ICMC Highlights Refugees and Migrants at 112th International Labour Conference
ICMC delegation joins delegates from the 187 Member States of the International Labour Organization in Geneva on 3-14 June 2024, highlights “Care is Work, Work is Care” approach and ILO support.
At the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), an ICMC delegation joined government, employer, worker, and non-state delegates from the 187 Member States of the International Labour Organization (ILO) present in Geneva on 3-14 June 2024.
Established in late 1919, the ILO is one of the oldest UN agencies. It is also the UN’s only tripartite agency, uniquely bringing together governments, employers, and workers from 187 Member States to set labor standards and develop policy programs to promote decent work around the world. Taking place each year in Geneva, the ILC sets ILO policy, its work program, and budget, and elects its Governing Body.
ICMC’s delegation comprised ICMC President Miss Christine Nathan, Secretary General Mr. Davide Bernocchi, former Secretary General Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo, and “The Future of Work – Labour after Laudato si’” (FOWLS) Project Manager Mr. Ignacio Alonso Alasino.
‘Care is Work, Work is Care’: ICMC statement to the ILO on the Care Economy
On 3 June, ICMC President Miss Christine Nathan delivered ICMC’s intervention at the ILC’s General Discussion Committee on Decent Work and the Care Economy. She welcomed the ILO report on this topic prepared for the ILC, in particular its recognition of care as “central to economic growth and development, social justice, and societal and individual well-being.”
Over the past five years, ICMC’s collaboration with the ILO has been undertaken in close association with the Holy See Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, and through a network of Catholic-inspired organizations around the world coordinated by ICMC and known as the “The Future of Work – Labour after Laudato si’” Project (FOWLS).
Miss Nathan’s statement to the Committee introduced the “Care is Work, Work is Care” approach proposed by FOWLS, highlighting how the project’s partners believe that work is at the core of a transformation to respond to the call to “care for our common home”. She presented the project partners’ conclusions on “care as a way of being, doing, and existing, which implies dignity, generosity, freedom, and responsibility. Care is a deeply spiritual human experience. It is always inspired by a concern for unity in the making, of becoming one both humanly and spiritually. Work, as a transforming activity, is therefore an essential component of care.”
Calling for caring for the world of work to “include direct attention to internal and international migrants and refugees,” Miss Nathan highlighted the importance of social dialogue at all levels, and welcomed the ILO’s 5R Framework for Decent Care Work as “an important milestone towards achieving decent work in the care economy.”
Renewal for all: refugees and migrants in a revitalized social contract
On 5 June, Miss Nathan addressed the ILC plenary debate responding to Towards a Renewed Social Contract, the Report of the ILO Director-General.
Miss Nathan’s statement expressed ICMC’s concern at democratic and discriminatory setbacks occurring in many countries around the world, emphasizing how “the most vulnerable persons bear the heaviest burdens, including forced migrants, refugees and informal workers.”
Welcoming the focus of the Director-General’s report on revitalizing the social contract, Miss Nathan posed the question of how this renewal can be achieved across all sectors to establish social justice as the cornerstone of sustainable peace, equal opportunities, and a fair transition to more sustainable societies. She highlighted the multiple barriers refugees, migrants, and their families face in securing their basic needs, and the crucial importance of advocating for fundamental rights such as education, fair employment with just wages and protections, healthcare, housing, and nutritious food.
“Migration cannot be solely labelled as an ‘emergency’. Whether it is involuntary or a deliberate choice, migration is deeply intertwined with the complexities of globalization, demography, human rights, and development,” she underlined. “In many contexts, work can greatly contribute to the integration of migrants and their families, as well as to their active participation to the common good of the community. Migrants do contribute heavily to societies that welcome them.”
Social Justice and the Future of Work: ICMC and ILO collaboration
On 3 June, the ICMC ILC delegation participated in the Inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice, an ILO platform to increase multilateral cooperation and partnerships in pursuit of advancing social justice and decent work for all.
The Coalition brings together governments, unions, employer unions, non-governmental organizations, development banks, and universities to work together in pursuit of realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular with reference to social justice for all people.
The Coalition was first proposed in March 2023 by ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, and further developed at the World of Work Summit held during the 111th session of the International Labour Conference in June 2023. ICMC’s participation in the Inaugural Forum marked the culmination of ICMC’s historical support for the Global Coalition initiative, and its longstanding and close collaboration with the ILO to promote social justice and decent and dignified work with fair wages.
During the ILC program, ICMC’s delegation met with key ILO officials to reinforce the commitments of ICMC and its partners to continued collaboration with the ILO.
The delegation and ILO officials discussed ICMC’s commitment to the Global Coalition, alongside all partners working under the FOWLS umbrella, the integration of refugees and migrants into labor market, and the FOWLS Roadmap for A Common Journey published in May 2024. The exchanges also provided an opportunity to review the ILO’s seven-year involvement with FOWLS, and its participation in the May 2024 meeting in Rome that included a private audience with Pope Francis.
In addition, several Catholic-inspired organizations that are partners in FOWLS were present in Geneva for the ILC, including the International Coordination of the Young Christian Workers (CIJOC-ICYCW), International Young Christian Workers (JOCI-IYCW), Kolping International, Union Internationale des Associations Patronales Catholiques (UNIAPAC), and the World Movement of Christian Workers (MMTC).
Their attendance provided an opportunity to follow and jointly intervene during Committee discussions on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Decent Work and the Care Economy, and join the ICMC delegation to discuss the FOWLS Roadmap, and outcomes and next steps from the May 2024 Rome meeting.
Rachel Westerby
Independent writer and researcher on migration, refugees and human rights.
