In an address by the Secretary General of the General Workers Union, Josef Bugeja at the 110th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, he stressed how much the world needs innovative solutions to reverse the deterioration of labour rights, improve employment opportunities and working conditions, work organization and production and labour governance. He praised the rapidly evolving social and solidarity economy in Malta.
In a post-pandemic period, we need to be talking about recovery, decent work and social justice.
Instead, every day we are talking and watching Russia’s horrific attacks on Ukraine. Attacks are being carried out with complete disregard to all notions of democracy, sovereignty, international law and human rights treaties,” said Mr Bugeja.
During this Conference, held from 27 May to 11 June 2022, representatives of Governments, Workers and Employers from 187 ILO Member States, including Malta, met to discuss world of work issues at the International Labour Conference (ILC), annual conference which takes place in Geneva.
In this discussion of the Reports of the Director General and the Chairperson of the Governing Body, on behalf of all Maltese workers, Mr Bugeja condemned these unprovoked, unjustified and illegal attacks and stressed that he stands in solidarity with the government, the workers and the employers in Ukraine.
He added that in addition to the deaths of innocent people, these tragic events are shocking the global economy, increasing hunger and instability and further complicating the recovery from the
pandemic.
The aftermath of the pandemic and now the invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated pre-existing decent labour deficits, increased poverty, worsened working conditions, widened inequalities and
exposed digital gaps around the world while putting additional pressure on social protection systems.
This International Labour Conference (ILC), which sets the international labour standards and broad policies of the ILO, often referred to as the international parliament of labour, is also a forum for discussing key social and labour issues. Each Member State is represented by government employers’ and workers’ delegates.
The key role of the ILO in promoting the Social Economy and Solidarity stems from its constitutional mandate. In addition to the Centenary Declaration, in 2021 the ILO called for a human-centred agenda and recognized the role of the Social and Solidarity Enterprises for a recovery with a decent job opportunity for all.
The social and solidarity economy can be part of the solution as it endorses inclusiveness, human dignity, environmental sustainability and decent work in its economic activities over the legitimate quest for profit.
Its the peoples economy and it can help transform our societies to be fairer and more inclusive. I have no doubt that the social and solidarity economy can also become an essential part of the tool kit for achieving the 2030 Agenda for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” added the Secretary General of the GWU.
He reiterated that the social and solidarity economy in Malta is evolving at a rapid pace. With strong, established cooperatives, NGOs and voluntary organizations, more than 1,800 voluntary
organizations employ thousands of employees.
As it is estimated that around 40 cooperatives in 15 different sectors, including pharmaceuticals, transport, agriculture and fisheries generate no less than € 120 million a year, in recent years, public authorities and various non-governmental organizations have signed multiple agreements for the delivery of specialized services in our society.
The Secretary General of the GWU mentioned how the Maltese Government has published the “Social Enterprise Act, 2022” that aims to facilitate the further development of sustainable social
enterprises to address some of the needs of our society while contributing to economic growth.
Malta has also signed the Toledo Declaration on Social Enterprise", a recognition and a commitment to support ecosystems favourable to SSE’s and ensure the necessary financial support is in place to make it viable and sustainable.
Mr Bugeja ended his speech by dedicating it to his mentor, friend and former Secretary General of the General Workers; Union who died last week, Tony Zarb, who who will be remembered for his
dedication and commitment to workers’rights, the General Workers’ Union and Malta.
