ILO tasks world leaders on decent work, social justice

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on world leaders to ensure a better and peaceful world by embracing decent work, social justice and equality for all. The ILO Director-General, Mr Guy Ryder, made the call during an opening remark at the World of Work Summit, 107th International Labour Conference (ILC) on Thursday in Geneva, […]

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on world leaders to ensure a better and peaceful world by embracing decent work, social justice and equality for all.

The ILO Director-General, Mr Guy Ryder, made the call during an opening remark at the World of Work Summit, 107th International Labour Conference (ILC) on Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland.

The theme of the summit was ‘Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience’.

He said it was unfortunate that more countries were witnessing incidences of conflicts and violence that posed potential threat to global peace and survival.

According to him, leaders and everybody had a stake in securing peace and resilience, which is currently threatened by persistent crises, which endangered all.

Ryder said: “There are echoes of these in the ILO constitution which reminds us that poverty anywhere can constitute danger to prosperity everywhere.

“The daily plea which the world body hears time and again is for bread, jobs, freedom and dignity, education for the children and those who are displaced want to go back home to safety, to jobs and security.

“Our world is suffering not only from heightened tension, but also multiple grave and intractable conflicts as well as natural disasters.”

There are echoes of these in the ILO constitution, which remind us that poverty anywhere can constitute danger to prosperity everywhere.

Ryder noted that over the years, the ILO has put its expertise and knowledge at the service of the most vulnerable population in fragile and conflict affected countries and those recovering from disaster. (NAN)