Geneva: Mr Gilbert F. Houngbo, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), emphasized the strategic role of the organization amidst significant changes in the global work environment at the opening of the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr Houngbo highlighted the 'strategic importance of the ILO's mandate' as the world of work undergoes profound transformations, asserting that the ILO's normative mandate is as relevant as ever.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Houngbo addressed the need for the development, implementation, and supervision of international labour standards, stressing the urgent necessity to maintain a level playing field in the increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing global economy. He also outlined the organization's commitment to advancing social justice through integrated policies, advocating for a balance between economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
Mr Houngbo acknowledged the challenges facing multilateral institutions like the ILO, recognizing the uncertainty surrounding the future of multilateralism. He urged against nostalgia for an idealized past, emphasizing the need to focus on the ILO's unique purpose and its lasting global contributions. He called for reform aimed at greater effectiveness and efficiency, highlighting the need for courage, humility, adaptability, and foresight.
The Director-General pointed out the pressures on job creation due to slower global growth and rising trade tensions. He emphasized that employment should be an active component of economic growth, advocating for stronger connections between job creation, workers' protection, and inclusive, democratic development.
The ILO annual conference gathers workers, employers, and government delegates from the ILO's 187 Member States to address various long-term issues impacting the world of work. The conference will host the second Global Coalition for Social Justice Annual Forum on Thursday, 12 June 2025, with Coalition partners and accredited ILO tripartite delegations in attendance.
On the conference's first day, Edgar Moyo, Minister of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe, was elected President of the Conference. Vice-Presidents elected include Juan Castillo, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Uruguay (Governments), Hamidou Diop (Employers) from Senegal, and H©dia Arfaoui (Workers) from Tunisia. The conference is set to continue in Geneva until the 13th of June.
Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Ghana's Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, reiterated Ghana's ongoing commitment to the ideals and values upheld by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).