Labor minister urges ILO to stick to its mission of promoting social justice
Iranian Minister Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Ahmad Meydari on Sunday called on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to remain committed to its main mission of promoting social justice for which it came to existence in the wake of the First World War.
“The ILO was established with the aim of promoting social justice and contributing to global peace,” Meydari said during a phone conversation with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo.
Meydari said the UN agency could play a more active role “today more than ever” in preventing conflicts and promoting lasting peace due to ongoing tensions and conflicts in different parts of the world including Iran, Ukraine, Venezuela, Greenland, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip.
Houngbo expressed concern about the military conflict in Iran and reiterated the organization’s commitment to peace.
He said that ILO, as part of the United Nations, aligned itself with the positions expressed by the UN secretary-general and opposed war, saying that lasting peace was essential for safeguarding the interests of workers around the world.
Houngbo noted that sustainable peace and social justice were closely interconnected.
Highlighting the organization’s capacities in wartime, he pointed to the role of labor organizations and global trade union networks, including the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), in drawing attention to the negative consequences of war for workers and social justice.
He also suggested the potential of the Asia and Pacific Group be activated under the ILO to facilitate discussion on such issues and help member states develop common position.