise in all English-speaking Caribbean jurisdictions and member of the Inner Temple, Inns of Court, United Kingdom.

She has a doctorate from the University of Geneva. She joined the ILO in 1986 and has served both as a senior lawyer of the organisation and in other management positions. She has published extensively on a wide range of international law subjects.