ILO and German Development Agency call for greater social dialogue

HAMBURG (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) have issued a Call to Action for stronger social dialogue to be embedded in the low-carbon economic transition.

The Call to Action, Fostering Social Dialogue for a Just Transition to a Resilient Low-Carbon Economy, was made during the first Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) and was accompanied by proposals for measures to help its implementation. The call was co-signed by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ITUC), as well as the social partners (workers’ and employers’ organizations) from Germany and South Africa.

“Social dialogue can forge a strong social consensus to enable a just transition to a low-carbon economy. It is essential to enhance the contribution of workers and employers in climate policy making, both at national and international levels”, ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, told the conference.

To support their call, the ILO and BMZ outlined initiatives to boost national-level implementation of just transition policies, through effective social dialogue and active participation of the social partners (workers’ and employers’ organizations). They unveiled a project that aims to integrate decent work and just transition principles into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) on climate change, strengthen the capacity of the social partners to effectively engage in climate action, and develop inclusive, gender-responsive just transition policy frameworks and measures through enhanced tripartite cooperation at global and national levels. The project covers ten countries across four regions (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean). It is scheduled to be launched before the end of 2024.

The joint ILO-BMZ call was co-signed by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ITUC), as well as the social partners in Germany and South Africa.

The HSC, held 7-8 October, was initiated by the Government of Germany and chaired by the UN Development Programme’s Administrator, Achim Steiner. It came at a crucial moment, following the Summit of the Future and ahead of the G20 Summit in Brazil and the COP29 in Azerbaijan. The aim was to drive forward the global agenda for sustainable development and climate action through strong interdisciplinary collaboration and decisive action to combat climate change, and keep the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement on climate change within reach.

Driven by the principle that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires a collective effort, especially in times of global crises and geopolitical tensions, the HSC addressed structural issues and promoted mutual trust and partnership among leading international minds from politics, international organizations, the private sector, academia and civil society. The ILO contributed to several panels, on social dialogue, skills for a green future, country platforms on a just transition and SMEs in circular and low-carbon economies.

Setting high expectations for co-creating sustainable solutions and initiating their implementation, the conference resulted in several partnerships intended to leverage the potential of the private sector to advance the SDGs and drive transformation.

Integration into international processes and UN formats was a key component of the HSC’s strategy and it is anticipated that the conference will become a continuous process, with further meetings planned for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

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