Discours du Directeur général à la 346e session du Conseil d'administration de l'OIT
Madame la Présidente,
Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil d’administration,
Mesdames et Messieurs les observateurs,
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Merci à toutes et à tous pour vos propos très touchants d’encouragement, de soutien et d’amitié.
Permettez-moi, une fois de plus, de réitérer ma profonde gratitude pour la confiance que vous m’avez témoignée en m’accordant le privilège – oui c’est un privilège - de servir notre auguste Organisation en cette période plutôt délicate et complexe.
La semaine passée, nous avons tous appris l’acquisition de Twitter. Loin de moi, toute idée de provoquer des débats sans fin à cet égard – mais force est de constater que c’est aussi le reflet des contradictions actuelles à l’échelle mondiale.
D’un côté, la transformation structurelle de nos économies vers davantage de secteur tertiaire et l’avancée technologique sans précédent qui a pour corollaire l’économie numérique ; des progrès scientifiques notoires – la production de vaccin anti-covid en un temps record en est un exemple retentissant ; une économie mondiale qui, malgré ses soubresauts actuels – évolue en crescendo.
De l’autre côté, une dégradation sans précédent des inégalités intra et interpays, une dégradation de la relation de travail, la précarisation de millions d’emploi, les tendances à l’informalisation du secteur formel, la dégradation de la situation du travail des enfants, le travail forcé, l’absence criarde d’un minimum de protection sociale pour quatre (4) milliards de citoyens, les défis de l’emploi des jeunes, etc…
C’est dire, Madame la Présidente, que le monde a besoin d’un nouveau contrat social. Disons-le une fois encore : les valeurs fondatrices de l’OIT en 1919 restent toujours d’actualité.
Devant vous toutes et tous réunis ce jour, je prends l’engagement de déployer tous mes efforts pour défendre ces valeurs fondatrices de l’OIT – nos valeurs communes de paix, de justice sociale, de croissance économique équitable et de solidarité, dans le respect et la protection de l’environnement.
Madame la Présidente, Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil d’administration,
Je suis très honoré que plusieurs d’entre vous aient eu l’opportunité de contribuer à peaufiner et à enrichir la vision que j’ai pour l’OIT, faisant ainsi d’elle, une vision commune qui nous appartient à toutes et à tous et qu’ensemble, nous mettrons en œuvre.
La fonction normative de l'OIT demeure le socle de notre Organisation.
Il est de notre devoir de veiller à ce que le système normatif de l'OIT continue à œuvrer pour la justice sociale.
Nous devons donc renforcer notre capacité tripartite à faire face, par le biais de l'action normative, aux profondes mutations du monde du travail, à nous hisser à la hauteur des transformations dans la relation de travail et sur le lieu de travail.
L’émergence de l’économie et des plateformes numériques, la transition écologique vers des emplois verts, les chaînes d’approvisionnement et bien d’autres nous interpellent.
Je mesure à sa juste valeur la complexité de ces sujets. Et j’en veux pour preuve les délibérations récentes et difficiles du Groupe de Travail tripartite sur les plateformes numériques. Mais notre détermination et les attentes du monde du travail doivent primer. Il en va de même de la nécessité d’accélérer les travaux d’examens des normes existantes.
La quête de justice sociale ne peut être une exclusivité de l’OIT. Elle exige la participation de toutes les parties prenantes.
En d’autres termes, une Coalition mondiale pour la justice sociale est nécessaire et urgente. Reconnaissons-le : la question sociale est le plus faible maillon du trio Economie – Social – et Environnement. Nous nous devons d’agir pour la planète et pour le bien-être de ses habitants. Oui, une justice sociale qui permet aux sociétés et aux économies de mieux fonctionner et de réduire la pauvreté, les inégalités et les tensions sociales, une justice sociale qui rime avec justice écologique.
La Coalition vise à faciliter et à renforcer la collaboration et l'action collective en réunissant, avec l’OIT et ses mandants, les agences des Nations Unies, les institutions financières internationales, la société civile, le secteur privé, les partenaires du développement, les milieux universitaires et d'autres parties prenantes soucieuses de promouvoir la justice sociale dans le cadre de l'élaboration des politiques aux niveaux mondial, régional et national d’une part, et dans le cadre de la coopération au développement ou des accords financiers, commerciaux et d'investissement d’autre part.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
The inclusion of occupational safety and health (OSH) as a fundamental principle and right at work is a source of renewed momentum for the promotion of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Therefore, I intend to place greater focus on the ILO’s work on OSH matters.
Full and productive employment, and labour protections remain a priority. Earlier today, we launched the 10th edition of the ILO Monitor on the world of work. I am reminded and mindful of the needs of our Member States and social partners in terms of job creation, taking into account the severe impact multiple crises are having on employment and labour markets – especially for women and youth.
Sustainable enterprises play a decisive role in fostering inclusive growth and decent work. We must take action to create a conducive policy and institutional environments for enterprises, both the micro, small and medium firms, including those in the social and solidarity economy, as well as the multinational companies. The quest for increased productivity and skills development remains essential particularly for low income countries and middle income countries as is the need to strengthen interlinkages between productivity growth and decent work, and to ensure that productivity gains are shared equitably between stakeholders including workers, employers and local communities.
Supply chains remain a powerful engine of economic growth and development. Sustaining these positive attributes requires all stakeholders to tackle and turn into opportunities the challenges observed too often in many supply chains. We have to ensure that fundamental principles and rights at work are fully implemented in supply chains.
Madam Chairperson, Distinguished GB Members,
Social justice is inconceivable without protection. We must redouble our efforts to achieve universal social protection. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unparalleled social protection policy response, investment in social protection needs to go beyond one-off crisis response measures and be part of broader and longer-term policies that prevent poverty and reduce inequalities. We must work closely with you – our constituents – to develop comprehensive universal social protection strategies and policies that are inclusive and gender-responsive, and that are sustainably and adequately financed.
Needless to say, none of the above will happen without effective social dialogue. This is why I am proposing a dedicated programme to build the capacities of employers’ and workers’ organizations to further harness their potential as impactful drivers of positive change in the world of work. Our international training centre in Turin will play a critical role in this effort.
It is critical that increased attention be given to building capacity and providing the necessary support to all constituents to help address the root causes of labour conflict, foster trust among the partners for effective social dialogue and strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that will lead to harmonious industrial relations.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
Just as the Global Coalition for Social Justice will serve as a framework for policy coherence on social justice at the wider multilateral level and beyond, we also need to reinforce internal coherence and coordination within the Office.
To support this effort, I propose five Action Programmes in areas that cut across the policy outcomes and technical departments, and that present significant opportunities for the promotion of social justice.
On the occasion of this Governing Body, you will already have the opportunity to address these priorities, in particular the question of the transitions which concern us all, whether they are linked to informality, or to environmental issues. Decent work in times of crisis or post-crisis concerns us more than ever, and we must build a strong common ambition in terms of supply chains, investment and trade.
As such, and let me emphasize this, the Action Programmes do not stand outside the seven policy outcomes and do not add to them. Rather, they will combine work carried out under several outcomes and contribute to their more effective achievement.
And let me underline that the singling out of these five thematic areas into dedicated Action Programmes is indeed testimony to the critical importance that I attach to each one of them.
For example, gender equality and non-discrimination are inseparable, and dovetail with social justice. As such, the gender dimension is imperative for the ILO, not merely for reasons of equity but because the labour force participation of both women and men – on equal terms – is an important driver of growth and development.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
I am also determined to work closely with you to conclude the long-standing effort to bring into force the 1986 Amendment to the ILO Constitution.
I am pleased to share with you the fact that since the March Governing Body session, five new ratifications of this amendment have been recorded, bringing the total number of ratifications and acceptances to 122. As the 1986 Amendment has to be ratified or accepted by 125 of the 187 Member States, we need three more ratifications.
In order to achieve the ambitious programme of work that I am proposing for the coming years, I have the privilege of working with highly motivated, dedicated and talented ILO officials. I acknowledge that our staff constitutes the organization’s paramount resource. I also recognize the significance of an Office staff composition that to the greatest possible extent reflects the membership of the organization. Let me also reiterate what I have said on multiple occasions: gender parity at levels of P5 and above is a firm commitment of mine.
We will strive to further improve the quality of our development cooperation, ensuring better integration of the various sources of funding and ensuring follow-up to evaluation findings and risk management including the MOPAN recommendations. Staff mobility and the quest for harmonisation of the conditions of work for staff on Development Cooperation funding with those of staff on Regular Budget is also a critical issue that needs to be addressed in collaboration with the Staff Union.
Such improvements will be driven by innovations. We must establish a system to identify new solutions, policies and practices that promote social justice. I am committed to establishing an ILO innovation facility to coordinate innovation initiatives in priority policy areas.
Madam Chair,
Upon assuming office, I introduced a revised organizational chart for the Office.
In designing the new structure, I have placed a high premium on the importance of working as One ILO, and on the importance of collaboration and coordination across departments and regions.
At the senior management level, I will appoint one Deputy Director-General. The Deputy Director-General will oversee the roll-out of the five Priority Action Programmes that have been included in my programme proposals and be responsible for our global work on research and statistics, as well as the ILO International Training Centre in Turin.
I have decided to discontinue the division of the Office into three portfolios, and instead group our policy and operational departments into four clusters that will each be led by an Assistant Director-General.
Further refinements to the Office structure may take place in the coming weeks, at the end of ongoing consultations with the departments concerned and with the staff union.
The consultations undertaken by my Transition team have pointed to some areas where I believe there is scope for such improvements. For example, the call for a reinforced and expanded partnership approach, which could speak in favour of merging our work on development cooperation with that on multilateral cooperation into a single department. The desire to make more effective use of our sectoral expertise is another area.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
Throughout the campaign and since the elections, I have been overwhelmed by the request of Member States for the ILO to step up its support to Member States on the ground. And this is what we will do. Although these demands and expectations are multidimensional, I have been particularly aware of the global discourse on the ILO’s work in countries such as Qatar and especially, the discourse around the World Cup. It is factually correct to state that the ILO’s work in and with the State of Qatar in recent years has yielded positive results with important milestones, yet continuing improvements are still required. Accordingly, the Office is in discussion with the State of Qatar, and later this week I will be meeting with the Minister of Labour of Qatar about the continuation of our programme of work for the coming years. Such a programme might require the transformation of the current Project Office into a regular Country Office with adequate resources for such an endeavour.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The current state of Official Development Assistance, combined with a zero real growth for our Programme and Budget in the last 20 years or so calls for the Office to constantly be searching for greater efficiency and possible cuts. In this context, I am proposing discontinuing regional meetings in their current configuration. The truth is, if we phase out regional meetings in their current configuration, we would release enough resources to open additional field offices and provide adequate resources for the Action Programmes. The office is seeking your guidance in this regard.
Madame la Présidente, Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil d’administration
J’ai parlé des défis mondiaux, et ceux-ci sont bien réels. Mais n’oublions pas que lorsque nous nous trouvons en situation de crises, il existe aussi des opportunités que nous devons identifier et saisir.
Aujourd’hui, la centralité de la quête de justice sociale signifie que l’OIT et le mandat de l’OIT sont passés au-devant de la scène publique. L’OIT est plus reconnue que jamais, notamment grâce à la direction remarquable de mes prédécesseurs.
L’OIT est forte. Notre mandat est au cœur des préoccupations mondiales, et nous avons la capacité et l’énergie de traduire ce mandat en mesures concrètes pour toutes et pour tous.
Avec votre soutien, ensemble, nous réussirons à rendre le monde meilleur. Et ce faisant, nous ne laisserons personne sur le banc du désespoir.
Je vous remercie de votre attention.
Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil d’administration,
Mesdames et Messieurs les observateurs,
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Merci à toutes et à tous pour vos propos très touchants d’encouragement, de soutien et d’amitié.
Permettez-moi, une fois de plus, de réitérer ma profonde gratitude pour la confiance que vous m’avez témoignée en m’accordant le privilège – oui c’est un privilège - de servir notre auguste Organisation en cette période plutôt délicate et complexe.
La semaine passée, nous avons tous appris l’acquisition de Twitter. Loin de moi, toute idée de provoquer des débats sans fin à cet égard – mais force est de constater que c’est aussi le reflet des contradictions actuelles à l’échelle mondiale.
D’un côté, la transformation structurelle de nos économies vers davantage de secteur tertiaire et l’avancée technologique sans précédent qui a pour corollaire l’économie numérique ; des progrès scientifiques notoires – la production de vaccin anti-covid en un temps record en est un exemple retentissant ; une économie mondiale qui, malgré ses soubresauts actuels – évolue en crescendo.
De l’autre côté, une dégradation sans précédent des inégalités intra et interpays, une dégradation de la relation de travail, la précarisation de millions d’emploi, les tendances à l’informalisation du secteur formel, la dégradation de la situation du travail des enfants, le travail forcé, l’absence criarde d’un minimum de protection sociale pour quatre (4) milliards de citoyens, les défis de l’emploi des jeunes, etc…
C’est dire, Madame la Présidente, que le monde a besoin d’un nouveau contrat social. Disons-le une fois encore : les valeurs fondatrices de l’OIT en 1919 restent toujours d’actualité.
Devant vous toutes et tous réunis ce jour, je prends l’engagement de déployer tous mes efforts pour défendre ces valeurs fondatrices de l’OIT – nos valeurs communes de paix, de justice sociale, de croissance économique équitable et de solidarité, dans le respect et la protection de l’environnement.
Madame la Présidente, Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil d’administration,
Je suis très honoré que plusieurs d’entre vous aient eu l’opportunité de contribuer à peaufiner et à enrichir la vision que j’ai pour l’OIT, faisant ainsi d’elle, une vision commune qui nous appartient à toutes et à tous et qu’ensemble, nous mettrons en œuvre.
La fonction normative de l'OIT demeure le socle de notre Organisation.
Il est de notre devoir de veiller à ce que le système normatif de l'OIT continue à œuvrer pour la justice sociale.
Nous devons donc renforcer notre capacité tripartite à faire face, par le biais de l'action normative, aux profondes mutations du monde du travail, à nous hisser à la hauteur des transformations dans la relation de travail et sur le lieu de travail.
L’émergence de l’économie et des plateformes numériques, la transition écologique vers des emplois verts, les chaînes d’approvisionnement et bien d’autres nous interpellent.
Je mesure à sa juste valeur la complexité de ces sujets. Et j’en veux pour preuve les délibérations récentes et difficiles du Groupe de Travail tripartite sur les plateformes numériques. Mais notre détermination et les attentes du monde du travail doivent primer. Il en va de même de la nécessité d’accélérer les travaux d’examens des normes existantes.
La quête de justice sociale ne peut être une exclusivité de l’OIT. Elle exige la participation de toutes les parties prenantes.
En d’autres termes, une Coalition mondiale pour la justice sociale est nécessaire et urgente. Reconnaissons-le : la question sociale est le plus faible maillon du trio Economie – Social – et Environnement. Nous nous devons d’agir pour la planète et pour le bien-être de ses habitants. Oui, une justice sociale qui permet aux sociétés et aux économies de mieux fonctionner et de réduire la pauvreté, les inégalités et les tensions sociales, une justice sociale qui rime avec justice écologique.
La Coalition vise à faciliter et à renforcer la collaboration et l'action collective en réunissant, avec l’OIT et ses mandants, les agences des Nations Unies, les institutions financières internationales, la société civile, le secteur privé, les partenaires du développement, les milieux universitaires et d'autres parties prenantes soucieuses de promouvoir la justice sociale dans le cadre de l'élaboration des politiques aux niveaux mondial, régional et national d’une part, et dans le cadre de la coopération au développement ou des accords financiers, commerciaux et d'investissement d’autre part.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
The inclusion of occupational safety and health (OSH) as a fundamental principle and right at work is a source of renewed momentum for the promotion of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Therefore, I intend to place greater focus on the ILO’s work on OSH matters.
Full and productive employment, and labour protections remain a priority. Earlier today, we launched the 10th edition of the ILO Monitor on the world of work. I am reminded and mindful of the needs of our Member States and social partners in terms of job creation, taking into account the severe impact multiple crises are having on employment and labour markets – especially for women and youth.
Sustainable enterprises play a decisive role in fostering inclusive growth and decent work. We must take action to create a conducive policy and institutional environments for enterprises, both the micro, small and medium firms, including those in the social and solidarity economy, as well as the multinational companies. The quest for increased productivity and skills development remains essential particularly for low income countries and middle income countries as is the need to strengthen interlinkages between productivity growth and decent work, and to ensure that productivity gains are shared equitably between stakeholders including workers, employers and local communities.
Supply chains remain a powerful engine of economic growth and development. Sustaining these positive attributes requires all stakeholders to tackle and turn into opportunities the challenges observed too often in many supply chains. We have to ensure that fundamental principles and rights at work are fully implemented in supply chains.
Madam Chairperson, Distinguished GB Members,
Social justice is inconceivable without protection. We must redouble our efforts to achieve universal social protection. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unparalleled social protection policy response, investment in social protection needs to go beyond one-off crisis response measures and be part of broader and longer-term policies that prevent poverty and reduce inequalities. We must work closely with you – our constituents – to develop comprehensive universal social protection strategies and policies that are inclusive and gender-responsive, and that are sustainably and adequately financed.
Needless to say, none of the above will happen without effective social dialogue. This is why I am proposing a dedicated programme to build the capacities of employers’ and workers’ organizations to further harness their potential as impactful drivers of positive change in the world of work. Our international training centre in Turin will play a critical role in this effort.
It is critical that increased attention be given to building capacity and providing the necessary support to all constituents to help address the root causes of labour conflict, foster trust among the partners for effective social dialogue and strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that will lead to harmonious industrial relations.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
Just as the Global Coalition for Social Justice will serve as a framework for policy coherence on social justice at the wider multilateral level and beyond, we also need to reinforce internal coherence and coordination within the Office.
To support this effort, I propose five Action Programmes in areas that cut across the policy outcomes and technical departments, and that present significant opportunities for the promotion of social justice.
On the occasion of this Governing Body, you will already have the opportunity to address these priorities, in particular the question of the transitions which concern us all, whether they are linked to informality, or to environmental issues. Decent work in times of crisis or post-crisis concerns us more than ever, and we must build a strong common ambition in terms of supply chains, investment and trade.
As such, and let me emphasize this, the Action Programmes do not stand outside the seven policy outcomes and do not add to them. Rather, they will combine work carried out under several outcomes and contribute to their more effective achievement.
And let me underline that the singling out of these five thematic areas into dedicated Action Programmes is indeed testimony to the critical importance that I attach to each one of them.
For example, gender equality and non-discrimination are inseparable, and dovetail with social justice. As such, the gender dimension is imperative for the ILO, not merely for reasons of equity but because the labour force participation of both women and men – on equal terms – is an important driver of growth and development.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
I am also determined to work closely with you to conclude the long-standing effort to bring into force the 1986 Amendment to the ILO Constitution.
I am pleased to share with you the fact that since the March Governing Body session, five new ratifications of this amendment have been recorded, bringing the total number of ratifications and acceptances to 122. As the 1986 Amendment has to be ratified or accepted by 125 of the 187 Member States, we need three more ratifications.
In order to achieve the ambitious programme of work that I am proposing for the coming years, I have the privilege of working with highly motivated, dedicated and talented ILO officials. I acknowledge that our staff constitutes the organization’s paramount resource. I also recognize the significance of an Office staff composition that to the greatest possible extent reflects the membership of the organization. Let me also reiterate what I have said on multiple occasions: gender parity at levels of P5 and above is a firm commitment of mine.
We will strive to further improve the quality of our development cooperation, ensuring better integration of the various sources of funding and ensuring follow-up to evaluation findings and risk management including the MOPAN recommendations. Staff mobility and the quest for harmonisation of the conditions of work for staff on Development Cooperation funding with those of staff on Regular Budget is also a critical issue that needs to be addressed in collaboration with the Staff Union.
Such improvements will be driven by innovations. We must establish a system to identify new solutions, policies and practices that promote social justice. I am committed to establishing an ILO innovation facility to coordinate innovation initiatives in priority policy areas.
Madam Chair,
Upon assuming office, I introduced a revised organizational chart for the Office.
In designing the new structure, I have placed a high premium on the importance of working as One ILO, and on the importance of collaboration and coordination across departments and regions.
At the senior management level, I will appoint one Deputy Director-General. The Deputy Director-General will oversee the roll-out of the five Priority Action Programmes that have been included in my programme proposals and be responsible for our global work on research and statistics, as well as the ILO International Training Centre in Turin.
I have decided to discontinue the division of the Office into three portfolios, and instead group our policy and operational departments into four clusters that will each be led by an Assistant Director-General.
Further refinements to the Office structure may take place in the coming weeks, at the end of ongoing consultations with the departments concerned and with the staff union.
The consultations undertaken by my Transition team have pointed to some areas where I believe there is scope for such improvements. For example, the call for a reinforced and expanded partnership approach, which could speak in favour of merging our work on development cooperation with that on multilateral cooperation into a single department. The desire to make more effective use of our sectoral expertise is another area.
Madam Chair, Members of the Governing Body,
Throughout the campaign and since the elections, I have been overwhelmed by the request of Member States for the ILO to step up its support to Member States on the ground. And this is what we will do. Although these demands and expectations are multidimensional, I have been particularly aware of the global discourse on the ILO’s work in countries such as Qatar and especially, the discourse around the World Cup. It is factually correct to state that the ILO’s work in and with the State of Qatar in recent years has yielded positive results with important milestones, yet continuing improvements are still required. Accordingly, the Office is in discussion with the State of Qatar, and later this week I will be meeting with the Minister of Labour of Qatar about the continuation of our programme of work for the coming years. Such a programme might require the transformation of the current Project Office into a regular Country Office with adequate resources for such an endeavour.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The current state of Official Development Assistance, combined with a zero real growth for our Programme and Budget in the last 20 years or so calls for the Office to constantly be searching for greater efficiency and possible cuts. In this context, I am proposing discontinuing regional meetings in their current configuration. The truth is, if we phase out regional meetings in their current configuration, we would release enough resources to open additional field offices and provide adequate resources for the Action Programmes. The office is seeking your guidance in this regard.
Madame la Présidente, Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil d’administration
J’ai parlé des défis mondiaux, et ceux-ci sont bien réels. Mais n’oublions pas que lorsque nous nous trouvons en situation de crises, il existe aussi des opportunités que nous devons identifier et saisir.
Aujourd’hui, la centralité de la quête de justice sociale signifie que l’OIT et le mandat de l’OIT sont passés au-devant de la scène publique. L’OIT est plus reconnue que jamais, notamment grâce à la direction remarquable de mes prédécesseurs.
L’OIT est forte. Notre mandat est au cœur des préoccupations mondiales, et nous avons la capacité et l’énergie de traduire ce mandat en mesures concrètes pour toutes et pour tous.
Avec votre soutien, ensemble, nous réussirons à rendre le monde meilleur. Et ce faisant, nous ne laisserons personne sur le banc du désespoir.
Je vous remercie de votre attention.