President Lula meets with ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo

During his trip to Switzerland for the Inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a bilateral meeting with Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), on Thursday, June 13, in Geneva. Houngbo welcomed President Lula and expressed gratitude for his participation as co-chair at the forum's launch.

Lula's participation in the Forum focuses on addressing social inequalities, integrating labor rights with human rights, expanding access to productive resources and promoting decent work. During his bilateral meeting with the ILO Director-General, the president discussed 21st-century labor concerns, highlighting the precarious nature of new forms of employment.

Lula also discussed the equal pay law, which he initiated and sanctioned last year, emphasizing its potential for replication in other countries. The president also addressed the Pé-de-Meia program, which provides financial incentives for low-income youth to stay in school and complete high school. "We must promote vocational training for the youth, many of whom leave school to support their families," stated the president.

President Lula underscored that addressing inequalities remains a central focus, as many forms of inequality — such as gender, social status, and race – are evident in the labor market.

Gilbert Houngbo agreed with President Lula's points and expressed concern about the aging workforce in various regions of the world, highlighting the resulting deficits in vocational training and the increased pension expenditures.

Lula raised concerns about how governments and pension systems should manage the growing number of workers choosing self-employment. He also advocated for increased ILO involvement with the G20, following the example of institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

The ILO Director-General agreed that workers' rights and protections are significant issues and acknowledged Brazil's proposal within the G20 to combat hunger as critically important.

Lula also highlighted the development of the US-Brazil Partnership for Workers' Rights, initiated with President Joe Biden. He noted that the ongoing joint task force between the two countries is making progress both independently and within G20 discussions.

Lastly, President Lula proposed focusing substantial attention on artificial intelligence and its impact on the labor world, while Houngbo reaffirmed the importance of this issue. "I want to emphasize that during my administration, Brazil will remain a steadfast ILO partner," concluded Lula.