> The Director-General Her Excellency
Ms Kaja Kallas
Prime Minister ofthe Republic of Estonia
TALLINN
31 March 2023
DearPrime 'E4&5
Minister,
It is an honour to invite you to addressthis year'sWorld of Work Summit: Social Justice forAll,
which will be convened on 14 and 15 June 2023 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Summit
will be held during the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference (516 June 2023).
This high-level event will be a key political moment for global voices to call for increased,
coordinated and coherent action in favour of social justice, and play an instrumental role in
forging a Global Coalition for Social Justice, as welcomed by the Governing Body of the
International Labour Office at its 347th Session (March 2023).
It is broadly acknowledged that, as stated in the ILO's Constitution, universal and lasting peace
can be established only if it is based upon social justice. Notwithstanding this knowledge, the
upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit (September 2023) will no doubt
recognize that progress towards achieving the SDGs is off-track, despite global, regional and
national efforts. Social dimensions of these Goals have come under increased pressure in recent
years due to economic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in the cost ofliving,
as well as environmental, technological and demographic transformations. Such immediate and
longer-term forces are exacerbating poverty, insecurity, inequality and fractures in many
countries, reinforcing the mistrust in institutions.
Such challenges are likely to intensify in the coming years. As called for by the United Nations
Secretary-General in Our Common Agenda, the international community urgently needs to
support national responses to these challenges. The Summit of the Future, foreseen for 2024, will
lay the foundations for more effective global cooperation to deal with today's challenges and
future threats. A human-centred approach is required to tackle short-term crises and long-term
trends. This approach should prioritize at the same level the economic, social and environmental
dimensions of sustainability. Against this background, it is my belief that the world will benefit
from a Coalition which aspires to make a difference to the key drivers of social justice. With this in
mind, I am proposingto forge a Global Coalition for Social Justice. This timely initiative is in line
with the UN Secretary-General's call for a new social contract and the foreseen World Social
Summit in 2025.
k International Labour Organization > T: +41 22 799 60 ,20
Office of the Director-General E:
[email protected]
Route des Morillons 4 ilo.org
CH-1211 Geneva22
2
The Global Coalition for Social Justice represents an international effort to broaden the ILO's
outreach. It should enable the Organization to deepen and strengthen the international
community's engagement in advancing social justice. Likewise, it should promote the
implementation of the Decent Work Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and
the SDGs. Furthermore, the Coalition will seek to promote, guide and amplify new and ongoing
action in policy areas where greater solidarity, coherence and coordination is needed. The
Coalition will assemble governments, employers' and workers' organizations, UN agencies and
related organizations, international financial institutions, multilateral development banks,
academia, businesses, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations committed
to addressing social justice deficits.
The World of Work Summit: SocialJusticeforAll aims to: (i) raise awareness and plea for social
justice to be prioritized in global, regional, and national agendas, as a rally point to put the social
dimension of the SDGs back on track; (ii) promote and call for increased, coordinated and
coherent action for the advancement of social justice through the forging of the Global Coalition
for Social Justice; and (iii) feed the global debate by voicing priorities and commitments to do
more to advance social justice for all. The Summit will feature addresses by Heads of State and
Government, employers' and workers' organizations' representatives, as well as panel
discussions, including with high-level representatives of the UN agencies and other international
organizations.
Your participation in the World of Work Summit will generate a renewed momentum to advance
social justice at national, regional and global levels. Sharing your vision and priorities with the
International Labour Conference would be an essential contribution to the shaping and
finalization of the Coalition's work plans.
Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the Republic of Estonia's commitment to
our common values and aspirations, and to convey my hope that our Organization can continue
to benefit from your support and leadership.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this all-important moment in the history of our
Organization and I hope to have the privilege of welcoming you to this year's World of Work
Summit.
Yours sincerely,
Gilbert F. Houngbo