The global Employer community congratulates the new ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo

IOE and its global membership have high expectations as the new ILO Director-General assumes his functions today.

Gilbert Houngbo has taken the reins as Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in a context marked by great socio-economic challenges and geopolitical tensions, which pose a serious threat to the multilateral system. The Employers confirm their commitment to work with him in good faith to make the ILO fit for these important challenges. First and foremost, the ILO must create an enabling environment for enterprise creation, allowing SMEs to flourish and improve productivity in the formal sector, thereby reducing informality and promoting decent work.

The IOE Vice-President to the ILO, Renate Hornung-Draus, stated “Gilbert’s knowledge of the organisation, his experience in national politics, as well as in the multilateral system of the United Nations, provide an excellent starting point for tackling the enormous challenges the ILO is facing. Employers look forward to working with him in implementing the ILO Centenary Declaration as well as in realising the objectives of his VIsion Statement. This requires a policy that respects and promotes the cohesion of all ILO Member States, is respectful of all three ILO constituents, and that promotes sustainable private enterprise, productivity increase, innovation and decent work. Now is the time to deliver.”

IOE members would also like to offer their good wishes to departing Director-General Guy Ryder. During his mandate, the ILO succeeded in setting the course for the next century with the ILO Centenary Declaration of 2019.