The International Labour Organization’s Governing Body has adopted a proposal to establish a Global Coalition For Social Justice as part of its efforts to mitigate the rising social injustices, particularly in the workplace, across the world.
A statement issued by the ILO on Thursday indicates that the Global Coalition aims to generate increased political commitments and investments and to foster concrete actions towards social justice and decent work, in support of national priorities.
It stated that the Coalition would increase multilateral cooperation and partnerships and play a key role in advocating for social justice and galvanizing support for the recognition of social justice in the multilateral agenda, in particular at the UN Summit of the Future in 2024 and the proposed UN World Social Summit in 2025.
The Coalition will bring together the ILO tripartite constituents – Governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations – international and regional organizations including international financial institutions, enterprises, academia and non-governmental organizations that are committed to support the cause of social justice.
Joining the Coalition provides partners with amplified visibility on social justice aspects in their mandates. Collaborative efforts allow for greater impact and scale, enabling outcomes otherwise unattainable individually, such as improved access to healthcare, quality education, decent work, leading to better employment opportunities, nutrition, and education for workers and their families.
The Governing Body also requested the Director-General to take into account its guidance in the further development of the Global Coalition for Social Justice. The members also requested him to report regularly on the Coalition’s progress to future sessions of the Governing Body.
Speaking after the decision, the ILO’s Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, said, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to all our constituents. We now count on the efforts of all to mobilize key partners and advance social justice. The need for the Coalition to start work is becoming increasingly urgent. There is so much to be done, and so much the Coalition can accomplish.”
The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Organization. It meets three times a year, in March, June and November, to take decisions on ILO policy, the agenda of the International Labour Conference and the draft ILO Programme and Budget.
The 349th Session of the ILO’s Governing Body is taking place in Geneva between 30 October and 11 November.
