"Secretary-General's remarks to General Assembly on the 100th Anniversary of the International Labour Organization", 10 April 2019

A century ago... global leaders came together... and affirmed a principle that echoes to this day... “Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice.”...
 
Working people were demanding fair treatment and dignity in work, adequate wages, an eight-hour working day and freedom of association. The nations of the world knew they must cooperate to make it happen. And so the International Labour Organization was born...
 
Workers, employers, and governments come together through dialogue for shared solutions... Through conflict and peace, democracy and dictatorship, decolonization and the Cold War, globalization and turbulence, the ILO has played a central role in the struggle for social progress...
 
We are living in a time of profound uncertainty, disruption and technological transformation... We need to mobilize governments and all actors like never before...
 
Let us make the most of this pivotal anniversary to renew our collective commitment to international cooperation, to peace and to social justice...