Daniel Funes de Rioja IOE Executive VicePresident

1
Daniel Funes de Rioja IOE Executive
Vice-President

• IOE Vision Statement
• Meeting of IOE European Members
• Oslo, September 2008

2
Objectives

• To reaffirm the role of the IOE and the
  Employers Group as the voice of the free
  initiative and market economy at the ILO
• To adapt our approach to todays global realities
• To persuade the ILO office, governments and
  workers to better understand business realities
  and concerns new direction to ILO work and
  focus to turn a reactive vision to a proactive
  attitude.
• To work with the other multilateral organizations
  in a com-plementary manner, remaining within
  their own mandate and knowledge.

3
The context for the ILO today

• Globalization presenting major opportunities for
  poverty reduction
• Liberalized economies linking businesses across
  the globe
• Massive progress in economic and political
  freedom
• Technological advances changing every industry
  and sector
• Broad acceptance of the free market economy
  model
• Increased shared interests between employers and
  unions a new paradigm.

4
The challenges before the Organization

• Helping constituents adapt to rapidly-changing
  global labour markets
• Reducing poverty, promoting education and
  training and creating more and better jobs
• Helping address skills needed for economies in
  the 21st Century
• Assisting those adversely affected in particular
  sectors and regions by certain policy choices
• Making the Conference much more relevant and the
  Governing Body more effective governance issues.

5
Employers Priorities

• Establish a modern and high impact Labour
  Standards policy integrated approach revision
  of outdated instruments transparent methods of
  work for the supervisory machinery
• Promote the Declaration on Fundamental Principles
  and Rights at Work
• Reorient programmes and policies towards
  employment generation and security
• Promote policies conducive to the creation of
  sustainable and competitive enterprises

6
Employers Priorities

• Assist governments in strengthening effective
  labour market institutions and is constructing
  economically sound legislation
• The promotion of labour market flexibility
• The formalization of the informal economy
• The modernization of labour administrations
• Promote the creation of safe workplaces through a
  culture of prevention
• Address discrimination in the workplace
• Active participation in the implementation of the
  2008 Declaration

7
Implementation Policies

• Become a global brand leader in selected policy
  areas
• Work with other agencies in complimentary fashion
  (ILO should work in areas of genuine competence)
• Focus on technical work and assistance not
  advocacy
• Become a globally-recognized knowledge centre on
  the world of work
• Encourage in-house an open and questioning
  intellectual climate
• Ensure transparency and accountability in all
  activities and decision-making

8
Implementation Policies

• Promote tripartism, strengthen tripartite
  mechanisms and better utilize and respect the
  contribution of employers
• Ensure equality of treatment by and within the
  ILO of all constituents
• Develop an effective Human Resources strategy,
  including more staff from the employer community
• Fully involve employers in the development of ILO
  policies and products
• Ensure employer priorities are treated on an
  equal basis
• Strengthen ACT/EMPs capacity.

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New Context New ILO? New
relationship? 

• The business community has in the past approached
  the ILO with some reticence.
• Today the situation has changed Essential role
  of the private sector in development strategies
  recognized by all.
• The ILO and the employer community should be
  natural partners in the shared goal of wealth and
  job creation.