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Coming together at a high-level meeting hosted by Brazil, the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers have committed to creating quality jobs and fostering social inclusion.
The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo, has urged G20 Labour and Employment Ministers to take decisive action to reduce inequalities, promote gender equality, and encourage diversity in the workplace.
Coming together at a high-level meeting hosted by Brazil on 25-26 July, the ministers agreed to a comprehensive set of measures to address global labour market challenges and ensure just transitions and promote decent work. Further, they committed to creating quality jobs, fostering social inclusion, and eliminating hunger and poverty through coordinated social, economic, and environmental policies.
DG Houngbo stated: “In a world that is constantly grappling with new challenges and crises, it is becoming clearer every day that we need to accelerate our efforts towards making social justice a reality for all. This requires a set of well-coordinated social policies, including social protection and other policies to ensure social inclusion.”
DG Houngbo also introduced the G20 Social Policy Portal in his address. Developed in collaboration with the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the portal highlights the importance of universal social protection systems and strong labour market institutions to addressing inequalities and promoting sustainable development.
Speaking on the use of technologies as a means of improving everyone's quality of life, ILO Deputy Director-General Celeste Drake also stressed that taking advantage of and harnessing these technologies in the workplace means respecting fundamental principles and rights at work and encouraging social dialogue.
In this regard, Drake also announced the launch of an ILO Observatory on AI and Work in the Digital Economy in September and a forthcoming standard-setting discussion in 2025 on decent work in the platform economy.
Participating in the Just Transition Leadership Forum, DG Houngbo highlighted the importance of building just transition pathways to achieve decent work and social justice. Particularly, the forum emphasised the urgent need for G20 leaders, governments, employers, and workers' organisations to take collective action in addressing the social impacts of climate change on labour markets.
Last but not least, gender equality was also on the agenda of the meeting — ministers in attendance reaffirmed their commitment to reducing the gender gap in labour market participation, aligning with the so-called Brisbane Target, which aims to reduce the gender gap in labour market participation rates by 25% by 2025 and accelerate progress on gender equality.
Speaking at the EPIC (Equal Pay International Coalition) side event, Deputy DG Drake stated: "Looking ahead towards achieving the Brisbane Goal in 2025, countries should continue consolidating efforts to advance gender equality and create more inclusive and equitable societies."
In her remarks, she underlined the need for increased focus on improving women's income security, addressing gender pay gaps, and enhancing conditions for paid care work.
In their closing Declaration, the ministers recognised the critical role of fair wage policies and robust labour market institutions in addressing global employment challenges. Together, they reaffirmed their commitment to the ILO's Decent Work Agenda, which covers job creation, fair wages, labour rights, and social protection.
The Declaration also took note of the ILO’s Global Coalition for Social Justice, which hopes to accelerate efforts to reduce inequalities worldwide.
Lead image / International Labour Organization
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