LABOUR Day is when we celebrate the contribution of workers worldwide. It is a day for pride, celebration and hope.

But the promises of renewal made during the pandemic, of “building back better”, have so far not been delivered for a great majority of workers worldwide.

Globally, wages have fallen, poverty is rising, and inequality seems more entrenched than ever.

Enterprises have been hit hard. Many could not cope with the cumulative effects of unexpected events. Small and micro enterprises were particularly affected, and many have closed.

People feel the sacrifices they made to get through the pandemic have not been recognised, let alone rewarded, and their voices not being heard clearly enough. This, combined with a perceived lack of opportunities, has created a disturbing level of mistrust.

It doesn’t have to be like this. We are still the masters of our fate. But if we are to shape a new, more stable, and equitable world, we must choose a different path. One that prioritises social justice.

I believe this is not only doable, but essential for a sustainable and stable future. So how do we get there?

First and foremost, our policies and actions must be human-centred to allow people to pursue their material well-being and spiritual development with freedom, dignity, economic security and equal opportunity.

This approach is not new – it was set out and agreed upon in the aftermath of World War II, when the International Labour Organization’s global membership signed the Declaration of Philadelphia 1944. 

This visionary document set out guiding principles for our economic and social systems, that they should not be turned exclusively to hitting specific growth rates or other statistical targets, but to address human needs and aspirations.

This means focusing on inequality, poverty alleviation and core social protection. The most effective way to do this is by providing quality jobs so people can support themselves and build their own futures. “Decent Work for All”, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 8. 

It means realistically addressing the long-term structural transformations of our time; ensuring new technology creates and supports employment; proactively facing the challenges of climate change; ensuring we offer the jobs, skills training and transition support necessary for workers and businesses to benefit from the new low-carbon era; and treating demographic changes as a “dividend” rather than a problem by supporting action on skills, migration and social protection to create more cohesive and resilient societies.

We also need to reassess and refashion the architecture of our social and economic systems, so that they support this change of course towards social justice, rather than continuing to channel us into a policy ‘doom loop’ of inequality and instability.

We must reinvigorate labour institutions and organisations so social dialogue is effective and vigorous. We must review laws and regulations affecting the world of work so they are relevant, up to date, and able to protect workers and support sustainable businesses.

To make all this happen, we need to recommit to international cooperation and solidarity. We must enhance our efforts and create greater policy coherence, particularly within the multilateral system, as touted by United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres.

This is why we need a global coalition for social justice. This coalition will create a platform to unite a broad range of international bodies and stakeholders. It will position social justice as the keystone of the global recovery so it is prioritised in national, regional and global policies and actions. In sum, it will ensure our future is human-centred.

We have the chance to reshape the world we live in economically, socially and environmentally. Let us take this opportunity and move forward to build equitable and resilient societies that can underpin lasting peace and social justice. – May 1, 2023.

* Gilbert F. Houngbo is International Labour Organization director-general.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.