Published on 19th June 2024
After months of gaining traction and amassing a global list of partners, the International Labour Organization’s Global Coalition for Social Justice officially launched during an inaugural forum at the United Nations in Geneva. World Employment Confederation delegates were there to celebrate the organisation’s status as an official partner of the initiative.
The event, held in parallel with the International Labour Conference (ILC), brought together global leaders, diplomats, and organisations, including a delegation from the World Employment Confederation. Taking a break from the marathon ILC negotiations, WEC President Bettina Schaller and Managing Director Denis Pennel represented the HR services industry at the event.
“How proud we are to be part of this coalition,” said Schaller, who acknowledged that WEC was one of the first partners to join a group which now includes over 250 countries and organisations. “We want to make sure the rights of all workers are protected, which is possible through engaging in collaborative ways around freedom of association and collective bargaining.”
Director General of the ILO, Gilbert F. Houngbo, who made a direct link between the Coalition and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasized three key issues: building resilience, improving coherence between economy and society, and fostering social dialogue for fair prosperity.
Shaping the Work We Want
Joining Houngbo was Brazil’s President, Lula da Silva, who declared that he has “renewed hope of joint actions of workers, employers, and governments to overcome adverse times.” President da Silva, who is hosting the G20 later this year, invited the ILO to join the discussions on emerging technologies and ways to help the world of work.
The Coalition serves as a space for action and advocacy, where partners collaborate, share experiences, and take collective action to drive positive change on the ground. Together, the partners committed to stand united in their dedication to advancing social justice, and building a more equitable world of work.
As the direction of the Global Coalition takes shape, WEC is ready to help foster collaboration among the partners to bring about positive change and to enable better labour market outcomes for all.
Get behind the scenes of the International Labour Conference 2024 thanks to the WEC delegation members! You’ll find all their videos in the playlist “Global Agenda” on our YouTube channel.
