Spain's Labor Minister Warns ILO Faces Crisis Jeopardizing Its Mandate

Yolanda Díaz, Spain's Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Security, has issued a stark warning about the current state of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Speaking at the ILO's annual conference in Geneva, Díaz stated that the century-old organization is grappling with a crisis that puts its core mandate at risk.

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The ILO is going through financial turbulence that we cannot ignore, but we cannot emerge from it by jeopardizing its foundational values.

"The ILO is going through financial turbulence that we cannot ignore, but we cannot emerge from it by jeopardizing its foundational values," Díaz asserted during the 114th International Labour Conference. She also voiced concerns about deregulation trends emerging from various countries, warning that "an ILO without standards is an inane organization in the face of the great digital and green changes we have to govern."

Díaz welcomed the ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo's initiative to discuss the growing impact of new technologies like artificial intelligence on the labor market. She referenced Pope Francis's recent reflections on the matter, suggesting that AI should be viewed as an opportunity, with a focus on people rather than just performance.

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an ILO without standards is an inane organization in the face of the great digital and green changes we have to govern.

Reflecting on Spain's national labor policies, Díaz highlighted the country's dedication to social dialogue. She pointed to recent successes over the past six years, including expanding workers' rights, achieving record levels of female employment, and reducing the gender pay gap by 25%.

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has made social dialogue its banner