President Tarja Halonen - Finland > Press release > Video > Statement

“The establishment in 1919 of the International Labour Organisation stemmed from the political desire to create common international rules for reducing unhealthy competition between countries on working conditions and terms. The tripartite system has proved its strength and viability”.

“The principles of the Organisation are based on the Declaration of Philadelphia. In today’s global economy, these principles are even more topical than over 60 years ago”.

“The ILO has a global role in promoting human rights and establishing safer social and working life norms. The core conventions adopted by the Organisation remain highly topical”.

“Governments alone cannot implement the ILO objectives. The tripartite system is the special nature and strength of the Organisation. As all three parties have committed themselves to ILO decisions, it is easier for all parties to support and promote the national implementation processes in their own countries”.

“Close cooperation between different international organisations is essential so that we can create a strong direction for development. I consider that an intense interaction between such organisations as the ILO, the UNCTAD and the WTO would provide a solid basis for global solution”.

“The International Labour Organisation has a key role in the family of the World Organisation – people and decent work agenda are at the centre of your work”.

	President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - Indonesia > Press release > Video > Audio > Statement

“The ILO has been a champion in promoting job security. For almost a century now, the ILO has stood up for the rights of workers, and set the norms and standards for fair and equitable employment”.

“The positive role of the ILO was demonstrated during the recent global financial crisis”.

“The lesson (during the crisis) was that the Government, corporate world and the workers worked together, to minimize unemployment during a very difficult situation. And throughout this whole process, the ILO was always helpful to us, especially in helping to forge the constructive consensus between the stake holders.”

“We look forward to the involvement of ILO (in developing job creation policies and strategies). Together, we should develop ideas on how we can address the challenge of climate change and the impact of global warming, on the employment situation”.

“Having the plight of workers in mind, we must find ways for greater coordination among related international forums, such as the ILO, UNCTAD, OECD, and the G-20”.

“Many countries have ratified ILO conventions, but what is urgent now is the faithful implementation of these conventions. We must see to it, that the eight ILO Fundamental Conventions are fully carried out, to ensure that workers enjoy social justice”.

“All these measures (the six measures he mentioned as the way forward towards more social justice), I believe, will help to improve and shape the state of global employment. It will serve not only the dignity of workers, but also the purposes of this Organization”

“Another critical matter that we need to address as we embrace the new era of social justice is, the plight of MIGRANT WORKERS... We must also support the ILO Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, which I believe will be adopted by this Session of the International Labour Conference”.

	President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete – Tanzania > Press release > Video > Audio > Statement

“The ILO has proven itself to be a formidable organization. Our organization has shown an enormous degree of resilience. The ILO has not only survived, but has actually grown from strength to strength amidst challenging historic epochs.”

“This organization has remained proactive and has always kept abreast with changing world circumstances. As a result, the ILO has remained relevant at all times and the unwavering bulwark supporter of workers’ rights. It was no surprise to me, therefore, that the ILO was among the first international organizations to raise the alarm on the negative trends of globalization”.

“This organization has been at the forefront in advancing the agenda for the protection of the vulnerable, particularly women and children”.

“This meeting is taking place at a time when globalization continues to pose challenges and presents opportunities for both countries as well as for the work of the ILO... The ILO’s Director-General’s report speaks volumes of this and provides us with a new lens for viewing these global challenges”.

“This report gives credence to the work of the World Commission on Social Dimension of Globalization”.

“There are, in our globalized world, patterns of growth that are skewed against developing nations...We highly appreciate ILO’s leadership role on this important matter. Ambassador Juan Somavia will always be remembered for his invaluable contributions to this organization”.

(Referring to the Global Campaign on Social Protection and Coverage for all launched in 2003): “I would like to use this opportunity to express Tanzania’s gratitude to the ILO for the technical and financial support provided to constituents. This has proved that the extension of social security can be achieved through tripartite collaboration and adherence to international labour standards”.

	Chancellor Angela Merkel – Germany > Press release > Video > Statement

“From its very inception, the International Labour Organization showed its commitment to serve humanity by placing itself at the service of social justice”.

“Today, and particularly in times of serious crisis, the ILO has come out strongly in favour of fair labour standards, and your Declaration of Philadelphia was eloquent on this point”.

“We can safely say that the ILO has always taken up the most burning issues of the day, and has driven them home, and therefore I congratulate you once again on the occasion of this 100th Session”.

“I am deeply convinced that the International Labour Organization needs to be a strong advocate for justice. And I should like to take this occasion to stress that this obviously requires the political support of the member States of the ILO”.

“Your work is a vital component of what the United Nations is also trying to achieve. You strive for dialogue, you look for partners who will also take up the cause of social justice; and, in this way, you have helped bring labour and social issues to the fore in networks that are made up of members of government, international organizations and other international players. And I am deeply convinced that the principle of dialogue is the right one”.

“It is not the ILO’s role to solve problems that national governments and the social partners have failed to solve. That is the job of the countries themselves. But the ILO may lend a helping hand, and it has a wealth of experience from its member States, so that it could build up a global jobs network from which each and everyone could draw”.

“The International Labour Conference strives to integrate and not to separate, and this is what lends a high degree of legitimacy to your Conventions and ensures they are binding”.

“Especially in the context of the G20, we must ensure that discussions do not simply become an abstract debate on the rules of the financial markets, important though these are. We need to show people throughout the world that this is about them, about their future and their destiny”.

“The organization which re-acts most quickly to this changed world, which gets the world’s people to listen to it, is the one that will be successful. I want the ILO to be successful. For that reason I repeat my congratulations to you and I wish you strength and courage... “We have seen you leave your mark on globalization and you should continue to do so”.

	President Micheline Calmy-Rey - Switzerland > Press release > Video > Audio > Statement

"The ILO is a model for international governance"

"There is no fair international governance without the ILO"

"The ILO plays a central role on employment and work-related international discussions. This role should be reinforced"

"There is a renewed sense of urgency for social justice"

"With nearly 190 conventions, the ILO has made progress on the road to social justice"

“The challenge always remains. This is the reason why I would like you not to lose hope and go on with your efforts to reconcile justice, freedom and social protection”

	Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – Russia > Press release > Video > Audio > Statement

“I would like to highlight the key role of the ILO, which is one of the oldest and without a doubt one of the most authoritative organizations in the international arena. In different political contexts, during periods of both economic growth and economic downturn, the ILO has always protected workers’ interests, their right to decent and safe working conditions, and to reliable guarantees of social protection.”

“The efficiency of the ILO can to a great extent be attributed to its unique tripartite structure, where governments, employers and trade unions have an equal voice in decision making.”

“It was constructive social dialogue that enabled the ILO to come up with optimal and well-considered initiatives during the global financial and economic crisis of 2009-10”.

(Taking about the Global Jobs Pact) “The main idea of this ground-breaking document is to reject simple solutions in the implementation of anti-crisis policies, such as cutting wages and social benefits”.

“I should like to stress that in Russia we do not just support the Global Jobs Pact: we do our utmost to avoid placing the burden of economic problems solely on people’s shoulders”.

“In creating labour conditions that correspond to the needs and requirements of a modern worker, we are acting in line with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. We share its main principles. Moreover, we stand ready to facilitate the active promotion of the principles in the global economic and social agenda.”

“We have a concrete proposal to make: to organize an international high-level conference in Russia in autumn next year on the practical realization of the ILO’s basic principles, as embodied in its Decent Work Agenda”.