SPARK is a nationwide competition designed for Sri Lanka's upcoming generation of entrepreneurs. It invites young innovators, thinkers, disruptors, and problem-solvers between the ages of 15 and 24 to present their ideas and solutions addressing the most urgent challenges of our era. Having received hundreds of applications, the competition used a comprehensive shortlisting procedure, involving virtual training, in-person boot camps, and mentoring sessions. The Grand Finale will hear the final five contestants who have successfully navigated this process.

Colombo

Grand Finale -  SPARK Youth Entrepreneurship Competition 2023

The ILO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) have collaborated to produce a new report on Eye Health and the World of Work, drawing attention to healthy vision as being integral to safety and productivity at work.

Work-related visual impairments affect around 13 million workers globally. Visual impairments can lead to decreased access to decent work, hinder inclusion and pose a threat to workers' long-term health and well-being. People with visual impairments experience a 30% decrease in employment. Poor eye health has a negative impact not only on those directly affected but also on the global economy, costing $411 billion annually in lost productivity, according to The Lancet Global Health Commission.

Geneva

Eye Health and the World of Work

During the World of Work Summit, ILO live interviewed attending labour ministers and heads of international organizations to find out what they feel needs to be done to achieve social justice for all.&nbsp;

Voices from the World of Work Summit on social justice for all 

This online event will disseminate the conclusions of analytical briefs on Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda and a cross-country review on youth employment, school-to-work transition and the impact of COVID-19 on youth labour market outcomes in the African region. It will also underpin the ongoing engagements on promoting decent work for youth in the African region, and explore possibilities for shaping follow up actions in line with the ILO’s Youth Employment Action Plan (YEAP) 2020-30.&nbsp;

Youth employment and school-to-work transitions in Africa

The International Labour Organization will hold its 111th annual International Labour Conference in Geneva from 5–16 June 2023. Worker, employer and government delegates from the ILO's 187 Member States will tackle a wide range of issues, including: a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships, and labour protection.

111th International Labour Conference

The ILO World of Work Show brings you a mix of live interviews and videos on the major challenges and opportunities facing the world of work.

World of Work Show

On World Day Against Child Labour, a high-level side event will be organized by the ILO during the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference. The discussion will focus on the link between social justice and the elimination of child labour. Panellists will highlight examples of how ILO constituents have followed up on their commitments and how these are important steps towards increasing social justice.&nbsp;

World Day Against Child Labour - Social Justice for All: How to end Child Labour

The World of Work Summit 2023: Social Justice for All is a high-level forum for global voices to address the need for increased, coordinated and coherent action in support of social justice. It will provide an opportunity to discuss and inform the proposal to forge a Global Coalition for Social Justice, which was welcomed by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office at its 347th Session (March 2023).

The 2-day Summit will highlight the key role of social justice in creating a more sustainable and equitable world and will discuss strategies for increased and better-aligned joint action to advance social justice and ensure policy coherence. It will provide a forum for participants to share their vision of, and priorities for, social justice and to showcase the actions they are taking and they commit to take to advance social justice. It is expected that the outcomes of the Summit will inform discussions in other multilateral forums of the centrality of and strategies to achieve greater social justice, such as, in 2023, the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, the G20 and the summits of the BRICS countries.

The Summit features: 
- Addresses by Heads of State and Government, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the ILO Director-General and high-level representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations.

- Four panel discussions with high-level representatives of governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations, UN entities and other international organizations to leverage capacities and improve coordination and policy coherence to increase the scale and impact of actions towards social justice across the multilateral system and beyond.

Interpretation will be provided in English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, Arabic and international sign language.

<a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/genericdocument/wcms_884397.pdf">Agenda of the World of Work Summit</a>

World of Work Summit: Social justice for all

As Heads of State and Government gather at the UN General Assembly in New York to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the ILO World of Work Show will discuss where we stand on the 17 SDGs and what more needs to be done to achieve them. The show will also offer a sneak peek at the ILO’s soon to be launched campaign - “This Way to Social Justice - which aims to help combat inequalities for a greener, healthier and more sustainable future for all.

How tackling inequalities can help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

The ILO World of Work Show brings you a mix of live interviews and videos on the major challenges and opportunities facing the world of work. This episode focuses on the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which takes place on 28 April, and will discuss concrete steps that workers, employers, and governments can take to prevent occupational accidents and diseases. This episode launches ILO LIVE, our innovative online platform on the world of work.

How to build a positive safety and health culture

The ILO World of Work Show brings you a mix of live interviews and videos on the major challenges and opportunities facing the world of work. This episode focuses on the 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, hosted by the Government of South Africa from 15 to 20 May. It comes at a critical time as 160 million children are still in child labour and the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse years of progress. In this context, the conference represents an opportunity to assess progress made and identify the urgent measures needed to accelerate the elimination of child labour.



Raise your hand for kids

This episode of the ILO World of Work Show focuses on the start of the 110th International Labour Conference, bringing together over 4000 Governments’, Workers’ and Employers’ representatives from 187 ILO Member States. With the world of work reeling from the triple crisis of food, fuel, and finance, our guests will discuss what needs to be done to ensure a human-centred recovery that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. Send us your questions to our experts through Twitter, using #WorldofWorkShow.

How to tackle the triple crisis of food, fuel, and finance?

This episode focuses on the scourge of child labour and what more needs to be done to protect the 160 million children around the world who work, many in dangerous conditions.  Join us as we look back at the outcomes of the recent 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, and discuss the progress made and urgent measures needed to eliminate child labour.

Send us your questions to our experts through Twitter, using #WorldofWorkShow

How can child labour be eliminated?

This episode focuses on the social and solidarity economy – an ethical approach to economic development that prioritizes the welfare of people and planet over profits. We will explore its various elements and how it can contribute to decent work and sustainable development. Send us your questions to our experts through Twitter, using #WorldofWorkShow.

The social and solidarity economy explained

This episode focuses on the critical importance of safety and health at work, which has been underlined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us live as we explore what more needs to be done to realize the right of all workers to be protected against sickness, disease and injury arising out of employment. Send us your questions to our experts through Twitter, using #WorldofWorkShow.

A safe and healthy world of work for everyone

This episode focuses on the outcomes of the 110th International Labour Conference and will discuss what has been achieved and what more needs to be done. At a time when international cooperation is becoming increasingly difficult, it is all the more important that governments, workers and employers come together to ensure a human-centred recovery that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient. Send us your questions to our experts through Twitter, using #WorldofWorkShow.

A look back at the 110th International Labour Conference

New season of the World of Work Show starts today at 16:00 CEST. This episode of the ILO's monthly live show will discuss latest estimates on modern slavery, the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, to be presented at the UN General Assembly and the implications of the climate emergency for the world of work.

How to fight the rise of modern slavery

This episode of the ILO World of Work show will focus how to put social justice at the centre of global economic and development policies. The new ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, has prioritized social justice in his mandate as a tool to rebuild the social and economic fabric which has been frayed by rising inequality, conflicts, and a lack of trust in the international system. Join our guests who will discuss how to increase social justice in practice, including through universal social protection, social dialogue and collective bargaining.

How to achieve social justice in the world of work

This episode of the ILO World of Work show will focus on the social dimension of climate change and how the ILO is keeping it at the forefront of discussions at the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference. Join our guests who will discuss how to achieve a just transition towards a greener economy that works for all women and men around the world.

The social dimension of climate change

This episode of the ILO World of Work show will focus on the role that social protection can take in supporting fundamental human rights. A role made all the more critical as the world of work enters a period of multiple and interconnected crises. In addition, we will take viewers to the 17th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting, currently taking place in Singapore, and explore the findings of the first ever global survey on experiences of violence and harassment at work.

The right to social protection

This episode of the ILO World of Work show looks at the new World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023 Report. From employment growth to job quality, what can we expect from the year ahead? We will also explore the latest trends in working time around the world, including the effects on productivity, mental and physical health, and work-life balance.

Working Life, Working Time and the Work-Life Balance

This episode of the ILO World of Work show is focused on the World Day of Social Justice and explores the various ways in which the ILO is striving to ensure global momentum for a new social contract, one that puts people at the centre of national and global policymaking. This show highlights some of the pressing global challenges we face and how a Global Coalition for Social Justice could help address the issues that are leaving too many behind.

A Future with Social Justice

As the historic UN Water Conference opens in New York, we find out why poor water and sanitation is holding back economies and societies. And, as it's now been three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ILO World of Work Show explores why women were and continue to be disproportionately affected by the crisis.

The high stakes of water and work

10 years ago this month, over 1130 Bangladeshi workers died and thousands more were injured when the Rana Plaza building collapsed. To this day, it remains one of the most brutal lessons about the importance of occupational safety and health. A decade on, what has been changed in the Bangladesh garment industry and the four million workers who depend on it? And has it affected global supply chains and the clothes we buy? 
 
We all have a right to go to work and come home alive, uninjured, and healthy. As we mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we explore the designation of "a safe and healthy working environment" as a fundamental principle and right at work. Watch the ILO World of Work Show to find out what this means for workers around the world.

The Rana Plaza collapse: Ten years on

Many regions of the world are already breaking record temperatures. What is the impact of this heat on workers and economies, and what can we do to keep people safe and companies productive? The ILO World of Work Show will also mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia by exploring the current state of discrimination against LGBTIQ+ workers worldwide and what can be done to better include them in the world of work.

When is it too hot to work?

Every year, representatives from Governments, Workers' and Employer's Organizations of the ILO Member States come together at the International Labour Conference. Often called the international parliament of labour, they discuss the latest challenges facing the world of work and propose solutions to overcome them. This episode of the ILO World of Work Show will focus on the conference, its aims and the issues on the agenda.&nbsp;

What’s at stake at the International Labour Conference? 

An essential part of the ILO’s supervisory system is the Committee on the Application of Standards. It provides the opportunity for representatives of governments, employers and workers to examine how ILO Member States uphold the International Labour Standards that they have ratified. As the ILC discusses the creation of a new international standard on apprenticeships, the World of Work Show will look at how labour standards are created, implemented, and their effect on working lives.&nbsp;

Labour standards, what are they and why do they matter?

Labour protection is at the core of social justice and decent work. But what does that mean exactly and are labour protection systems fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world of work? To explore this, the ILO World of Work Show will explore the role of labour protection at a time of multiple crises. Join us as well to look back at the first week of the 111th International Labour Conference.&nbsp;

Inclusive Labour Protection for All 

To mark World Day Against Child Labour, held every June 12, the ILO&nbsp;World of Work Show&nbsp;looks at what else needs to be done to protect the 160 million children worldwide who are in child labour – many in dangerous conditions. We will also explore the critical role of social protection in protecting workers and their families.&nbsp;

What’s the key to ending Child Labour?

2023 is the 25th anniversary of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, a historic commitment by governments, employers' and workers' organizations to uphold basic human values in our social and economic lives. At last year’s ILC the right to a safe and healthy working environment was declared as the fifth fundamental principle and right at work. So, the&nbsp;World of Work Show&nbsp;will explore what difference the Declaration has made to the working lives of women and men around the world and what more still needs to be done. The show will also wrap up the 111th International Labour Conference and discuss its achievements.&nbsp;

Labour Rights are Human Rights

The World of Work Summit will take place on June 14-15 around the central theme of “Social Justice for All”. Ahead of this high level forum, the ILO&nbsp;World of Work Show&nbsp;will offer a sneak peak of what is expected over the two days and will introduce some of the global figures who will attend. With domestic workers continuing to be one of the most overlooked categories of workers worldwide, we will also explore what more needs to be done to ensure they too have access to decent work and social justice.&nbsp;

How can we achieve Social Justice?

The United Nations will convene the SDG Summit on 18-19 September 2023 at its Headquarters in New York, during the General Assembly high-level week. With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at midpoint, world leaders will carry out a comprehensive review of the state of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world, and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions towards the target year of 2030.

To generate additional opportunities for the engagement of all actors, the United Nations is convening an SDG Action Weekend on 16-17 September 2023 which will consist of the SDG Mobilization Day on Saturday, 16 September, and the SDG Acceleration Day on Sunday, 17 September, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

<a href="https://www.un.org/en/conferences/SDGSummit2023">Read more about the SDG Summit</a>

New York City

SDG Action Weekend and SDG Summit 2023

The ILO's largest interdisciplinary and international forum for labour regulation research- proposing transformative policies and innovative solutions.

Visit the <a href="https://www.ilo.org/global/research/events-courses/rdw/8/lang--en/index.htm">official website of the 8th Regulating for Decent Work Conference</a>

8th Regulating for Decent Work Conference 

The International Symposium, convened by the ILO, UNICEF, the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) and the European Union, brings together policymakers, social partners, civil society, and development partners to discuss the innovative practices and strategies for building sustainable and rights-based social protection systems resulting from the Social Protection &amp; Public Finance Management Programme (SP&amp;PFM).

International Symposium on Improving Synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management

A job changed my life as a refugee

A just transition to a new, greener life

I was a child labourer, now I work to prevent it

A source of income amidst a crisis, a sense of ownership amongst a community

Education empowered me to fight for women’s rights in Kenya

You're watching ILO Live

We can eliminate gender inequality in Asia's garment sector

How domestic workers got organized in Kuwait

The ILO at Work

Green jobs and Decent work in Mongolia

We won’t need to beg for water anymore

Entrepreneur turns problems into profit

ILO set to implement emergency employment scheme in earthquake-damaged neighbourhoods in Aleppo (Syria)

An apprenticeship changed my life

During the Sustainable Development Goals Summit on Monday 18 September, the ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, will address Leaders' Dialogue 4 on Strengthening integrated policies and public institutions for achieving the SDGs.