Decent work crucial to prevent, recover from crises – ILO

“Jobs matter” amidst “multiplication” of crises around the world, says director general

Decent work crucial to prevent, recover from crises – ILO
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) wrapped up on Friday its 106th International Labour Conference following two weeks of deliberations on key world of work issues, in what is known as the “global parliament of labour.”

Among other things, the conference adopted the “Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation 2017” – a new recommendation that focuses on the role of decent work and employment in preventing and recovering from crises such as conflicts or natural disasters. ILO recommendations provide guidance to governments to help them tackle issues that the organisation believes to be of particular importance.

The organisation’s Director General Guy Ryder said there has been a “multiplication” of crises around the world – and one lesson society can draw from these is that “jobs matter.”

“If there [are] insufficient employment opportunities for young people – particularly for young men – then that’s a very unstable situation. And the dangers of conflict are there. So creating decent work is already a strong preventive manager,” he explained. “But equally, when some type of disaster strikes, getting out of it is also strongly linked to providing decent work opportunities.”

The conference also adopted a resolution that requests Ryder to take a lead in strengthening partnerships at the international level to promote the new standard. He said the adoption of the standard “is a vital answer from the world of work to have millions of people, affected by crisis, disaster, or displacement. Not only are we listening to them, we are acting for them and acting with them.”


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