GENEVA (ILO News) ─President of the Government of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, today urged governments around the world to sustain and strengthen policies that promote social cohesion, employment and tripartite dialogue as a fundamental step towards overcoming the global financial and economic crisis.
In an address to the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, Mr. Rodríguez Zapatero highlighted the importance of labour for the Spanish government and confirmed his country’s commitment to social dialogue and the joint effort of workers, employers and governments to respond to the crisis.
“I defend social dialogue as the model that guides the European Union and globalization as a whole. I would like to propose this as a model for the reform process that started this weekend at the G-20 meeting”, said Mr. Rodríguez Zapatero during his second visit as Spanish President to the ILO.
Mr. Rodríguez Zapatero, who has just returned from the G-20 meeting in Washington on the financial crisis, said it was necessary to create a space for dialogue – which should include workers and employers – to carry out a global financial reform. He also called for a stronger defense of the public sector and public spending as a way of stimulating the economy.
“This is an investment and not an obstacle for development”, he said. “At this moment, the biggest responsibility vis-à-vis the financial and social crisis is a stronger defense of the public sector, not to replace the market but to make sure that it works well.”
The Spanish President reiterated his commitment to the ILO and his willingness to work with the organization to strengthen its capacity to influence global governance.
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia highlighted the role the Spanish government has played in promoting ILO values and in finding solutions to the current social and economic instability worldwide.
“The financial crisis is infecting the real economy and turning itself into an important unemployment crisis. The need to sustain enterprises, to protect and promote jobs and incomes, the need for social security and protection, and the need to strengthen social dialogue and tripartism are key ILO policies in these times of crisis. You, Mr. President, are applying them”, said Mr. Somavia.
Mr. Rodríguez Zapatero said he favoured investing in productive and infrastructure activities rather than reducing taxes as a way of reactivating the global economy. He also said he had asked the G-20 meeting to include employers’ and workers’ representatives in future negotiations to shape a new global economy.
“Every crisis represents an opportunity for change. I prefer to talk about change rather than crisis. The economic and environmental futures, and the fight against poverty and misery, are about sharing the same table, about feeling one and the same with the rest, or at least about feeling some similarity between one another”, he concluded.