100th Session of the International Labour Conference

Distinguished Ministers
Distinguished Director-General Juan Somavia
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to the Palais des Nations. It is an honour on behalf of the United Nations to congratulate you and to convey to you the best wishes of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, for a successful 100th session of the International Labour Conference.

The International Labour Organization is the oldest and a highly valued member of the United Nations family, making an important contribution to realizing our core mission: ensuring security, development and respect for human rights for all. The work of the ILO and of the United Nations have brought us several fundamental lessons on which we need to build our strategy to confront effectively the long-term impact of the economic and financial crisis and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

First, employment is critical to reduce extreme poverty and hunger. Decent jobs that provide dignity, security for families and protection are essential in driving the economic growth needed to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. The target of reducing poverty by half by the deadline of 2015 is likely to be reached at the global level. The statistics often overshadow significant differences across countries and regions. This is why job creation was recognized at the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, in early May in Istanbul, as a prerequisite for advancing growth in these vulnerable countries – and ultimately for achieving the MDGs.

Second, in creating jobs, we need to focus on social justice and social protection to build inclusive and equitable societies. Studies show that social protection is absolutely critical to limit inequality and social exclusion, which – in turn – is important for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. As the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has stressed, we must take swift action to create an enabling environment for social inclusion and social protection for all in order to unlock the full productive potential of all nations and people.

Third, green growth must be prioritized. Investment in green jobs is not only critical for our ability to address the impact of climate change, but is also an avenue for further growth. Innovative strategies for green jobs can only succeed with the full engagement of enterprises and workers, and they can be created in all sectors and types of businesses, in urban and rural areas, and in countries at all levels of economic development. By focusing on how to generate more green jobs, the International Labour Conference can make an important contribution to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – the Rio +20 Summit – to take place next year in Brazil.

Fourth, we must recognize the importance of employment for social cohesion and long-term stability. Decent jobs came out to be the key demand in many of the popular movements we have witnessed. Youth unemployment is also acknowledged as a leading factor in ensuring sustainable peace in post-conflict countries. All the countries currently under consideration by the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission have identified job creation as a top priority.

And finally, generating employment and sustainable economic growth require partnerships. The ILO, with its unique trilateral structure, has shown the value of an inclusive approach where the key stakeholders are integrated in the policy and decision-making process.

So, we need to place employment at the centre of our joint efforts to reduce poverty, fight climate change and overcome resource constraints. With the right policies, adequate investment and international support, we can overcome the challenges of the economic and financial crisis and we can achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The United Nations stands with the International Labour Organization in this collective endeavour.

Please accept our best wishes for a successful 100th International Labour Conference.

Thank you for your attention.