All statements

International Day of Cooperatives

Cooperatives for a Peaceful World: A message from the ILO Director-General

In his message marking the International Day of Cooperatives 2026, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the vital role of cooperatives in advancing peace through decent work, social justice and resilient communities.

MSME Day 2026

ILO Director-General's message for International Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day

In his message for International MSME Day 2026, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the vital role of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in creating jobs and calls for policies that support entrepreneurship, decent work and...

114th session of the International Labour Conference

Statement by Davide Dorino, Delegate of CGIL, CISL, UIL trade unions (Italy), Plenary session of the International Labour Conference

114th session of the International Labour Conference

Statement by Alessandro Bevitori, Minister of Labour (San Marino), Plenary session of the International Labour Conference

114th session of the International Labour Conference

Statement by Marina Elvira Calderone, Minister of labour and social policies (Italy), Plenary session of the International Labour...

Video

138 million children in child labour: ILO calls for urgent action

Nearly 138 million children are still in child labour, including 54 million in hazardous work. In this message, Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), calls for urgent action to change this reality.

114th Session of the International Labour Conference

Opening address by the ILO Director-General to the International Labour Conference

Statement on the loss of life and injuries among workers in road accidents in Cambodia

Statement

International Labour Organization statement on promoting fair and effective recruitment in Malaysia

World day for safety and health at work 2026

Safe work, healthy workplaces: Tackling psychosocial risks at work

On World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the urgent need to improve psychosocial working environments.

The ILO welcomes the adoption of Indonesia’s Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers

Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, welcomed the adoption of Indonesia’s Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers on 21 April, after 22 years of deliberation. The long-awaited law marks an important step in...

World Bank / IMF Spring Meetings 2026

ILO Director-General statement to the World Bank Group Development Committee

Strengthening the foundations: Jobs, rights, and democratic values amid global conflict and uncertainty.

World Bank / IMF Spring Meetings 2026

ILO Director-General statement to the IMF International Monetary and Financial Committee

Strengthening the foundations: Jobs, rights, and democratic values amid global conflict and uncertainty.

International Women’s Day 2026

Turning commitments into action for women at work

On International Women’s Day, Gilbert F. Houngbo calls for urgent action to make women’s rights at work a reality everywhere. In this message, the Director-General of the ILO highlights the need to close the gender pay gap, ensure safe workplaces...

Platform economy

ILO Philippines clarifies misuse of preliminary Platform work survey findings

The ILO in the Philippines issues a follow-up statement addressing the misrepresentation of preliminary findings from its ongoing study on platform work, which is not a final or officially endorsed report on the country’s platform economy.

ILO/ICS/ITF

20 years of advancing social dialogue and decent work at sea

Joint statement from the International Labour Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, and International Transport Workers’ Federation on the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention.

World Day of Social Justice

ILO Director-General urges action to shape a just future for all

On World Day of Social Justice, Gilbert F. Houngbo urges action, not just commitments: formalizing work, ensuring living wages, using artificial intelligence for social progress, and implementing the Doha Declaration to build a fair and inclusive...

16 Days of Activism

Protecting women from violence in the digital world of work

On the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo calls for urgent action to end online violence and harassment against women and girls. He highlights how technology-facilitated abuse is driving women out...

International Day of Care and Support

ILO Director-General urges bold investment in the care economy

ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the care sector’s importance to families, communities, and economies, and calls on governments, employers, and workers to invest in quality, accessible care for all.

Second World Summit for Social Development

“Let us renew the promise to promote decent work and social inclusion”

On the eve of the Second World Summit on Social Development, to be held in Doha, Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, calls for joint efforts to renew the commitment made thirty years ago to reduce poverty,...