The Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi Akena, is in Geneva for a World of Work conference hosted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the topic “Social Justice for All.”
While speaking in her capacity as Chairperson of the Africa Union STC Committee this morning, June 15, 2023, Hon. Amongi called on the Africa Group to prioritize the growth of the informal sector if the continent is to close gaps of inequality.
This year’s World of Work Summit 2023 will bring together 17 heads of state and governments, the ILO’s Director-General, and high-level representatives from the United Nations and participants from other international organizations.
The participants are discussing policies and actions that can advance social justice and highlight the key role of social justice in creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
According to Hon. Amongi, developed economies and international financing institutions should provide long-term capital loans to support the government for social services like education, health, water, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups.
“It is not governments that grow the economy, but rather it is the labour capital and other factors of production that fuel the path of growth,’ Hon. Amongi stated.
Hon. Amongi added that the government ought to support the private sector by enacting sensible regulations that enable them to formalize their enterprises.
“The world should encourage balanced growth, fair trade, and inclusive development,” said Amongi.
This year’s Work of Summit will focus on social justice, discuss and inform the proposal to build a worldwide coalition for social justice, a multilateral project endorsed by the International Labour Organization’s governing body at its 347th session in March 2023.