Address by the Director-General, Juan Somavia. on the occasion of the celebration of the. New Delhi 4 February 2009

Transcription

1 Address by the Director-General, Juan Somavia on the occasion of the celebration of the 90 th Anniversary of the ILO New Delhi 4 February 2009 Minister Kharge Minister Rawat Distinguished guests Colleagues Friends My warmest greetings to all of you who have gathered to celebrate this special occasion. In 1957, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the ILO s Fourth Asian Regional Conference in New Delhi and highlighted the similarity of approaches in the Constitutions of India and the ILO. That commonality has been the solid foundation for our rich partnership. What do we believe in? Through war and peace depression and economic growth governments, workers and employers have come together around our table of shared values: Work must be a source of dignity Labour is not a commodity and Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. A founding member of the Organization, India has consistently championed these convictions. India has also strived to convert ideals into reality. 1

2 The pages of the history of the ILO in India feature the contributions of giants such as Sir Atul Chatterjee, Mr N. M. Joshi and Mr Naval Tata. In our days, the yeoman service of I.P. Anand on the employer benches stands out. From within the Office we recall figures such as Dr. P. P. Pillai, the first Director of the ILO s Office in India who served in this post for over 20 years and worked tirelessly to advance our common goals. And my dear Gopi (Mr. Gopinath) whose intellectual rigour and invaluable advice through my initial years at the ILO I will always cherish. They and so many others left a solid foundation to build on. Minister Kharge, I want to thank you personally for your leadership and engagement on ILO issues. We look forward to working further with Mr. Chaturvedi as Labor Secretary. And on the employer and worker benches I have seen how Mr. Modi and Mr. Adyanthaya respectively have been making India s presence felt at the Governing Body and at the International Labour Conference. Allow me also to recognize here the significant contribution of Ms Sudha Pillai to the work of our Governing Body until her recent appointment at the Planning Commission. As you know, India is a permanent member of our Governing Body on a personal note, let me say that I look forward to the time when India will also be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Dear Friends, Throughout its 90-year history, the ILO has kept its sights fixed on steering a course towards social justice where markets are guided by basic human values. In the era of globalization, the ILO drew on its historical mission and put the building blocks of the Decent Work Agenda on the table. It covers: Employment creation, including green jobs, through sustainable enterprises; 2

3 Solidarity in the form of social protection; Upholding standards and fundamental principles and rights at work; and Harnessing the creative power of dialogue, collective bargaining and consensus building to find the best practical solutions. Taken together they enable women and men to obtain work in conditions of freedom, dignity, security and equity. And at this time of crisis the enduring relevance of the ILO s mission to the lives of women and men and their families, to the economy and to the sustainability of our planet is very evident. In the global economic slowdown, it is imperative to confront the threats posed by: Rising unemployment and underemployment Business closures, deteriorating conditions of work Growing inequality, poverty and insecurity and The undermining of respect for rights at work. The tripartite ILO representing the real economy - has shaped the Global Jobs Pact to respond to the crisis with a Decent Work approach. It has been widely backed including by the UN and the G20. Today, as we celebrate the past and address the crisis, we must also marshal our forces for the future. The world looks to India as a global leader. It is particularly encouraging to see the emphasis your 11 th 5-year Plan places on faster and inclusive growth and the focus on job creation. The targets include areas of ILO concern, among them: income and poverty, education, women and children, infrastructure and the environment. I am also delighted to see that the Plan stresses the basic objective of the Decent Work Agenda that the quality of jobs is as important as the quantity of jobs. India s resilience in dealing with the effects of the global economic slowdown and returning to its high growth path can be useful to many countries as we strive for a jobs-led recovery with coherent employment and social policies. India s call for balanced development and its voice in support of social justice for a fair globalization is vital; 3

4 India s strong reaction in the face of crisis gives hope; India s commitment to inclusive and people-centred growth, its determination to make democracy work for people is an inspiration; Your choices will make a difference to the future trajectory of global development. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has placed great emphasis on job creation that delivers for all of India. There is a will to promote growth with employment, and protection of people with opportunities for business. At the heart of this thrust is a recognition of the centrality of work and the dignity of work. In the G20 and beyond, India has also taken a firm stand for a recovery that responds to development needs. India is home to great challenges, not least poverty and the informal economy. It is also a source of great ideas and creative approaches, organizing workers in the unorganized sector, expanding opportunities for women; providing vital protection and meeting basic needs; mobilizing against child labour and forced labour. And tripartism and dialogue remain potent forces for balanced economic and social progress. The ILO has been honoured to be present in India and to be your partner. Together we have taken up the challenges of our time - from the extension of social protection to workers and their families in the informal economy to the creation of green jobs and policy development on skills and employment, HIV/AIDS and occupational safety and health and the challenges of child labour and forced labour. Mahatma Gandhi once said: the measure of a country s greatness should be based on how well it cares for its vulnerable populations. 4

5 With all the difficulties and complexity it entails, India is at the forefront as it responds through democratic means, and within your own reality and means, to the universal call of people for a fair chance at a decent job. As I look around the world, I think that India and its tripartite constituency of Government, employers and workers, has the wherewithal, the cohesive social strength to make it happen. I send you this message with all my respect for your great nation and my positive energy for your collective effort. Juan Somavia XXXXXXXX 5