Ramaphosa tackles workers rights, environment concerns in ILO address

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the high level sitting of the 108th session of theInternational Labour organisation (ILO) Conference on Monday. 

At the conference, the outcomes of the Global Commission on the Future of Work will be presented to Heads of State and Government.

Ramaphosa co-chairs the ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work alongside Prime Minister Stefan Löfven of the Kingdom of Sweden. 

Over the past year, he has led a team of Commissioners mandated to make recommendations in response to changes in the global economy brought on by technological advancement, demography, globalisation and climate change.

According to Ramaphosa, "the world must confront the question of how to enhance the rights of workers in the face of rapid industrialisation, climate and technological change."

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The ILO’s International Labour Conference is an annual gathering of governments, labour and business to deliberate on contemporary issues of mutual interest in the global labour markets and adopts international labour standards open to ratification by the 187 member states.  

South Africa re-joined the International Labour Organisation 25 years ago following years of isolation as a result of apartheid.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is accompanied by the Minister of Employment and Labour, Mr Thembelani Nxesi, and a delegation of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC).