GENEVA (ILO News) – International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Humbo said that to combat a growing economy, “social challenges must be integrated into all major international, regional and national policies and actions.” He emphasized the need to systematically incorporate As he spoke at the opening ceremony of the 111th International Labor Conference (ILC), he mentioned the issue of inequality.
“My message is simple: When faced with challenges that shake up the world of work, no one should bury their head in the sand,” said Humbo.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which promises fundamental changes in the way we produce, the demographic upheaval, and the urgent need to decarbonize our economies, present an opportunity to deliver a better future for all of us,” he said. ”. “But at the same time…4 billion of our compatriots have no social protection, and 214 million workers have incomes below the poverty line….The large number of small and medium-sized enterprises that were creating jobs… went bankrupt. And how do you explain the fact that women earn, on average, 20% less than their male colleagues?” he said.
To position social justice as a keystone of the world’s recovery and ensure that the future is people-centred, the Director-General stressed the need to create a global coalition that brings together a wide range of international organizations and stakeholders.
The Global Coalition for Social Justice aims to “balance environmental, economic and social considerations in the global dialogue, including reform of the international financial architecture” and to “ensure policy coherence and social protection and The aim is to “advocate for investment in cent work,” Humbo said. .
Presenting his report, promoting social justiceThe Director-General said: “Facing the risk of division, the risk of entrenchment, the risk of polarization of different opinions, we have an obligation to make full use of diplomacy to bring different perspectives together.” There is a moral obligation.” Groups become closer together. ”
Talking about his report, Situation of workers in occupied Arab territoriesMr. Hunbo highlighted that the poverty rate in the Gaza Strip has increased from 59% to 65%.
The conference will bring together representatives of workers, employers and governments from 187 ILO member countries fully face-to-face for the first time since 2019 and will run until 16 June. Participants will address a wide range of issues that have a long-term impact on the world of work. The agenda includes:
- Second standard setting discussion for quality apprenticeships.
- Recurrent discussions about the strategic objectives of social protection (labor protection).
- A general discussion of achieving a just transition to an environmentally sustainable economy and society for all, including consideration of industrial policy and technology.
- Draft Conventions and Recommendations for amendments to 15 international labor instruments, following the inclusion of a safe and healthy working environment in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.
- Achieving gender equality in the workplace is the focus of the Standards Application Committee’s general inquiry.
The World of Work Summit will be held on June 14th and 15th with the theme ‘Social Justice for All’. The Summit will include speeches and panel discussions bringing together Heads of State and Government, the ILO Director-General, and high-level representatives from the United Nations, other international organizations, and labor and management organizations.
On the first day of the conference, Qatari Minister of Labor Ali bin Samiq Al Marri was elected as the chair of the conference, which will be held from June 5th to 16th. The meeting also elected Corinna Ajder (Government), Secretary of State for the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Moldova, Henrik Munthe of Norway (Employers) and Zahoor Awan of Pakistan (Workers) as vice-chairs.
“As we move forward over the next two weeks, we must remember that achieving a tripartite agreement is fundamental to both a fair and equitable outcome and effective implementation, as it creates ownership for all involved. That should therefore guide our discussion: diversity and the differences it creates can be bridged by a spirit of consensus based on goodwill and respect for all members of this organization; We must do so again,” said employer group spokeswoman Renate Hornung Draus.
“We expect many tough discussions at this conference, including the outside-the-wall challenges that workers face in their daily lives, and how employers and governments need to achieve a just transition to a peaceful and prosperous future. “We must never lose sight of the challenges facing us that sometimes still elude us,” added Katelene Passier, spokesperson for the workers’ group.