The two partners outlined new priorities under the Brazil–ILO Partnership Programme, focused on advancing decent work and social justice in the Global South.
10 June 2025
Geneva (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Government of Brazil have vowed to deepen their longstanding cooperation and outlined future priorities to promote decent work and social justice in Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, during the XII Brazil/ILO Annual South-South Review Meeting , which was held on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference (ILC) on 10 June at the ILO’s headquarters in Geneva.
The event brought together high-level representatives from the Brazilian Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and ILO leadership. Discussions focused on strengthening the strategic Brazil–ILO Partnership Programme, with particular emphasis on South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC).
Speaking at the opening, Laura Thompson, ILO Assistant Director-General (ADG) for External and Corporate Relations, praised Brazil’s leadership and commitment to inclusive, solidarity-based international development.
“The message from last year remains clear: Brazil is back. But more than that, Brazil is leading a new era of development cooperation—one rooted in mutual learning, shared governance, and a deep commitment to social justice,” said ADG Thompson.
The Brazil–ILO Partnership Programme, launched in 2009, aims to promote decent work through capacity-building, knowledge sharing, and the joint implementation of initiatives. The current programme cycle (2023–2027), titled “Social Justice for the Global South”, prioritizes four key areas: the elimination of child and forced labour, occupational safety and health, gender and racial equity, and social protection systems. “Social Justiice is our common agenda” said Minister of Labour and Employment Luiz Marinho.
At the closing session, Peter van Rooij, Director of the ILO’s Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation Department, underscored the importance of the partnership’s tripartite foundation.
“This is not only a model of cooperation—it’s a movement of shared responsibility and transformation. Brazil and the ILO are proving that South-South cooperation can deliver scalable, sustainable impact through mutual trust and common purpose,” said van Rooij.
The meeting also highlighted Brazil’s role in global policy dialogue, including its current BRICS Presidency and G20 Presidency last year, which focuses on building a just world and sustainable planet through inclusive governance, employment, and environmental sustainability. Maira Lacerda from the Ministry of Labour and Employment and Anita Amorim, ILO, spoke on the importance of BRICS declaration for the ILO. Participants noted the strong alignment between Brazil’s foreign policy priorities and the ILO’s development cooperation strategies. The Brazilian Agency for Cooperation, the President of the Supreme Labour Court, the Labour Attorney General and the Social Partners also expressed their commitment to this longstanding partnership. Brazil has contributed more than US$ 44 million to ILO initiatives since 2005, benefitting nearly 40 countries across the Global South, as well as Brazilian social partners, through South-South Cooperation and Direct Trust Funds. These efforts align with the Buenos Aires Plan of Action +40 (BAPA+40) and support implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work and inclusive growth.