Declaración del Observador Permanente de la Santa Sede ante las Naciones Unidas en la 112.ª sesión de la CIT (13 Junio 2024, Global)

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This article presents the statement of H.E. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, 12 June 2024.

Statement of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations at the 112th Session of the ILC

Mr. President,

Pope Francis has observed that the “challenges of our time transcend borders, as we see from the variety of crises – of food, the environment, the economy and health care – that have marked the beginning of the century.”1 This Conference echoes that same concern, while discussing the state of fundamental rights and their application in the workplace.

Despite the relatively stable economic growth globally, significant slowdowns in key economies highlight the persistent and profound impact of social inequalities. According to the latest trends 2 , in sub-Saharan Africa more than 80% of the workforce relies on the informal sector, lacking social protection, and one-third of the working population lives in extreme poverty. Likewise, 37% of the employed population in Southern Asia as well as 8% in Latin America and the Caribbean live below the moderate poverty threshold.

In many regions, women continue to be disadvantaged in accessing the labor market, and the lack of jobs and employment opportunities pushes the young into the destructive underworld of drugs, violence, criminal activities and even terrorism.

Millions of people emigrate in search of work, while others do so because they find themselves forced to flee their countries of origin driven by armed conflicts, violence, climate change, persecution and poverty. By the end of September 2023, more than 114 million people were forcibly displaced 3, a troubling trend that has increased over the last decade and which has severely affected the world of employment.

The growth of armed conflicts and the rise of insecurity worldwide remain issues of grave concern. In this context, it is particularly disconcerting to see the widespread and lasting global repercussions caused by the war in Ukraine and Gaza. 4 The persistence of these conflicts continues to cause immense suffering, affecting millions and their jobs.

The various effects of climate change are increasingly impacting the world of work and fueling conflicts over access to scarce or limited resources. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events have left many people adrift, with rural populations working in agriculture being the first to feel these effects.

While insisting on the importance of not reducing development to a question of statistics, the Holy See notes with concern that certain demographical figures offer a stark warning for the future. In particular, as a direct consequence of the ageing populations of numerous countries worldwide, the number of older workers is consistently increasing. At the same time, low birth rates that have been registered over the past decades in several developed countries imply that the usual provisions for social security and services are at risk. On the other hand, in many of the least developed economies the population is young and growing, necessitating the creation of employment opportunities. 5 These demographic shifts have significant implications, affecting both the rising demand for care and the need to generate jobs to accommodate the burgeoning young population.

Moreover, the growing impact of new technologies cannot be underestimated. “Jobs that were once the sole domain of human labour are rapidly being taken over by industrial applications of artificial intelligence. Here too, there is the substantial risk of disproportionate benefit for the few at the price of the impoverishment of many.” 6

Mr. President,

It is the hope of my Delegation that all these challenges will encourage a greater attention to workers and a fruitful discussion on the “care economy”. As Pope Francis recalled to this august Assembly three years ago, “if work is a relationship, then it must include the dimension of care, because no relationship can survive without care. Here we are not just referring to the work of assistance (…). Care goes further; it must be a dimension of all work. Work that does not take care, that destroys Creation, that endangers the survival of future generations, does not respect the dignity of workers and cannot be considered decent. On the contrary, work that cares, that contributes to the restoration of full human dignity, will help to ensure a sustainable future for future generations.” 7

In this context, the Holy See would like to express its appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the ILO for the establishment and launch of the Global Coalition for Social Justice, inspired by the shared conviction that “the world needs renewed commitment, a new social compact that can bind us together, older and younger generations, for the care of creation and for solidarity and mutual protection within the human community.” 8

Social justice, especially in the current context where the value of the person is seriously threatened by the widespread tendency to rely exclusively on the criteria of utility and ownership, is not always an expression accepted by liberal economies. 9 Yet it is essential for our efforts to avoid passive acceptance of the negative and destructive occurrences in today’s world, in order to avoid being overcome by indifference, and, most importantly, to maintain hope for the future.

It is in this spirit that my Delegation wishes to convey its support to the ILO for the development of the tripartite dialogue between governments, employers, and workers, in view of the 2025 World Social Development Summit.

Mr. President,

While expressing my wishes for a productive and successful Conference, it is the desire of my Delegation that the efforts of these days may open avenues of hope in the midst of the many challenges that the international community faces today, so that peoples worldwide might embrace and protect the importance of decent work.

Thank you for your attention.

1. Pope Francis, Address to Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, 8 January 2024.
2. ILO, World Employment Social Outlook Trends 2024, p. 35.
3. Cf. UNHCR, Global Trends At-a-Glance (https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee[1]facts/statistics/).
4. Cf. ILO, World Employment Social Outlook Trends 2024, p. 43.
5. Cf. Ibidem, p. 70.
6. Pope Francis, Message for the 57th World Day of Peace, 1 January 2024, n. 5. 3
7. Pope Francis, Video-message for the 109th International Labour Conference, 17 June 2021.
8. Pope Francis, Address to the participants in the consultation “Care is work, Work is care” of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, 8 May 2024.
9. Cf. Ibidem