The role of social dialogue and its institutions in combating inequalities in the world of work

The Conference will offer a unique opportunity for representatives of governments, employers and workers from 38 countries/territories, experts from the ILO and other international organizations, and representatives of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to discuss the challenge of inequalities in the world of work. They will explore the role that Economic and Social Councils and similar social dialogue institutions can play in designing and implementing effective strategies to reduce and prevent inequalities in their countries, based on effective and inclusive social dialogue.

The Conference will be informed by a background report, including analysis of a survey of ESC-SIs conducted in 2022. The survey provided insights into how ESC-SIs around the world perceive and are responding to the challenges presented by the spread of inequalities in the world of work. It showed a widespread recognition of the urgency of tackling inequalities but revealed as well varying degrees of ability to devise and implement policy responses. The role of social dialogue is key in the fight against inequalities in the world of work - governments, employers and workers need to come together to build a shared understanding of the problems and to craft effective and sustainable solutions.

Representatives of regional and international organizations will also present their perspectives on the global challenge of inequalities in the world of work and on how best to ensure coherence between policy responses at different levels.