Tribune News Network
Doha
Represented by HE Dr Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri, Minister of Labour and President of the 111th International Labour Conference (ILC), the State of Qatar led the World of Work Summit, which commenced in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday. The two-day summit is an integral part of the 111th ILC, currently taking place in Geneva until June 16, with Qatar presiding over the conference.
This year’s summit, themed ‘Social Justice for All’, is graced by several dignitaries, including heads of state, prime ministers and ministers from over 20 member countries of the organisation. Representatives from international, governmental and labour organisations, as well as workers and employers, are also participating in the summit.
The World of Work Summit, which is held annually on the sidelines of the ILC, is one of the most prominent events that bring workers, employers and governments together to contribute to finding effective solutions to the challenges facing the world in the labor sector.
The summit will underscore the central role of social justice in the creation of a sustainable and fair global society. It will also deliberate on methods for enhancing collective action aimed at fostering social justice and aligning various policies.
The platform will offer attendees a chance to share perspectives and priorities concerning social justice, and to showcase their ongoing and committed actions to advance social justice.
HE Dr Al-Marri reiterated that social justice is a fundamental tenet of the International Labour Organization. He highlighted the significance of accomplishing social justice in the workplace, as it bolsters productivity, especially by enhancing dialogues among the tripartite constituents of production.
He emphasised that the crises experienced by the world in recent years, along with their adverse impacts on the labour market, have heightened the significance of promoting social justice and decent work on a global scale. He further explained that various factors, including inequality, security issues, and the worsening of poverty, guide the world of work. This necessitates collective efforts to discover effective means of achieving social justice.
ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo expressed that various clusters of people globally are affected by an absence of equality and social justice. This situation propels them to take chances to better their circumstances. He highlighted the necessity for social justice, which can enhance productivity across the economies of multiple nations, as well as support diverse sectors within the labour market.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, highlighted that the world of labour is undergoing constant and rapid changes, resulting in a rise in poverty that impacts the lives of thousands of people globally. He emphasised the necessity of creating a roadmap for a just transition in the work environment, aiming for a better future for work based on principles of social justice.
He emphasised the importance of establishing a global coalition for social justice to effectively pursue the goals of sustainable development in the face of current and future challenges. He referred to the concept of a new social contract that prioritizes finding solutions to promote social justice for all, aiming to achieve decent work and enhance the work environment for all segments of society across the globe.
Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation, stressed that the global Labour market faces many challenges and difficult obstacles at the level of wage inequality, which has become more disparate since the beginning of the last century, indicating that this disparity directly affects the most vulnerable groups and social cohesion.
This year, Qatar is leading the World of Work Summit, assuming its role as the president of the 111th session of ILC.
Commonly referred to as the International Parliament of Labour, the ILC convenes annually in Geneva. Its primary function is to develop ILO’s overarching policies, including forming agreements and recommendations.
