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STORY: ILO / INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE OPENING
TRT: 04:05
SOURCE: ILO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT ILO ON SCREEN
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 02 JUNE 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. SOUNDBITE (French) Gilbert F. Houngbo, ILO Director-General:
«Nous traversons une période de profondes turbulences pour les institutions multilatérales comme la nôtre. Je comprends le sentiment d’appréhension que suscite l’incertitude face à l’avenir du multilatéralisme. Comme vous le savez aussi, nous ne pouvons pas nous permettre de verser dans la nostalgie d’un passé glorieux d’un passé idéalisé. Il nous faut au contraire garder fermement à l’esprit la raison d’être unique que notre Organisation tient de sa Constitution, ainsi que les contributions durables qu’elle a apportées à l’échelle mondiale. Nous devons, en tant qu’Institution, avoir le courage, avoir l’humilité, la capacité d’écoute, la capacité d’ajustement et la clairvoyance nécessaire pour nous tourner résolument vers l’avenir. Ce contexte nous impose un devoir de réforme: réforme pour l'efficacité, tout en bien sûr recherchant aussi des moyens d’être plus efficient.»
English translation: "We are going through a period of profound turbulence for multilateral institutions like ours. I understand the sense of apprehension that uncertainty about the future of multilateralism can generate. As you also know, we cannot afford to indulge in nostalgia for a glorious or idealized past. On the contrary, we must firmly keep in mind the unique purpose our Organization derives from its Constitution, as well as the lasting contributions it has made globally. As an institution, we must have the courage, the humility, the ability to listen, the adaptability, and the foresight necessary to resolutely look to the future. This context places upon us a duty to reform: reform for effectiveness, while of course also seeking ways to be more efficient."
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Gilbert F. Houngbo, ILO Director-General:
«Le mandat normatif est plus que jamais d’actualité. Non seulement une question de l’élaboration des normes internationales du travail, non seulement une question de leurs mises en œuvre et supervision, mais aussi l’impérieuse nécessité de garantir des règles du jeu équitables dans une économie mondiale toujours plus interconnectée et en mutation rapide. Nous pouvons, en fait nous devons agir avec détermination et avec constance, pour promouvoir la justice sociale à travers un meilleur équilibre entre l’économique, le social et l’environnementale.»
English translation:
The normative mandate is more relevant than ever. It is not only a matter of developing international labour standards, nor solely of their implementation and supervision, but also of the urgent need to ensure fair rules of the game in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing global economy. We can — indeed, we must — act with determination and consistency to promote social justice through a better balance between economic, social, and environmental dimensions.”
3. Various shots, delegates at the 113th ILC in hallways of the Palais des Nations, in a meeting room before the start of the opening plenary session
4. Various shots, Gilbert F. Houngo, Director-General of the ILO during speech to the opening plenary session of the 113th ILC and speakers and delegates listening
The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, opened the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) by reaffirming the ILO’s strategic role in transforming the world of work and stressing the need for reform.
“We can — indeed, we must — act with determination and consistency to promote social justice through a better balance between economic, social, and environmental dimensions,” he said. “We are going through a period of profound turbulence for multilateral institutions like ours. This context places upon us a duty to reform.”
More than 6,000 delegates are registered to attend the Conference, representing governments, as well as employers’ and workers’ organizations, from the ILO’s 187 Member States. The event runs from 2 to 13 June and will include two standard-setting discussions: on protection from biological hazards, and on decent work in the platform economy.
