Some global leaders at the ILC
As the 111th International Labour Conference (ILC) came to an end at the weekend in Geneva, Switzerland, global leaders have called for increased, coordinated, and coherent action in support of social justice at workplaces.
The two-day summit came up with the proposal to forge a global coalition for social justice, specifically focused on driving real improvements in daily lives, in particular for most vulnerable fellow citizens, including the young people in desperate situations, who are driven to migration in dangerous conditions.
The Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo, who declared open the summit on the theme ‘World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All,’ also called on countries to “bend the arch of history in favour of social justice.”He highlighted the critical role of social justice in creating a more sustainable and equitable world, strategies for increased and better-aligned joint action to advance social justice, as well as ensure policy coherence.
Describing greater social justice as a cause to rally around, he said it was a driving force that can steer nations towards a more equitable and sustainable future. He noted that it must become countries’ guiding principle, for both policies and action.
According to him, “Social justice is essential to make our societies and economies more cohesive, productive, and peaceful. It is essential if we are to restore confidence in our institutions and provide proof of effective multilateralism that meets people’s expectations.”
The ILO DG said the coalition would catalyse social investment, generate more funding for grassroots interventions and rally domestic and international support for greater social justice.
The panel, which featured high-level representatives of governments, employers’ and workers’ organisation, United Nations entities, and other international organisations focused on fostering equal opportunities and full, freely chosen, and productive employment for all through education, lifelong learning, and skills development
The leaders leveraged capacities and improved coordination and policy coherence to increase the scale and impact of actions towards social justice across the multilateral system.
The ILC, equally closed with the adoption of a new recommendation on quality apprenticeships, where about 5,000 delegates also passed resolutions on a just transition and labour protection. Houngbo said the new labour standard aims to support “opportunities for people of all ages to skill, reskill and upskill continuously” in rapidly changing labour markets. He said it provides a clear definition of apprenticeships and specifies aspirational standards for quality apprenticeships, including rights and protection for apprentices.
On the adoption of a just transition, the delegates stressed the imperative need to advance a just transition to achieve social justice, eradicate poverty and support decent work.
The delegates endorsed the ILO guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies as a basis for action and the central reference for policymaking.
On labour protection, the resolution charted a way forward towards more inclusive, adequate, and effective labour protection for all workers and created a basis for developing a plan of action.
During the conference, 13 ILC ratifications were registered, mainly in respect of the recently adopted convention against violence and harassment in the world of work (C190), as well as conventions on occupational, safety and health.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Director-General Houngbo, told delegates, “You should be proud of what you have accomplished. Your commitment to the mandate of the ILO, your skilled negotiations, and diplomacy resulted in the adoption of several significant documents at this conference.”
Meanwhile, the ILO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Heinz Koller, has disclosed that half of the global workforce was employed in jobs that do not align with their education levels. Koller stated this while addressing the Informal Meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers chaired by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
He said: “Globally, only half of the workforce is employed in jobs that align with their education level, indicating a significant skills-jobs mismatch. Higher-income countries fare better than lower-income countries in terms of matching education levels with jobs.”
Koller said the EU was currently experiencing skills and labour shortages, projecting a reduction of around 2.4 million workers in the labour force between 2022 and 2024.
To tackle the challenge, he said there was a need for the implementation of a comprehensive approach for a just transition that would create opportunities.
“Countries should review their skills, and policies and anticipate the needs of future green jobs. The transition to a green economy has the potential to generate 18 million jobs worldwide,” he noted.
Koller further stated that effective policy coordination, social dialogue, and sectoral policies were crucial to achieving this, adding that mainstreaming the just transition through technical and vocational education, lifelong learning systems, as well as targeted support for vulnerable groups was equally vital.
The Guardian
