21 June 2013: Delegates at the annual International Labour Conference (ILC) welcomed a proposal by International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder for seven initiatives to reinvigorate the organization’s mandate and promote sustainable development in the run-up to its centenary in 2019.

The Director-General’s report to the Conference outlines “Seven Centenary Initiatives” for delegates’ consideration, covering governance, standards, enterprises, green jobs, poverty, women and the future of work. The green jobs initiative aims to facilitate the “decent work” aspect of the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable development path. The enterprises initiative will support ILO’s engagement with enterprises to promote sustainability. The initiative on the “end to poverty” aims to bring about an adequate living wage for all workers, including through the employment and social protection components of the post-2015 development agenda. Ryder said these initiatives could potentially be integrated into the ILO’s programming, as its current six-year Strategic Policy Framework expires at the end of 2015.

Over 4,700 delegates attended the ILC in Geneva, Switzerland, held from 5-20 June 2013. Four ILC committees met: the Committee on Employment and Social Protection in the New Demographic Context; the Committee for the Recurrent Discussion on Social Dialogue; the Committee on Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs; and the Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations of the ILC.

The sustainable development committee, made up of 174 delegates from governments, employers and unions, concluded that the greening of economies can be a net generator of decent green jobs, and can contribute to poverty eradication and social inclusion. The committee called for particular attention to labor standards, industrial policies, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to green their production processes. It also called for support to ensure the inclusion of decent work, poverty eradication and a just transition for all in the post-2015 development agenda.

The ILO will follow up with a strategic action plan to implement the committee’s conclusions. [ILC Webpage] [Publication: Report of the Director-General: Towards the ILO Centenary: Realities, renewal and tripartite commitment] [Press release on Director-General’s closing remarks] [Press release on sustainable development committee outcomes]