The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, 2019 was adopted at the 108th International Labour Conference, which marked the 100th anniversary of the ILO. The Centenary Declaration is a reaffirmation of the relevance and importance of the ILO’s mandate in the changing world of work, a strong statement of intent, a mobilizing call, and a road map for action by the ILO itself.
Focused on the future of work, the Declaration calls for advancing a human-centred approach for the future of work by:
- Strengthening the capacities of all people to benefit from the opportunities of a changing world of work
- Strengthening the institutions of work to ensure adequate protection of all workers
- Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and de South–South and triangular cooperation cent work for all
As the Declaration points out, “The services that the ILO offers to its member States and social partners, notably through development cooperation, must be consistent with its mandate and based on a thorough understanding of, and attention to, their diverse circumstances, needs, priorities and levels of development, including through expanded South–South and triangular cooperation”.
Building on the principles of solidarity and respect for national sovereignty, demand-driven South–South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) initiatives have the potential to enhance capacity-building and strengthen human resources and to develop local capabilities and institutions of work through peer-learning and sharing of good practices and experiences. In addition, by promoting mutual learning, SSTC supports the coordination of development policies and strategies among ILO tripartite constituents to ensure a more holistic, coherent and human-centred approach for the future of work. In this sense, South–South and triangular cooperation is playing an increasingly important role in promoting policies that encourage and advance a fair, inclusive and secure future of work.