The International Labour Organization (ILO) held a unique World of Work Summit in Geneva to shape a better future for women at work. The unique Summit brings together three women Presidents and other key actors to promote women at work.
“As we work towards our next centenary and the transformations in the world of work intensify, a renewed sense of commitment is needed today to ensure that this better future for women – and men – becomes a reality,” ILO Director-General told the ILO’s world parliament of labour in his introductory remarks. “We have to take it as a starting point that equality for women in the workplace will not happen unless bold choices are made, and courageous measures are taken. Women want to be in paid jobs, and these must be decent jobs – not undervalued, not taking place in an environment of discrimination, harassment or violence,” Ryder said.
The head of the ILO also highlighted the economic benefits of such an approach. “The ILO report released yesterday, on trends for women, shows that applying the G20 “25 by 25” target – namely reducing the gender gaps in labour market participation by 25 per cent by the year 2025 – to all countries, could increase the global labour force by 204 million, and in turn could increase global GDP by 3.9 per cent. These are figures that cannot be ignored.”
The report, World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO) – Trends for Women 2017, estimates that if this goal was realized at the global level, it has the potential to add US$ 5.8 trillion to the global economy and increase tax revenue by US$ 1.5 trillion.
A recent ILO-Gallup report, based on a survey of 142 countries and territories, shows that women want to work in paid jobs but there remains a significant gap between women’s aspirations and the labour market reality. The three President’s remarks followed a High-Level Panel discussion on how to shape a better future for women at work.
The Summit was part of the ILO’s Women at Work Initiative, one of the Organization’s seven centenary initiatives, intended to shape a future that works for all.
Source: Media Release
