Transforming the future of work

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / AFRICA NEWS

The work of the ILO Global Commission is in line with the creation of decent jobs to ensure young South Africans have skills in the changing workplace.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for greater efforts to accelerate the creation of a just, humane and inclusive world of employment for all saying it could no longer be business as usual.

The President was speaking as co-chair of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Global Commission on the Future of Work in Geneva, Switzerland.

He added that young people, women and those with disabilities must be at the centre of efforts by the global community for social justice as it responds to the challenges of a rapidly transforming global workplace.

 “The Future of Work will enhance the involvement of women, young people and disabled people in the world of work and how they can participate in a much more effective way.  This concept will assist in creating more jobs, generate growth, and increasing fairness,” said President Ramaphosa.

 President Ramaphosa co-chaired the third meeting of the Commission together with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven. The gathering considered the Framework on the Global Commission’s Final Report which had focused partly on the issue of the disabled.

 According to The Presidency, the Commission is important as it seeks to convince business and government to regard workers as an asset rather than an expense.

 “This requires a new global social contract for creating and distributing value in the economy, including collaboration on enhancing productivity and reducing inequality, among others,” the Presidency said in a statement.

 The High-Level Global Commission comprising experts from government, business and labour was established by the ILO in 2017 to assess the rapid transformations taking place in the global economy and world of work, and identifying the key challenges and recommendations.

 The work of the Global Commission aligns with government’s focus on the creation of decent and sustainable jobs, and efforts to ensure young South Africans have the skills necessary to thrive in the changing workplace.

President Ramaphosa assumed his position as the new co-chair of the Global Commission on the Future of Work of the ILO while in Switzerland.