The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on governments to prioritise social justice as workers across the globe celebrate 2023 Workers’ Day.
ILO Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo, in a statement posted on the Organisation’s website to mark International Workers’ Day, said social justice “is not only do-able but essential for a sustainable and stable future.”
Houngbo noted that “Globally, real wages have fallen, poverty is rising, and inequality seems more entrenched than ever.
“Enterprises have been hard-hit. Many could not cope with the cumulative effects of recent unexpected events. Small and micro-enterprises were particularly affected, and many have ceased operations.”
He added that “This is a moment for pride, celebration and hope. After three years of the COVID-19 crisis, followed by inflation, conflict, and food and fuel supply shocks, we badly need this. But the promises of renewal made during the pandemic, of ‘building back better’, have so far not been delivered for the great majority of workers worldwide.”
As a result, he advised that “First and foremost, our policies and actions must be human-centred, to allow people to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, economic security and equal opportunity.”
According to him, people felt their sacrifices to get through COVID-19 were not recognised and rewarded, added with a perceived lack of opportunities, which he said “has created a disturbing level of mistrust.”
“We are still the masters of our fate, but if we are to shape a new, more stable and equitable world, we must choose a different path – one that prioritises social justice,” he said.
We are still the masters of our fate, but if we are to shape a new, more stable and equitable world, we must choose a different path – one that prioritises social justice.
Achieving social justice
Houngbo recalled that social justice is not new, as “It was set out and agreed in the aftermath of World War II when the ILO’s international membership signed the 1944 Declaration of Philadelphia.”
He continued: “This visionary document set out guiding principles for our economic and social systems, that they should not be turned exclusively to hitting specific growth rates or other statistical targets but to address human needs and aspirations.
“This means focusing on inequality, poverty alleviation and core social protection. The most effective way to do this is by providing quality jobs so that people can support themselves and build their own futures – ‘Decent Work for All’, as Sustainable Development Goal 8 terms it.”
Other expectations include:
- Realistically addressing the long-term structural transformations of our time;
- Ensuring that new technology creates and supports employment;
- Pro-actively facing the challenges of climate change and ensuring we offer the jobs, skills training and transition support necessary for workers and businesses to benefit from the new low-carbon era; and,
- Treating demographic changes as a ‘dividend’ rather than a problem, with supporting action on skills, migration and social protection, to create more cohesive and resilient societies.
