OSLO, 5. September 2008 (ILO News): Warning of a backlash against: – unbalanced, unfair and unsustainable” globalization, the International Labour Organization (ILO) director-general Juan Somavia today called for “increased policy coherence in support of social justice for a fair globalization.
Citing current levels of global poverty as – very worrying and a serious indictment of the failure of the current model of globalization, Mr. Somavia stressed that – policy coherence to achieve social justice for a fair globalization requires leadership from unions, from business and from politicians.
– We need more coherent policies nationally and internationally among economic, social and environmental goals, Mr. Somavia said in an address to an international conference on “Decent Work – A Key to Social Justice for a Fair Globalization” organized by the Norwegian government together with the country’s workers’ and employers’ organizations, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO).
Mr. Somavia also called for a balanced sustainable development approach to globalization, saying, – We need a new paradigm of quality growth, based on expanding opportunities for Decent Work… A politically sustainable globalization has to deliver Decent Work.
Mr. Somavia was a keynote speaker at the international conference that also heard Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Mrs Mary Robinson, President of the Ethical Globalization Initiative. Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs chaired the meeting.
Citing the new ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization adopted by the ILO in June at the International Labour Conference, Juan Somavia stressed that -The new Declaration cements a new consensus between developed and developing countries and trade unions and employers with the following phrase: ‘The violation of fundamental principles and rights at work cannot be invoked or otherwise used as a legitimate comparative advantage and that labour standards should not be used for protectionist trade purposes’.
Mr. Somavia highlighted five aspects of the policy coherence challenge including:
– respect for human rights including fundamental principles and rights at work especially;
– sustainable enterprises as essential to competition and productivity;
– a social floor as a development policy for poverty eradication;
– the impact of trade and financial policies on opportunities for decent work; and
– promoting “green jobs” in response to climate change.
– I see the growth of a global Decent Work movement”, he said. “I hope this Conference will mark a turning point into the sphere of international and national policy coherence.”
Mr. Somavia said the meeting will “contribute to the international debate on how coherent support for the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda can help improve economic governance, and promote full employment and decent working conditions around the world.
Mr. Somavia said the ILO agenda – could play a big role in shaping a socially just, fair globalization in league with a revitalized team of international organizations operating in a much more coherent way.
– No doubt, we as heads of agencies can do a lot and we can do more than we are doing now, he said. – But more convergent, more coherent, less parallel government policies will make our job much easier.
