Latest news with #Houngbo
Maroc
14 hours ago
- Business
- Maroc
113th International Labour Conference Opens in Geneva with Participation of Morocco
The 113th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) kicked off on Monday 02 June at Geneva's Palais des Nations, with the participation of a large Moroccan delegation representing the government and social partners (employers and workers). The opening plenary session was attended by Morocco's Permanent Representative to Geneva, Ambassador Omar Zniber; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Labour, and Skills, Wafaa Asri; and Miloudi Moukharik, Secretary General of the Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), who leads the workers' delegation. In his opening address at the event, which runs until June 13, ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo noted that the world is going through a period of 'profound turbulence for multilateral institutions' such as the International Labour Organization. 'This context imposes on us a duty to reform: reform for effectiveness, but also for efficiency,' he said, noting that reform at the ILO translates into 'a double imperative.' Reviewing the highlights of this 113th session, Houngbo noted the importance of the major draft resolution for the 2nd Social Summit in Doha, noting that this text embodies, among other things, a collective ambition: to expand universal access to social protection, with a clear objective—to increase social coverage by at least two percentage points per year. The ILO chief called on the Conference to approve the 2026-27 draft budget, which will see 'zero nominal growth,' in line with the Governing Body's recommendation in March, because, as he noted, 'the time has come for austerity.' 'We must show determination and resolve to define, with surgical precision, the efficiency levers needed to reduce our expenditure and make us stronger,' he stressed. Referring to the report he submitted to the current session of the Conference, Houngbo noted that 'employment is not a passive consequence of economic growth but must be an active component of it.' Reviewing the other items on the agenda of the 113th session, the ILO chief highlighted the importance of the first normative discussion on decent work in the platform economy, which 'already promises to be a pioneering milestone.' The inaugural session also featured the presentation of the report of the Chair of the Governing Body and the election of the President and Vice-Presidents of the Conference. The ILC, the ILO's highest decision-making body, meets annually with tripartite delegations from member states, along with international observers, to address key global labour issues. It operates through plenary sessions and various commissions. (MAP: 03 June 2025)
Business Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
More than 200 jobs cut at International Labour Organization as US slashes funding
[GENEVA] The Geneva-based International Labour Organization has axed about 225 jobs due to cutbacks in US funding at the United Nations agency, its head said on Wednesday (May 28). The job losses, which affect posts at the ILO's Geneva headquarters and in the field, follow the US administration's decision to reduce voluntary contributions under President Donald Trump, ILO Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo said. 'One job loss is too many ... You would not imagine the mood that has generated within my staff,' he told reporters in Geneva. The ILO head also raised the possibility of relocating some of the agency's operations out of Geneva, one of the world's most expensive cities, to ease financial pressures, which is also part of broader talks on reform. Potential locations could be European cities such as Turin, Budapest, or Bonn, or further afield in places including Doha and Pretoria, Houngbo said. Short-term contractors and employees at some other UN agencies like the International Organization for Migration have already been informed of redundancies. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up But thousands more job losses could be on the way as international agencies grapple with funding shortages due to the withdrawal of aid by the Trump administration and other donors. 'The US is the top contributor for assessed and voluntary contribution, so our challenge is double,' Houngbo said, highlighting also a broader pullback in financial support among member states. The US accounts for 22 per cent of the ILO's US$880 million two-year budget for 2026-2027, expected to be approved at the ILO's International Labour Conference next week. 'Worst case scenario, we may have to consider a revised budget. I don't recall the last time that happened to the ILO,' Houngbo said. He said he is developing a business continuity plan in case of further cuts to financial support, and that the ILO will be implementing a freeze on external recruitment, as well as launching a voluntary redundancy programme. REUTERS
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
More than 200 jobs cut at International Labour Organization as US slashes funding
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA (Reuters) - The Geneva-based International Labour Organization (ILO) has axed about 225 jobs due to cutbacks in U.S. funding at the United Nations agency, its head said on Wednesday. The job losses, which affect posts at the ILO's Geneva headquarters and in the field, follow the U.S. administration's decision to reduce voluntary contributions under President Donald Trump, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said. "One job loss is too many ... You would not imagine the mood that has generated within my staff," he told reporters in Geneva. The ILO head also raised the possibility of relocating some of the agency's operations out of Geneva, one of the world's most expensive cities, to ease financial pressures, which is also part of broader talks on reform. Potential locations could be European cities such as Turin, Budapest, or Bonn, or further afield in places including Doha and Pretoria, Houngbo said. Short-term contractors and employees at some other U.N. agencies like the International Organization for Migration have already been informed of redundancies. But thousands more job losses could be on the way as international agencies grapple with funding shortages due to the withdrawal of aid by the Trump administration and other donors. "The U.S. is the top contributor for assessed and voluntary contribution, so our challenge is double," Houngbo said, highlighting also a broader pullback in financial support among member states. The U.S. accounts for 22% of the ILO's $880 million two-year budget for 2026-2027, expected to be approved at the ILO's International Labour Conference next week. "Worst case scenario, we may have to consider a revised budget. I don't recall the last time that happened to the ILO," Houngbo said. He said he is developing a business continuity plan in case of further cuts to financial support, and that the ILO will be implementing a freeze on external recruitment, as well as launching a voluntary redundancy programme.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
More than 200 jobs cut at International Labour Organization as US slashes funding
More than 200 jobs cut at International Labour Organization as US slashes funding GENEVA - The Geneva-based International Labour Organization (ILO) has axed about 225 jobs due to cutbacks in U.S. funding at the United Nations agency, its head said on Wednesday. The job losses, which affect posts at the ILO's Geneva headquarters and in the field, follow the U.S. administration's decision to reduce voluntary contributions under President Donald Trump, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said. "One job loss is too many ... You would not imagine the mood that has generated within my staff," he told reporters in Geneva. The ILO head also raised the possibility of relocating some of the agency's operations out of Geneva, one of the world's most expensive cities, to ease financial pressures, which is also part of broader talks on reform. Potential locations could be European cities such as Turin, Budapest, or Bonn, or further afield in places including Doha and Pretoria, Houngbo said. Short-term contractors and employees at some other U.N. agencies like the International Organization for Migration have already been informed of redundancies. But thousands more job losses could be on the way as international agencies grapple with funding shortages due to the withdrawal of aid by the Trump administration and other donors. "The U.S. is the top contributor for assessed and voluntary contribution, so our challenge is double," Houngbo said, highlighting also a broader pullback in financial support among member states. The U.S. accounts for 22% of the ILO's $880 million two-year budget for 2026-2027, expected to be approved at the ILO's International Labour Conference next week. "Worst case scenario, we may have to consider a revised budget. I don't recall the last time that happened to the ILO," Houngbo said. He said he is developing a business continuity plan in case of further cuts to financial support, and that the ILO will be implementing a freeze on external recruitment, as well as launching a voluntary redundancy programme. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Tribune
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Gulf's AI Edge
TDT| Manama As artificial intelligence reshapes the global labour market, Middle Eastern countries, particularly in the Gulf, are uniquely poised to turn disruption into opportunity - provided they act swiftly to reskill and upskill their workforce, according to Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Daily Tribune, Houngbo underscored the urgent need for Middle Eastern economies to prioritise education and training reforms to stay competitive. He noted that while AI and automation are already 'destroying millions of jobs that will not come back,' they are simultaneously creating 'millions of new jobs' that require different skill sets. Technology and innovation 'GCC countries are very well placed because they have already been investing a lot in technology and innovation,' Houngbo said. 'That becomes a comparative advantage. From what I see, GCC countries can capitalise on this by investing even more in their youth and ensuring that skills, whether currently skilled or unskilled, are better matched with the requirements of the new economy.' His comments come at a time when the global labour market faces an unprecedented wave of change, with traditional employment structures giving way to digital, remote, and AI-driven models. For the Gulf countries, which have long invested in building knowledge economies, the transition offers both a challenge and an opening to lead. Houngbo stressed that the ILO is pushing for governments worldwide to take proactive measures, particularly in reskilling programmes that align workforce capabilities with emerging technological demands. He warned that failing to act now risks widening inequalities and exacerbating social unrest. Economic progress On a broader note, Houngbo also highlighted the importance of the Global Coalition for Social Justice - an initiative he has championed to ensure that economic progress is inclusive. He urged countries, including those in the GCC, to continue advancing strong social protection systems and fighting inequalities. 'Social justice is giving equal opportunity to everybody,' he said. 'Together, let's fight inequalities to make sure that nobody is left behind.'
