THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION BEGAN ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE IN GENEVA TODAY (WEDNESDAY). MORE THAN 1,250 GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS' AND WORKERS DELEGATES ARE TAKING PART IN THE THREE-WEEK CONFERENCE IN WHICH 115 NATIONS ARE REPRESENTED. SIX OF THE ILO'S 121 MEMBERS ARE ABSENT.

OPENING THE CONFERENCE, MR. GEORGE L.P. WEAVER, CHAIRMAN OF THE ILO GOVERNING BODY, SAID THE WORLD EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME THE ORGANISATION IS LAUNCHING THIS YEAR WAS THE NEXT PRACTICAL STEP TOWARDS THE ELIMINATION OF UNDEREMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

"HE KNOW THAT IT IS IDLE TO ADVOCATE HUMAN RIGHTS WHEN MEN AND WOMEN ARE CONDEMNED BY UNEMPLOYMENT TO AN EXISTENCE WITHOUT ADEQUATE FOOD, CLOTHING OR SHELTER," HE SAID.

THE DELEGATES UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED SWISS WORKER'S DELEGATE JEAN MOERI TO PRESIDE OVER THE ILO'S JUBILEE CONFERENCE AS PRESIDENT. HE IS THE FIRST WORKER EVER TO BE CHOSEN FOR THE POSITION WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN HELD BY A GOVERNMENT DELEGATE IN PREVIOUS ANNUAL ILO MEETINGS. M. MOERI WILL PRESIDE NEXT TUESDAY (10 JUNE) WHEN POPE PAUL VI ADDRESSES THE GATHERING.

EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE OF ETHIOPIA AND UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL U THANT WILL ALSO SPEAK TO THE DELEGATES.

AMONG THE TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED DURING THE CONFERENCE IS THE QUESTION OF DRAFTING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR LABOUR ON DEVELOPING PROJECTS. THE CONFERENCE WILL ALSO DISCUSS MINIMUM WAGE-FIXING MACHINERY, HOLIDAYS WITH PAY, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SCHEMES FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES. ANOTHER ISSUE TO BE EXAMINED IS A REPORT ON APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AMONG THE U.N. REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONFERENCE IS DR. M.G. CANDAU, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.