KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 11

ILO Director-General, Gilbert F Houngbo, has welcomed the G-20 leaders' support for the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions.

In their final declaration, the G-20 leaders pledged to 'support progress on the implementation' of the UN Global Accelerator, a UN initiative led by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that aims to bring together UN member states and a wide range of public and private sector partners to help create 400 million decent jobs and extend social protection coverage to the four billion people currently excluded.

The leaders agreed to create a new working group on the empowerment of women. They reaffirmed the importance of gender equality and the promotion of 'full, equal, effective and meaningful participation of women in the economy as decision-makers', adding that that such investment 'has a multiplier effect in implementing the 2030 Agenda'.

'I heartily welcome the G-20's endorsement of the Global Accelerator and its potential to deliver change and better working lives for hundreds of millions of people. The creation of the working group on women's empowerment is also an historic step forward,' Houngbo has been quoted as saying in a statement issued here today.

'The G-20 leadership has made progress on some of the most crucial future of work issues facing us if we are to build a sustainable and equitable future. We must build on this momentum, particularly at the UN SDG Summit later this month.'

A version of this article appears in the print on September 12, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.