Plenary of the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference, Geneva

Chairperson, 
Director-General, 
Distinguished Delegates, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

On behalf of the Republic of South Africa, and when as a country celebrate our youth month in commemoration of the youth of 1986 who were massacred by the Apartheid regime, I appreciate the opportunity to address this esteemed gathering, the International Parliament of Labour. 

Let me begin by congratulating the Director-General, Mr Gilbert Houngbo, on his visionary and timely report, 'Jobs, rights and growth: Reinforcing the connection'. The report offers not only an honest assessment of the prevailing challenges in the world of work, but also a compelling roadmap that places workers' rights and inclusive growth at the centre of sustainable development. This focus is both urgent and necessary. 

South Africa reaffirms its full support for the ILO's constitutional mandate and commends the Office for sustaining its core work amidst increasingly complex global conditions. It is in this spirit that we congratulate Palestine's accession to observer member of the ILO. We particularly underscore the critical role of international labour standards and supervisory mechanisms in protecting workers, promoting decent work and ensuring that multilateralism delivers for all. It is precisely in times of global volatility that the ILO must stand firm as a custodian of social justice and tripartism. 

We commend the Office for its continued pursuit of innovative standard-setting initiatives, particularly the first general discussion on decent work in the platform economy. South Africa views this as a critical moment to ensure that all workers, regardless of employment form, benefit from rights, protections and social dialogue. We look forward to contributing constructively to this process, recognising its implications for workers in Africa and across the Global South. 

We also support the continued investment in robust expert reports on global labour market developments and trends. These reports must not only inform policy at the global level but also provide practical tools and technical advice for countries grappling with stubborn decent work deficits. In this regard, we call on the ILO to enhance its country-level capacity, especially in Africa, to support implementation and knowledge sharing on labour market resilience and enterprise development. 

Chairperson, 

We warmly congratulate the DG and his team on the adoption of the Programme and Budget for 2026–27. We acknowledge the significant efforts made to ensure that the Organisation remains fit for purpose and financially sound in a constrained environment. South Africa fully supports the DG's endeavours to manage the ILO efficiently and effectively, even under the dual pressures of resource limitations and restructuring linked to #UN80 reform processes. However, we must express our concern over the impact of budget constraints, including job losses and the discontinuation of critical development projects in priority regions, particularly in Africa. 

We therefore call upon all ILO constituents to rally behind the Organisation's budgetary sustainability and to ensure that no region, particularly those with entrenched development deficits, is left behind. We reiterate the urgent need to prioritise Africa's development aspirations, invest in productive employment creation, support the formalisation of informal work and foster sustainable enterprises that deliver quality jobs and improved livelihoods for all. 

Chairperson, 

We call upon ILO Member States to support the long-overdue realisation of the 1986 Constitutional Amendment, to ensure that this Organisation reflects our collective aspiration for an equal, inclusive and representative institution, one that responds to today's realities and tomorrow's imperatives. 

In closing, we wish to acknowledge the Report of the Chairperson of the Governing Body for 2024–2025, and commend the stewardship demonstrated during this period. 

I thank you.​

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