All Director-General statements

Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF

The future of work must be more equal

In a statement to the Development Committee delivered during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF, ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, highlighted the “warning signs” facing the global economy.

World Teachers’ Day 2018

Children need qualified teachers

In a joint statement to mark World Teacher’s Day, the heads of ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP and Education International underline the need for quality teaching for the world’s schoolchildren.

Statement by Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, in response to the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia

United Nations General Assembly, New York

Remembering Mandela: “Let us walk the last mile together”

The United Nations General Assembly in New York is holding a Peace Summit in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. In a statement to mark the occasion, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Guy Ryder,...

G20 Education and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Lower the barriers facing women in labour market

In remarks to G20 Education and Employment Ministers in Argentina, Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, outlined what’s needed to achieve gender equality in the changing world of work.

G20 Education and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Rethink lifelong learning

A new approach to lifelong learning is needed for the future of work, says Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Guy Ryder, in a speech to Education and Employment Ministers at a G20 ministers’ meeting in Argentina.

Obituary

ILO mourns passing of Kofi Annan

International Youth Day 2018

Creating safe spaces for youth in the world of work

"Join us on International Youth Day in committing to step up actions to promote safe spaces for young people that enhance their opportunities to secure decent work," says ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder.

BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Make social dialogue work

ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, praises the commitment to social dialogue and tripartism made by BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - in a speech at the group’s Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa.

Youth skills

The apprenticeship innovation challenge

In a speech at the International Conference on Innovations in Apprenticeships, ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, outlines how new types of apprenticeships are needed to tackle the youth skills gap.

Palais Wilson, Geneva

A world of sport that fully respects human rights

ILO Director-General shares his vision at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights.

World Congress of the UNI Global Union, Liverpool

Don’t let the new brutalism shape our future

In a speech to the World Congress of the UNI Global Union in Liverpool, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder says we need a future of work with labour rights, inclusion, social justice, decent work, sustainability and democracy.

World Day against Child Labour

Towards the urgent elimination of hazardous child labour

“Children are more vulnerable to risk than adults. Urgent action is needed to ensure no child under the age of 18 is in hazardous child labour,” says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder on the occasion of World Day against Child Labour.

Towards the urgent elimination of hazardous child labour

“Children are more vulnerable to risk than adults. Urgent action is needed to ensure no child under the age of 18 is in hazardous child labour,” says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder on the occasion of World Day against Child Labour.

World Environment Day

ILO Director-General: Keep our planet safe, clean and fit for work

The ILO joins the international community in marking World Environment Day, placing the spotlight this year on how we can beat plastic pollution.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Safety, respect and dignity for all at work and beyond

ILO Director-General Guy Ryder calls for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, saying it is “a factor leading to violence and harassment in the world of work."

Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF

ILO warns of rising levels of inequality

In a statement to the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder warned that high and rising levels of inequality are impeding inclusive and sustainable development. Looking to the future...

International Women’s Day

Change is necessary for rural women

In a statement to mark International Women’s Day, ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, says that rural women must not be overlooked in policy decisions.

Human Rights Council

Fair play without human rights violations

In a speech on the margins of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, calls for labour rights to be observed in the run up to mega sporting events

World Day of Social Justice

Social justice for migrant workers is in everyone’s interest

Fair treatment for the world’s 150 million migrant workers is in everyone’s interest, and requires labour migration to be well-governed and effective, says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.