Statement by Minister of Labour, Health and Social Policies, Maurizio Sacconi, to the 97th session of the International Labour Conference
Geneva, Wednesday 11 June 2008
Let me express my deep appreciation and broad consensus to the assessments made by the Slovenian President, Mr Türk, in the name of the European Union, regarding the ethical foundations of decent work, the function of labour law and the new balance between competition and social justice in a globalized world.
In this context, the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization is essential to place the strategy of decent work at the heart of the goals and actions of the United Nations structure. It is in our common interest that decent work should be considered a global goal and, as such, integrated in the policies and the strategies of other multilateral institutions.
The ILO should promote initiatives in order to increase the link between trade and labour, and between fair trade and core labour standards. Additionally, the World Trade Organization should lead towards an equitable globalization and an improved social justice, based on the effective consideration of the meaning of core labour standards in the current multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations.
Moving along the new frontiers of the respect of economic and social rights and, in particular, of the fundamental principles and rights at work, we should turn the rights to basic health and occupational safety into universally recognized fundamental rights to protect the lives of workers that, regrettably, are often jeopardized by competitive pressures and the difficult regulation of global markets.
An important aspect of decent work relates to the freedom of association and union organization and the forms of collective bargaining.
The Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work which was submitted to the Conference calls on all member States to commit themselves to the actual implementation of the relevant international Conventions. We share this view.
Collective bargaining and industrial relations are important tools for fair trade and they should contribute to the development of an active society where competitiveness and social promotion go hand in hand.
We welcome with interest the report on the skills needed to increase productivity and employability. The issues mentioned lay emphasis on the links and mutual implications between education, the world of work and global challenges. Director-General Somavía should take credit for this, and the Italian Government confirms its support to his reelection at the head of the Organization.
Aware of moving on such complex scenarios, Italy will pull its weight in the search of adequate political solutions, in view of the Italian presidency of the G8 and the related meeting of the ministers of labour.
At this point, I would like to refer to the positive cooperation between the ILO and Italy. We are now finalizing a partnership agreement in order to highlight the priorities to be addressed by the technical cooperation carried out with the financial support of our Government.
With the same view in mind, we are committed to promoting the activities of the ILO training centre based in Turin. In its over 40 years of activity, this facility has proved to be an extremely valuable tool for promoting the development of human resources and fostering the social progress of member States of the Organization. We are pleased and proud to host and support the centre but, at the time, we would like to see an appropriate enhancement of its potential — so far not exploited in full — in order to catalyse the training activities of the United Nations system and develop the institutional capacities of emerging countries.
In 2009, the ILO will celebrate its 90th anniversary. This anniversary should be an occasion to give new impetus to the Organization ahead of the challenges of globalization, keeping and renewing those essential and inalienable landmarks and sources of inspiration represented by the dignity of labour, tripartism, social dialogue, social progress and social cohesion.
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