Alessandro Batazzi: "Reducing inequalities is key to achieving social justice for All"

SANTIAGO (ILO News).- In his first mission to Chile in November 2024, Alessandro Batazzi, Inequalities Specialist at the ILO, discusses the organization's comprehensive strategy to reduce inequalities in the world of work. He highlights the importance of tailored country strategies and the integration of social protection and labour market policies as key tools to promote social justice globally.

1. Why is inequality important for the ILO? What are the main areas of work to reduce inequality in the world of work?

"There are multiple reasons explaining why inequalities are a priority for the ILO at this moment in time," says Alessandro Batazzi.

He highlights that reducing inequalities is increasingly prominent on the agendas of development actors and in global discourse. "The 2023 SDG report underscored that progress on SDG 10 is lagging behind other goals, and during the 2023 High-Level Political Forum, experts and policymakers called for action to address these challenges."

The ILO’s commitment to reducing inequalities aligns directly with its founding principles. "Since its creation, the ILO has promoted equality of opportunity and treatment as essential to achieving social justice. The organization's 1919 Constitution, the Declaration of Philadelphia, and the Centenary Declaration echo these commitments."

Since its creation, the ILO has promoted equality of opportunity and treatment as essential to achieving social justice.

Batazzi points out that the 2021 General Discussion on Inequalities at the International Labour Conference marked a turning point, resulting in the adoption of a resolution that clarified the drivers of inequalities and recommended actions for the ILO. This led to the "Comprehensive and Integrated Strategy to Reduce and Prevent Inequalities in the World of Work," endorsed by the ILO's Governing Body in November of 2022.

"The strategy positions the ILO as a key player in the multilateral system, helping constituents develop tailored policy frameworks to address both vertical and horizontal inequalities," Batazzi explains.

© OIT

© OIT

2. Do you have any examples of country-specific strategies to reduce inequality? What are the main bottlenecks that need to be addressed?

The ILO’s strategy includes the design and implementation of country-specific strategies in pilot countries like Chile, Iraq, and Namibia. However, Batazzi stresses the distinction between a "country-specific approach" and a "strategy."

"Countries differ in their levels of inequality and in the policies they have in place to address them. Some might benefit from a comprehensive strategy, while others might require different instruments," he explains.

The ILO's tailored approaches are based on identifying effective policies and addressing systemic barriers. "Key drivers of inequalities include insufficient job creation, poor job quality, structural discrimination, the decoupling of wages from productivity, and gaps in labour market institutions and social protection systems."

External factors, such as limited technology transfer, international debt, and weak fiscal capacity, exacerbate these challenges. Batazzi notes, "These issues often hinder emerging economies from addressing structural problems and implementing universal social protection."

3. How do social protection and labour market policies interact to reduce inequality in the world of work?

"Social protection and labour market policies are two of the most effective tools to reduce inequalities and should be prioritized in integrated approaches," Batazzi states.
He explains that effective policies must address both distribution—creating more and better opportunities in the labour market—and redistribution, through social and fiscal measures. "These must advance simultaneously, underpinned by respect for fundamental rights, international labour standards, and human rights."

Batazzi emphasizes the importance of social dialogue, tripartism, and coordination among stakeholders. "These elements are essential to building resilient societies and economies that can respond to challenges like the cost-of-living crisis."

Social protection and labour market policies are two of the most effective tools to reduce inequalities and should be prioritized in integrated approaches.

He concludes by advocating for broader responses that include macroeconomic frameworks promoting quality job creation, active labour market policies for disadvantaged groups, productivity-enhancing measures, and universal social protection throughout the life cycle.