Porto Social Forum 2023

ILO Director-General highlights the European social model as a geopolitical lever

Speaking at the Porto Social Forum, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) commended the European Union (EU) for its leading role in promoting international labour standards and the integration of occupational safety and health conventions.

Statement | 27 May 2023
It is my honour and pleasure to represent the ILO today in this beautiful city of Porto. Let me first thank the Government of Portugal -in particular Ana Godinho, Minister of Labour, and Mr. Miguel Fontes, Secretary of State- for its kind invitation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Two years ago, the world was trying to progressively recover from the shock of the pandemic and its devastating effects on countries’ economy and the life of millions of people. And it is no coincidence that my predecessor Guy Ryder noted that there was globally a mixed feeling among people that the world was at a pivotal moment.

Today, we can affirm that this pivotal moment has definitely happened – and this time, not only in the context of the pandemic recovery process, but in a larger strategic context. In that sense, the Russian aggression against the Ukraine has been both an accelerator and an aggravating factor of existing trends in Europe and in the world. Indeed, this crisis has taken a heavy toll on the socio-economic situation of countries that hardly started to build back from the pandemic, especially in Europe. At the same time, the conflict has contributed to accelerate global transformative changes.

Fact is that the world has now become more diverse and polycentric. An increasing number of regions and countries are legitimately willing to play an active role in the global decision-making process on an equal footing with other regional or global players. Whether this is good or bad news for the EU and its social model may be subject to diverse interpretations. As EU members, you are certainly better placed than I am to figure this out. However, the way I see it, is that the EU would only benefit from a more open and diverse geopolitical game in which each country and region may take part according to the best of their ability. This would create a new global level playing field and the EU has the capacity to fully take advantage of such developments, despite current difficulties related to the conflict in Ukraine.

Indeed, the EU already has a long experience as key partner at regional and global levels. After all, the European social model we are talking about today is certainly one of the best “export products” that the EU has been able to share with others, be it through political dialogues, trade agreements, or technical cooperation with third countries. The EU has therefore been using its political leverage to promote the ratification and implementation of international labour standards, with a clear priority put on the ILO fundamental conventions. In recent EU free trade agreements, the EU has insisted to include provisions on each party commitment to adopt policies and legislation on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) as new part of the fundamental rights and principles at work. I know that it is the case in the current negotiations with India.

Actually, the European and Central Asian region has been the first ILO region to have completed the ratification of all the eight original core conventions that cover freedom of association, collective bargaining, non-discrimination, elimination of forced labour and child labour. Now, with the addition of two conventions on Occupational Safety and Health, the EU must catch up to uphold the EU acquis at international level (11 ratifications missing for C. 155 and 12 for C. 187). I encourage the countries concerned to complete this process as soon as possible as both conventions reflect the EU acquis on OSH. And it is crucial as the EU Member States have been fully supportive of the integration of OSH conventions into the ILO fundamental rights and principles at work. I take this opportunity to thank you once again for your support.

Over the last 60 years, the EU has had a pioneering role in adopting labour and social affairs regulations that are all relevant to the ILO trailblazer action at international level. It has still been the case in recent years under the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan adopted here in Porto two years ago and that remains fully relevant today. I think in particular of the Commission’s “Communication on Decent Work worldwide” aiming at mainstreaming international labour standards throughout all external action and policies of the European Commission. A good example of policy coherence and EU lever is the current EU legislative proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D) meant to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout global value chains in anchoring human rights and environmental considerations in companies’ operations and corporate governance. In terms of trailblazing action within the EU, I think of the adoption at EU level of the EU Directives on Work-life balance and on adequate minimum wages, as well as the current negotiations of a Directive on improving working conditions of platform workers. This item is of particular importance to the ILO as our Governing Body just decided to put at the agenda of the International Labour Conference in 2025 a standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy.

2025 will definitely be a significant year for us, especially with UN Social Summit. It is worth mentioning in this perspective that both the UN and EU agendas are well aligned. The Social Pillar Action Plan timeline indicates 2025 for the review of the Action Plan, which matches the international timeline, notably the 2025 Social Summit and the first edition of the ILO “State of Social Justice” report. The EU Action Plan review may therefore serve as an input for the Social Summit. This will be another opportunity for the EU to showcase its “social diplomacy” as a tool for strengthening international cooperation for more social justice across the world. Indeed, we should use the multilateral system even more to reshape our social and economic architecture so that it supports a shift of priorities towards more equity and social justice.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The ILO has been established more than hundred years ago on the postulate that “lasting peace can be established only if it is based on social justice”.

Experience and the current course of world affairs fully demonstrate the truth of this statement enshrined in the ILO Constitution since 1919. Twenty-five years later, whereas the Second World War was still ongoing, the ILO member States adopted a far-sighted document, the Philadelphia Declaration that remains the ILO “magna carta”. This Declaration has not only stated the famous principle that “work is not a commodity”, but it has also affirmed that the attainment of a lasting peace based on social justice should “constitute the central aim of national and international policy” and the ILO should “examine and consider all international economic and financial policies and measures in the light of this fundamental objective”. Such principles, which were reaffirmed in 2008 by the ILO Social Justice Declaration for a Fair Globalisation, are more than ever relevant and needed to overcome current and future challenges.

Europe and the world have indeed been placed under considerable pressure over the last fifteen years marked by multiple economic and financial crises; demographic, environmental, and technological transformations; persisting tensions and conflicts; unprecedented crises such as the COVID pandemic; and not least the current serious economic slowdown triggered by the conflict in Ukraine. As a result, we see more inequalities, more poverty, and more people left behind - making it tremendously difficult to reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. If looking for example at the 2023 ILO World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO), we see a gloomy picture, including in Europe. The global jobs gap that measures the unmet need for employment in the world already stood at 473 million people in 2022. Moreover, global employment is projected to expand by only 1 percent this year compared to 2.3 percent in 2022. Without decisive action, gaps opened by previous crises are not going to be closed rapidly and may contribute to more labour shortages. Another example: the ILO expects a reduction of about 2.4 million labour force in Europe and Central Asia between 2022 and 2024, partly due to demographic trends. Unemployment should slightly increase. The participation rate for women in this region are projected to be among the lowest in the world by 2024 at 57.9 percent.

That is why I have focused my vision for the ILO on the urgency to address such priorities, in line of course with the UN action as emphasized by the UN Secretary General in his call for a new social contract, the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, and in view of the 2024 UN “Summit of the Future”.  To that end, I have put forward the idea of establishing a Global Coalition for Social Justice that will bring together all regional and international stakeholders able to advance social justice while strengthening policy coherence at global level. As you know, the World of Work Summit to be held this year during the International Labour Conference in June will address the theme of “Social justice for All”. It will provide the opportunity to further discuss this proposal as well as the ways and means to reinforce the international commitment to advance significantly social justice and the UN 2030 Agenda.

I trust that the EU, as a key player on the international scene, will fully support and contribute to this ambitious agenda for social justice. In turn, your participation in the Global Coalition will undoubtedly strengthen the EU political leverage on social and labour affairs in the world. Indeed, the EU and the ILO share the views that a global commitment of the multilateral system and other stakeholders is indispensable to ensure that economic prosperity, protection of environment, and social justice can move ahead side by side.

In the Philadelphia Declaration I was referring earlier today, the ILO committed to fully cooperate “with such international bodies as may be entrusted with a share of the responsibility for this great task and for the promotion of the health, education and well-being of all peoples”. I am convinced the EU is today one of such bodies and I look forward to pursuing our partnership and welcoming you in Geneva next month.

Thank you.
Obrigado.