Director of the International Relations Division addresses the International Labour Conference in Geneva

The 111th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland from June 7-19, 2023. The ILC is the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations agency that sets international labour standards. This year’s conference is focusing on “A Just Transition towards Sustainable and Inclusive Economies.”

Government, employer, and worker delegates from the ILO’s 187 member states are addressing a wide range of issues at the conference, including: a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies; Quality apprenticeships; Labour protection, and more.

Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Peter Lerner, the Director of the International Relations Division of the Histadrut, addressed the conference today, discussing the importance of unity and solidarity for Israel’s workers. Lerner highlighted that the Histadrut’s work to negotiate for wages, safe working conditions, and social protection has facilitated harmonious relationships between workers, employers, and the government.

Lerner also pointed to the Histadrut-led general strike earlier this year amidst the social turmoil caused by the judicial reform. He said: “The general strike is not an act of rebellion. It is a powerful symbol of workers’ determination to fight for their rights when all avenues of negotiations have been exhausted. The general strike became a beacon of hope, and it serves as a wake-up call demanding justice and respect for workers.”