ILO Director-General hails G20 support for social justice, the eradication of poverty, and reduction of inequality

RIO DE JANEIRO (ILO News) – The ILO’s Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, has praised the G20 leaders for recognizing the need for social justice and decent work in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking while attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the ILO DG also announced that the ILO would join the G20’s Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative launched at the Brazil Summit.

The Global Alliance aims to mobilize finance and encourage knowledge-sharing by countries and international organizations, to support large scale, country-led and owned, evidence-based programmes to reduce hunger and poverty worldwide.

“Universal coverage and access to social protection is essential in the fight against inequality, hunger and poverty. But [this] is not sufficient. We must create productive opportunities for decent work,” the Director-General explained.

In addition, Houngbo welcomed the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration, which highlighted the importance of decent work in tackling inequality, achieving social inclusion, and ensuring women’s equal, full, and meaningful participation in the economy.

The Declaration reaffirmed the leaders’ commitment to workers’ rights, as described in the ILO’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. It endorses the G20’s voluntary Principles for Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions. The Declaration also encourages the use of social dialogue in relation to the integration of digital technologies at work.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit was held on the 18th and 19th of November 2024, at the end of the year-long Brazilian Presidency of the Group. Presidency of the group now passes to South Africa.