Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington D.C.
Advancing Decent Work and Labour Rights Globally
In his keynote address to the event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C., ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, says the fight for decent work and labour rights is one that demands our urgent attention.
Excellency Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Ambassador of Brazil,
Under-Secretary of Labor, Thea Lee,
Our social partners,
Cathy Feingold, Director of the International Department, AFL-CIO and
Melissa Kpolow, Vice-Chair, Corporate Responsibility & Labor Affairs Committee, United States Council for International Business
Dear Guests,
Recent years have witnessed, globally, some good news: a recovery in terms of economic growth; jobs indicators back to their pre-Covid levels in most cases; the global jobs gap now below its level in 2019.
Still, ahead of us lie rather daunting systemic and pervasive challenges: the inability of the current economic model to produce sufficient decent jobs, the state of labour rights – where they exist, inadequate social protection, lack of sustained social dialogue, the effects of climate change, and demographic shifts, all of which are contributing to escalating inequalities globally. On top of all these, we are now witnessing the great excitement, but also the immense challenges, that come with the development of generative A.I.- artificial intelligence.
Returning to a "business as usual" approach is a siren call to further crises. It betrays the core aspirations of social, economic and environmental sustainability. We require an alternative path, one that firmly places decent work and social justice at its helm.
This is not merely a contemporary catchphrase, it is a principle of fair treatment, equal opportunities, and decent working conditions embedded in the very constitution of the ILO. It declares that universal and lasting peace rests on the foundation of social justice.
Today, more than ever, as the world’s complexities intensify, there’s a pressing need to reassess development strategies and reorient our institutions to prioritize human needs, rights, and the primacy of decent work.
The fight for decent work and labour rights is one that demands our urgent attention as many parts of the world continue to grapple with significant labour market challenges marked by high informality, low productivity, insufficient job growth and inadequate systems to protect worker rights. Globally, young people are facing the insurmountable challenge of simply finding a job. And unemployment is just the tip of the iceberg. Unemployment figures are often masked by the prevalence of insecure and unproductive employment.
But even worse, we are witnessing an uptick in forced labour, now estimated to be around 27.6 million people. And this is not merely a statistic; it's a human catastrophe, with each number representing individuals deprived of their dignity and freedom. And it is important to note that this challenge is not limited to developing nations, it is a global issue.
And we have not been able to eradicate the scourge of child labour, with 160 million children still trapped in these conditions of exploitation.
Hundreds of millions of people face the unfortunate reality of workplace discrimination, which is amplifying disparities and eroding fundamental rights. Discrimination against women remains particularly profound, both in gaining entry to labour markets and once employed when they earn on average, 20 per cent less than their male counterparts.
We also see fundamental freedoms being tested daily as attacks on workers' rights proliferate, making the effective implementation of the ILO's Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work ever more challenging.
By way of example in Myanmar, since the military coup of 2021 trade unions have faced large-scale lethal violence, harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests and detentions, as has been strongly condemned by the ILO Governing Body.
In countries like Guatemala and Venezuela, the ILO is working alongside trade unions, employers and government officials to strengthen the application of labour laws, particularly those enabling non-discrimination and ensuring the right to collective bargaining and protecting union leaders from violence and intimidation.
We see discontent growing around the world - from those risking everything in their perilous journeys to find work and create a better life, to squeezed middle classes feeling unheard. This is driving demands for leaders to agree on decisive, affirmative action toward genuine social justice.
At stake is a balanced approach to economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, aiming to drastically minimize the inequalities that have been growing over the past 40 years, and fighting poverty. For this to happen a much greater emphasis needs to be place on the social pillar. Gravitating around this is the concept of tripartism bringing together governments, workers and employers to address challenges through social dialogue and the ILO normative mandate.
The vision of establishing a new era of decent work and social justice within our lifetimes is not an unattainable dream. It is both feasible and mandatory, if we want peace not just for our generation but for those to come. The means, policies, and instruments exist. What is required is a unified front to translate these resources into reality.
The universal application of international labour standards should provide the benchmark for achieving decent work. This transformative journey demands leadership willing to confront decent work challenges at their core. It does necessitate conscious, concerted action toward greater equality.
I was honoured to take part in the launch of the Biden-Lula Initiative on Workers’ Rights on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly this past September. This is the type of bold multilateral leadership required to move the decent work needle forward.
At the same time, I am encouraged by the US Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally. This reflects a comprehensive government commitment to promote consistency and coherence in its operations to ensure workers are protected not only nationally but globally.
I look forward to hearing of he next steps, so we can work together with the US Government on moving these initiatives forward.
Finally, I would like to recognize the commitment of the United States and Brazilian governments, as well as the US Council for International Business, and numerous global and national trade unions, that have formally joined the Global Coalition for Social Justice that we have established. The next months will be key in identifying the thematic areas the Coalition will be focusing upon.
I would like to close by calling on all governments and institutions present to continue helping us by joining the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
Together, we can join our efforts for a better world.
Thank you.
Under-Secretary of Labor, Thea Lee,
Our social partners,
Cathy Feingold, Director of the International Department, AFL-CIO and
Melissa Kpolow, Vice-Chair, Corporate Responsibility & Labor Affairs Committee, United States Council for International Business
Dear Guests,
Recent years have witnessed, globally, some good news: a recovery in terms of economic growth; jobs indicators back to their pre-Covid levels in most cases; the global jobs gap now below its level in 2019.
Still, ahead of us lie rather daunting systemic and pervasive challenges: the inability of the current economic model to produce sufficient decent jobs, the state of labour rights – where they exist, inadequate social protection, lack of sustained social dialogue, the effects of climate change, and demographic shifts, all of which are contributing to escalating inequalities globally. On top of all these, we are now witnessing the great excitement, but also the immense challenges, that come with the development of generative A.I.- artificial intelligence.
Returning to a "business as usual" approach is a siren call to further crises. It betrays the core aspirations of social, economic and environmental sustainability. We require an alternative path, one that firmly places decent work and social justice at its helm.
This is not merely a contemporary catchphrase, it is a principle of fair treatment, equal opportunities, and decent working conditions embedded in the very constitution of the ILO. It declares that universal and lasting peace rests on the foundation of social justice.
Today, more than ever, as the world’s complexities intensify, there’s a pressing need to reassess development strategies and reorient our institutions to prioritize human needs, rights, and the primacy of decent work.
The fight for decent work and labour rights is one that demands our urgent attention as many parts of the world continue to grapple with significant labour market challenges marked by high informality, low productivity, insufficient job growth and inadequate systems to protect worker rights. Globally, young people are facing the insurmountable challenge of simply finding a job. And unemployment is just the tip of the iceberg. Unemployment figures are often masked by the prevalence of insecure and unproductive employment.
But even worse, we are witnessing an uptick in forced labour, now estimated to be around 27.6 million people. And this is not merely a statistic; it's a human catastrophe, with each number representing individuals deprived of their dignity and freedom. And it is important to note that this challenge is not limited to developing nations, it is a global issue.
And we have not been able to eradicate the scourge of child labour, with 160 million children still trapped in these conditions of exploitation.
Hundreds of millions of people face the unfortunate reality of workplace discrimination, which is amplifying disparities and eroding fundamental rights. Discrimination against women remains particularly profound, both in gaining entry to labour markets and once employed when they earn on average, 20 per cent less than their male counterparts.
We also see fundamental freedoms being tested daily as attacks on workers' rights proliferate, making the effective implementation of the ILO's Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work ever more challenging.
By way of example in Myanmar, since the military coup of 2021 trade unions have faced large-scale lethal violence, harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests and detentions, as has been strongly condemned by the ILO Governing Body.
In countries like Guatemala and Venezuela, the ILO is working alongside trade unions, employers and government officials to strengthen the application of labour laws, particularly those enabling non-discrimination and ensuring the right to collective bargaining and protecting union leaders from violence and intimidation.
We see discontent growing around the world - from those risking everything in their perilous journeys to find work and create a better life, to squeezed middle classes feeling unheard. This is driving demands for leaders to agree on decisive, affirmative action toward genuine social justice.
At stake is a balanced approach to economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, aiming to drastically minimize the inequalities that have been growing over the past 40 years, and fighting poverty. For this to happen a much greater emphasis needs to be place on the social pillar. Gravitating around this is the concept of tripartism bringing together governments, workers and employers to address challenges through social dialogue and the ILO normative mandate.
The vision of establishing a new era of decent work and social justice within our lifetimes is not an unattainable dream. It is both feasible and mandatory, if we want peace not just for our generation but for those to come. The means, policies, and instruments exist. What is required is a unified front to translate these resources into reality.
The universal application of international labour standards should provide the benchmark for achieving decent work. This transformative journey demands leadership willing to confront decent work challenges at their core. It does necessitate conscious, concerted action toward greater equality.
I was honoured to take part in the launch of the Biden-Lula Initiative on Workers’ Rights on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly this past September. This is the type of bold multilateral leadership required to move the decent work needle forward.
At the same time, I am encouraged by the US Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally. This reflects a comprehensive government commitment to promote consistency and coherence in its operations to ensure workers are protected not only nationally but globally.
I look forward to hearing of he next steps, so we can work together with the US Government on moving these initiatives forward.
Finally, I would like to recognize the commitment of the United States and Brazilian governments, as well as the US Council for International Business, and numerous global and national trade unions, that have formally joined the Global Coalition for Social Justice that we have established. The next months will be key in identifying the thematic areas the Coalition will be focusing upon.
I would like to close by calling on all governments and institutions present to continue helping us by joining the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
Together, we can join our efforts for a better world.
Thank you.