GENEVA (ILO News) ─ Social protection is an essential tool for responding to “the challenge of decent work in an ever more uncertain world”, H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, told government, employer and worker delegates from all over the world here today at the annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
According to the President, the world is living through a moment in which “decent work has become a vital obligation in every country, an ethical imperative for every nation”, at a time when it is necessary to “shape the social dimension of globalization”.
“The modern world, the world of the globalization era, demands more from us every day”, she said.
Ms. Bachelet addressed the plenary of the 96th International Labour Conference which ends on 15 June and gathers tripartite representatives from the 180 Member states of the ILO.
The Director-General of the ILO, Juan Somavia of Chile presented the President to Conference delegates as someone “whose life has been marked by the struggle” for social justice.
“I have the honour to introduce a President who transformed an essential truth into concrete policy measures: there is no sustainable economic growth without social justice”, Mr. Somavia said, adding that “there is no sustainable development without respecting a balance between economic, social and environmental policies”.
The Director-General called Ms. Bachelet “a leader with a global vision as her priorities are the ones on the agenda of people around the world”, adding that “social protection is a distinctive element of her leadership”.
The President of Chile recalled the importance of building-up “a social protection system”, telling delegates that this was the “hallmark of my government. It is what we will be remembered for in the history books”.
“In my country and in Latin America we spend a lot of time listing rights, sometimes with impeccable rhetoric. However, it is no longer enough to list rights or guarantee access: we have to ensure that they make an impact”, Ms. Bachelet said referring to reforms improving social protection, including social security, health, quality education and the fight against poverty.
The President said that her government was following this agenda “taking account of the reality in today’s world, the reality of workers in the 21st century”.
Ms. Bachelet also told delegates that since 1990 with the return of democracy in Chile “we have built a new social model that combines growth with equality and progress with social justice”.
The International Labour Conference which meets annually in Geneva, adopts and oversees compliance with international labour standards, establishes the budget of the Organization and elects the members of the ILO Governing Body. Since 1919, the Conference has served as a major international forum for debate on social and labour questions of worldwide importance.
“Chile participated in the first International Labour Conference in 1919 and we were the first American nation to adopt the core Conventions of the ILO”, the President said. “Anyone reviewing the history of my country would detect in it a constant quest for the values that the ILO promotes”.