For a century the UN-specialized Agency, the ILO promotes worldwide for better working conditions. In a DW Interview, DGB-Chef Reiner Hoffmann is calling for a strengthening of the organization and its Standards.
Deutsche Welle: The International labour organization (ILO) celebrates its 100-year anniversary and is today one of the largest specialized agencies of the United Nations. Where would the world be without you?
Reiner Hoffmann: The International labour organization has contributed in their hundred year history, have contributed very significantly to that good pay, but also social security was implemented in many countries.
What is the influence of the ILO in the way we work today is global?
For example, the fact that the core labour standards of the International labour organisation, almost all countries have been ratified on our globe. That’s a progress. This is not observed everywhere, for example when it comes to important things, such as the prohibition of child labour. We also remind us of images from the textile industry in Bangladesh, where people were killed. Unfortunately, the world is still in disarray, even as regards the design of work.
More than 1,100 people in the collapse of the factory building Rana Plaza killed.
The ILO says that “world peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice”, and continues with its so-called core labour standards, against the abolition of child and forced labour, freedom of Association and equality between men and women in the profession. Now there is more discrimination in the workplace, modern-day slavery and appalling work conditions. The ILO is ineffective?
The criticism is justified. Therefore, we are of the opinion that we need to strengthen the International labour organization as a whole. It is not enough that it has been agreed in the international community under the umbrella of the United Nations Standards. It is also important that they are implemented, and whenever necessary, to be sanctioned. For example, it may be that we are not in Germany, customers of companies that comply with the ILO labour standards.
What’s that supposed to mean?
For example, it is important that the companies that invest abroad or trade relationships, also contribute to the way that work standards are met in these countries. Since we are a few more steps, not experience, but also on the principle of voluntariness much always succeed. Therefore, we need a bigger liability and sanction mechanisms, if it’s about work standards of the ILO are violated. Since the pressure of the United Nations must be increased about the International labour organization.
But the readiness for international cooperation is on the rise due to the increasing nationalism at all?
The Multilateral is arg came under the wheels: We are experiencing the nationalist policy is conducted in Parts of Europe, but also in the United States. Or that we have a state-capitalist authoritarian systems, as in Russia, or in China, where the ILO standards have no real meaning. Even such a rich country as the United States has not recognised the four core labour standards of the International labour organization until today. Because it is time to do so. That, in the future, for example, the European Union would conclude only trade agreements, if, in the partner countries, the ILO labour standards.
Since 2014, head of the German trade Union Federation (DGB): Reiner Hoffmann
“Labour is not a commodity,” writes the ILO in its objectives. If we look now to the digitization, because currently the smallest work can be outsourced steps. Since work is the product?
It is a large risk that we have with digitization and globalization, a new Generation of digital hired servants; that the platform provider refuse to acknowledge their social responsibility to. The ILO has just produced a report, as important issues are touched on. We need an ambitious global social contract. Because it needs to be clarified who is the employer of responsibility. Therefore, the ILO has today, an equally important function as 100 years ago.
Why you have hope – despite all the setbacks – that the ILO labour standards one day be used worldwide?
People need a solid income from work so that what is produced to prosperity, it can also be consumed in the end. For many millions of people today have no basis. It is in the best interest of capitalist Economies – if you don’t want to go under – to make pay and conditions so that there will be fair play. Meanwhile, enlightened capitalists make their annual Meeting in Switzerland in Davos and Concerns about the future ability of capitalist Economics. If this Reflection leads then also a change of policy, I believe, is the reason to be optimistic.
Reiner Hoffmann is since 2014, Chairman of the German trade Union Federation (DGB). Eight German trade unions are gathered under the umbrella of the DGB, with nearly six million members.
The conversation lead Nicolas Martin.