KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 25

The Global Forum for a Human-centred Recovery, organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has concluded with renewed commitments to push for a recovery that puts people first and tackles the dangerous inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.

The three-day forum, from February 22 to 24, brought together heads of state and government, heads of international organisations and multilateral development banks, and employers' and workers' leaders from around the world to propose concrete actions to build back better and strengthen the level and coherence of the international community's response to the social and economic fall-out of the pandemic.

Commitments to the objectives of a human-centred recovery were made by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Bank, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNICEF, African Development Bank (ADB), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the UN Special Envoy on Climate and Finance.

Similar support was expressed by the heads of state or government of Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Senegal, Spain and Switzerland.

Speaking at the closing of the forum, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder highlighted 'the extreme vulnerabilities and indeed inequalities that exist in the world of work', which, he said, were brought home by the pandemic, 'sometimes in a very brutal, very cruel way'.

'We do have to take seriously this rebuilding of resilience in our economy, in the world. And that, I think, requires us to take these integrated approaches to policy making. It really does make little sense for each part of the international system to deal with its own particular mandate in isolation from all the others and this is, of course, the logic of policy coherence,' he said.

Thematic sessions during the forum addressed the most pressing issues facing the world of work; inclusive growth and decent jobs, universal social protection, protecting workers and sustaining enterprises, and a just transition to carbon neutrality. It closed with a discussion on how to reach an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the COV- ID-19 crisis.

During the forum many delegates referred to the inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic, described by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his opening address as a 'great divergence' between and within countries that threatens economic and employment recovery.

'Wealthy countries are investing a much higher percentage of their GDPs into recovery. While many low-income countries are trapped by spiralling debt and starved of resources - victims of a global financial system that puts profits before people - developing countries face a massive and enduring jobs deficit,' Guterres said.

A strong message from speakers throughout the forum was the need for action and for the international community to work together in solidarity to build back better.

Many delegates referred to the path laid out in the ILO's Global Call to Action , the UN Secretary-General's 'common agenda', and the ILO/UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection which calls for investment to create at least 400 million jobs and extend social protection to four billion women, men, and children currently without coverage.

Other multilateral partners also referred to the elements of a human-centred transition. The UN Special Envoy on Climate and Finance emphasised the necessity for a human-centred transition to tackle the climate crisis. The European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights drew attention to the implementation of a new European Union communication on decent work - guided by the ILO's four pillars of decent work - for a global just transition and a sustainable recovery.

The FAO committed to mobilising additional financing to build strong social protection systems through efficient, effective and coherent partnerships and global solidarity. The WTO spoke of the vital need for trade to increase living standards, create decent jobs and benefit people.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 26, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.