Catholic-Inspired Organizations at the ILO Centenary (23 July 2019, Geneva)

Catholic-Inspired Organizations at the ILO Centenary  

During the Centenary International Labor Conference (ILC) held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, a group of four Catholic Inspired Organizations (CIOs) took the floor during the ILC plenary session to speak about several issues facing the world of work. These organizations were the International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) organization, the International Coordination of Young Christian Workers (ICYCW), Kolping International, and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). United in the promotion of achieving a revised standard of “decent work”, each organization focused on a specific issue that needs to be addressed in order to rethink said standard. 

Bringing the voice of the youth through moving testimonials, Ms. Fiorella Calderon, representative of the IYCW, described the plights facing young workers today. Ranging from social isolation, to ever decreasing contract lengths, and the disparities of wealth distribution, young workers are facing an ever more damaging work environment which must be addressed. She called for a human-centered economic model, where maximum profit is not the ultimate goal, but dignifying work for all. 

Please click on the following link to access a recording of the speech:  https://ilo.cetc.stream/2019/06/13/ms-calderon-representative-international-young-christian-workers/ 

Mr. Eamonn A. P. O`Brien, representative of the ICYCW continued the focus on the plight of young workers, emphasizing the importance of having dignity from work. He pointed out the massive issues young people face with unemployment and lack of knowledge of workers’ rights. O`Brien also reminded us, that a third of migrant workers are children and young workers, and that these youth need to be protected and to have the opportunity to let their talents flourish through work.  

Please follow this link for a video recording of the speech on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2994994770571710 

Dr. Markus Demele, General Secretary of Kolping International, recognized the great strides in labor standards that the ILO has taken in the past one-hundred years but reminds us that the work is far from over. Using the example of child labor, he stated that while many ILO standards are declared and ratified by the countries, the effective legislation is not implemented at national level around the world. Demele argued that the ILO therefore needs a method of enforcing joint declarations such as sanction methods to encourage countries on following through on their agreements. 

Please select the link for a taping of the speech: https://ilo.cetc.stream/2019/06/14/mr-demele-representative-international-kolping-society/ 

Finally, Mr. Ignacio Alonso Alasino, Project Manager at the ICMC, started off by emphasizing the belief that “decent work” goes beyond the ILO definition, and must provide dignity and the potential for human growth as stated in the Laudato Si. He then proposed several areas in the world of work that need more focus in international agreements, including the degradation of both the physical and societal environment of workers, the necessity of the ILO working with various NGOs to reach more workers, and the lack of protection for migrant workers as well as the positive economic impact they bring. 

Please click the link for access to a recording of the speech: https://ilo.cetc.stream/2019/06/14/mr-alonso-alasino-representative-international-catholic-migration-commission/ 

These four CIOs along with the World Movement of Christian Workers (MMTC/MTCE), Pax Romana (ICMICA), the International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth (MIJARC), Caritas Internationalis, and UNIAPAC, compiled a joint statement to demonstrate the united position against violence and harassment in the work place and to highlight the importance of adopting a Convention and Recommendation on the mentioned topics. 

The statement accounts the harrowing stories of two young workers who faced sexual harassment in their workplaces. They then continue agreeing that migrant workers should be protected just as any other worker in a vulnerable situation, the demand for more efficient labor inspections, and the need to improve the complaint mechanisms for abused workers to ensure the Conventions implementation.  

The group then urges against weak wording in both the Convention and the Recommendation, and briefly speak about the CIO network “The Future of Work, Labor after Laudato Si” initiative, to which they all belong. While focused on different challenges facing the world of work, this network of like-minded organizations stands together for a secure future of work and the promotion of “decent work” for all.  

Please click on the following link to download the joint statement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vCa6xlV1OnsfXfmMxlFpSLIEgCy9pMbg/view