INTERVIEW WITH GILBERT F. HOUNGBO, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, ILO
20 February 2023, Geneva - On the occasion of World Day of Social Justice, we spoke with Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for his take on trends shaping the future of work, and how the ILO and others can cooperate for a more sustainable and equitable future.
You’ve been in the post of ILO Director-General for a few months. What do you see as the key trends currently shaping the world of work?
The world is facing multiple, interrelated and mutually reinforcing crises: the aftermath of Covid-19, unprecedented debt levels; inflation – particularly in food and fuel prices; growing poverty and inequality; the war in Ukraine. These come on top of pre-existing trends that were already reshaping the world of work: the climate emergency, demographic shifts, technology and globalization.
Issues of this scale and complexity can only be dealt with if we work together, co-ordinate resources and prioritize human-centred policies. If we can do this then I see a path towards a positive future that is stable, equitable and sustainable. But I also see a disturbing trend towards short-term expediency, nationalism and isolationism. Combatting this is perhaps the greatest challenge we face.
The ILO recently released its World Employment and Social Outlook - Trends 2023 report. Why is this report essential reading for the policy makers and the international community?
The aim of policy makers must be to create the best conditions for ordinary people to live and develop themselves. This is so much more than just a financial equation, it involves multiple, intertwining social criteria. The WESO Trends reflects these and gives us a picture of the broader health of our societies. Concerningly, this report shows that this social progress has gone into reverse. A cost-of-living crisis is pushing more people into poverty, including working poverty. Workers are having to accept lower-quality jobs, just to keep food on the table. Trends in informal employment and inequality are a concern too – the richest 10 per cent of the global population currently accounts for 52 per cent of global income while the poorest 50 per cent has less than seven percent.
This level of inequality is not just morally unacceptable. If we do not cultivate greater social justice, we will end up with more social unrest. That is why we must focus on social justice if we are to follow a path to a sustainable and stable future.
In 2023 the ILO wants to launch a Global Coalition for Social Justice. Why are you doing this? What do you mean by social justice?
There is no international, specific, agreed definition of social justice, but for me it means tackling inequalities and discrimination and ensuring every human being has equality of opportunity. A minimum level of social protection is an important component of this. Other practical aspects would be access to education, food security, adequate water and sanitation, safe and healthy working conditions, and the freedom, the voice, to express your views. I appreciate that this goes beyond the ILO’s mandate, which focuses on promoting decent work. And while decent work will be essential for greater social justice, this is why we need a broad and global coalition.
How can our audience of business, civil society, governments and academia support the Global Coalition and its goals?
If we are to achieve the change we need, we will need action in three areas: economic, environmental and social. These three tracks must move together, and for that we need the broadest level of support, talent and action. For example, we will need to measure progress and for that we may need to develop new indicators, which academic institutions or multilateral bodies may be able to help with. But I am confident we will get this broad level of support because sustainability and social justice are in everyone’s long-term interests.
Would you like to hear more? Join us live at the Geneva Graduate Institute on 2 March 2023 for a conversation with Gilbert Houngbo on The Quest for Social Justice in a Rapidly Changing World of Work.