2019 marks 100 years of the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) existence globally. Since its formation in 1919 after the first World War, the ILO becomes the oldest UN Agency (older than UN itself) with the mandate of fostering universal and lasting peace through social justice.
The only tripartite U.N. agency established since 1919, the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member states to set labor standards, develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all women and men.
Papua New Guinea became a formal member state of the ILO in June 1976 and has been attached to the ILO now for almost 43 years. PNG’s engagement with the ILO has allowed for considerable support and technical assistance in the areas of rights at work, employment generation, social protection and social dialogue between the tripartite partners.
To commemorate this 100-year centenary, PNG will be having a first-of-its-kind Pacific High Level Tripartite Dialogue on issues affecting the world of work from the 24th to 27th July 2019. The forum will discuss climate action and the future of work in the Pacific, and how to ensure a just transition to an environmentally sustainable world of work.
13 Labour Ministers from ILO member states of the Pacific including representatives from employers and worker’s organisations and regional developing partners will gather in Port Moresby for the following 3 days. The Director General of the ILO Mr Guy Ryder will be visiting PNG for the first time as the Director General of the ILO and will officiate the opening dialogue .
