‘A true and trusted voice of Social Justice’: World is celebrating 100 years of ILO

NewsBharati    11-Apr-2019
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United Nations, Apr 11: The question of Social Justice is one of the most important quests of the human world. The ILO, International Labour Organization is one of the leading and universal organization which protects social justice of each and every person in the world. Today, ILO is celebrating centenary worldwide. 

As a part of the celebration, a 24-hour marathon of events from Fiji to Philadelphia is planned across the globe. 
 
 

The ILO was born out of the rubble of the 1st World War, as the winners met to draw up the Treaty of Versailles, where they affirmed the need for social justice in the service of a “Universal and Lasting peace”.

The International Labour Organization was established in 1919 by the Peace Conference, which ended World War I, as an autonomous organization associated with the League of Nations, the predecessor of the United Nations. The aim of the founding members was to promote and achieve global peace. They were of the view that peace and prosperity were the two sides of the same coin with no lasting peace possible without shared prosperity. This is reflected in the ILO Constitution which states that poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.

 

Additionally, the founding members were convinced that in order to achieve the double objective of peace and prosperity, international cooperation was essential. It is striking to note how relevant their vision still is today, 100 years later.

The ILO was entrusted with the mandate of promoting social justice, improving the working conditions of the global workforce, and supporting workers' rights and interests through international labor standards negotiated in tripartite cooperation between representatives of employers, workers, and governments.

Founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1919, the ILO is a UN agency whose mandate is to advance social justice and promote decent work by setting international labor standards. The ILO is the first specialized agency of the UN with 187 member states. 

On this occasion, the UN Chief painted a picture of a time of upheaval, when newly-emboldened labor unions in many parts of the world, demanded fair treatment, dignity at work, adequate wages and an eight-hour working day.

Antonio Guterres said, “the nations of the world knew they must cooperate to make it happen”, he said, despite being the oldest UN family, “ILO remains to this day one of the most unique, ILO remains to this day one of the most unique gathering spaces in the international system”, as well as “a source of strength and legitimacy”, where workers, employers, and governments can seek solutions through dialogue.

Since the digital economy operates in the world without borders, Guterres stressed, “more than ever”, international institutions “must play a vital role in shaping the future of work we want”.

Secretary-General stated, “Let us make the most of this pivotal anniversary to renew our collective commitment to international cooperation, peace, and social justice”. Noting “great uncertainty” surrounding multilateralism and “widespread disillusion” regarding social and economic progress, he said that “many citizens doubt the capacity of the leaders and institutions” to respond to their needs.