Egypt's tripartite delegation, headed by Minister of Labour Hassan Shehata, participated on Monday morning, June 3, 2024, at the United Nations Palace, in the opening session of the activities of the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC).
Ambassador, Dr. Ahmed Ihab Gamal El-Din, Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva, attended with the Egyptian delegation.
The International Labour Conference is the ILO’s highest decision-making body. It meets annually in June, bringing together the tripartite delegations (Government officials, trade union representatives and employers’ associations) from the Organization’s 187 member States to develop international labour standards and set the broad policies of the ILO.
The 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) is held at the International Labour Organization (ILO) Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3–14 June 2024.
The agenda for this year’s ILC includes a standard-setting discussion on protection against biological hazards, a general discussion on decent work and the care economy and a recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of fundamental principles and rights at work.
The Conference will also elect members of the Governing Body for the 2024-27 term of office.
Activities
Egypt's tripartite delegation, headed by Minister of Labour Hassan Shehata, participated on Monday morning, June 3, 2024, at the United Nations Palace, in the opening session of the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC).
The opening session of the 112th International Labour Conference witnessed the election of the Conference President and Vice-Presidents, adoption of the operational arrangements for the conduct of the Conference and the constitution of committees, in addition to the opening addresses of the President of the Conference, the Employers’ and Workers’ Groups Chairpersons as well as the ILO Director-General and a special address by Ms Jayati Ghosh -Development Economist- on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philadelphia.
During the opening session, the President of the Conference displayed his vision on the issues submitted to the Conference.
The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, opened the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) expressing a feeling of “ambivalence” at the current state of the world of work.
In his speech Houngbo said: “All regions, to varying degrees, have returned to the level of economic activity seen in the pre-pandemic period. Effective action by central banks to curb inflation has also contributed to this positive development... This could, I very much hope, provide some relief for the recently battered purchasing power of workers.”
Houngbo recalled that ILO projections indicate a global unemployment rate of 4.9 per cent for both 2024 and 2025, marking a modest decrease from the 5 per cent recorded in 2023.
However, he warned that, “crises that keep coming one after the other,” could jeopardize these “positive and encouraging advances.”
He added: “At the same time… the sources of tension have intensified. The appalling situation in the Middle East has added to the existing crises. The shocking conflicts in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine and the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to name but a few, remain major issues for humanity and, more particularly, for multilateralism.”
Presenting his report, “Towards a Renewed Social Contract”, the Director-General said, “the report does not impose preconceived ideas but aims to stimulate a productive and fruitful debate” about “making social justice the foundation of lasting peace, shared prosperity, equal opportunities, and a just transition.”
The Head of the employers’ team, as well as the Head of the international workers’ team, also spoke at the opening session. They stressed the challenges facing the world of labour, and the importance of the social contract called for by the General-Director for greater labour protection and a just transition towards sustainable and environmentally sound societies.
Minister of Labour, Hassan Shehata, is scheduled to deliver Egypt’s speech before the conference tomorrow, Tuesday, to present Egypt’s experience in social dialogue, strengthening labour relations, and programs for protection and social justice, with respect to the report of the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Gilbert Houngbo, presented to the international conference this year under the title “Towards a Renewed Social Contract”.
