AMBASSADOR DR. JAYATILLEKA ADDRESSES
ILO FORUM ON DECENT WORK FOR A FAIR GLOBALIZATION
The Permanent Mission of
Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
02nd November 2007
H.E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Sri Lanka to the United Nations at Geneva addressed the ILO Forum
on Decent Work for a Fair Globalization held in Lisbon, Portugal from
31st October to 2nd November 2007.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) Forum provided a broad
social platform for discussing the forging of a new movement for promoting
decent work and a fair globalization.
Addressing the Forum Ambassador Jayatilleka said that Decent Work is
an axial concept. It opens a road for constructive discussions on a
range of vital global issues, from climate change to violence and terrorism.
He pointed out that the roots of violence and terrorism cannot be eliminated
without a fair globalization which provides decent work.
"What I see emerging is a very practical movement," ILO Director-General
Juan Somavia said at the meeting, adding that "people today are
not looking for rhetoric, they are looking for results."
Mr. José Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal - which currently
holds the Presidency of the European Union (EU) - said in his opening
address that "Decent Work is the best, the most powerful and the
most sustainable guarantee of economic development and social cohesion
on a global scale. That's why I can see in the decent work agenda the
mobilizing and integrating potential for Europe".
The Forum has gathered some 300 representatives of the ILO tripartite
social partners -governments, workers and employers - as well as representatives
of parliaments, civil society and government and opinion leaders to
discuss the current economic situation and the promotion of decent work
as a key to a fairer globalization.
Following the Director-General and Prime Minister Socrates, keynote
speeches were delivered by the Secretary-General designate of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Mr. Surin Pitsuwan, the Chairperson
of the ILO's Governing Body, Dr. D. Jayatilleka; the Employer Vice-Chairperson
of the ILO's Governing Body, Mr. Daniel Funes de Rioja; the Worker Vice-Chairperson
of the ILO's Governing Body, Sir Roy Trotman, and the Minister for Labour
and Social Solidarity of Portugal, Mr. Jose Antonio Vieira Da Silva.
Underlining that the Forum had gathered representatives of parliaments,
civil society, non-governmental organizations, local authorities and
political and opinion leaders from around the globe, Mr. Somavia said
that the open style of the Forum "was intended to help to break
out of compartmentalized thinking and identify new opportunities and
ways of working together intelligently, efficiently and constructively."
Highlights of keynote speakers at the ILO Forum on Decent Work for a
Fair Globalization
Political and opinion leaders from around the globe are meeting in
Lisbon, Portugal from 31 October to 2 November 2007 to discuss the role
of decent work as the key to economic, social and environmental sustainability
and a fair and inclusive globalization. Here are highlights of keynote
speeches delivered in plenary sessions.
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
Chairperson of the ILO Governing Body and Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva
Decent Work is an axial concept. It opens a road for constructive discussions
on a range of vital global issues, from climate change to violence and
terrorism. (…)
The roots of violence and terrorism cannot be eliminated without a
fair globalization which provides decent work.
http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/I-News/lang--en/WCMS_086251/index.htm
The Prime Minister of Portugal, Jose Socrates, greeted by ILO Director
General Juan Somavia and Chairman of the Governing Body, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka.
The panel, including Juan Somavia and Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, listening
to the keynote address by Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates
Sri Lanka´s Labour Minister Hon Athauda Seneviratne, ILO Director
General Juan Somavia and Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, greeting Ambassador
Sha Zu Kang of China, UN Under Secretary General for Economic and Social
Affairs.
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