At an informal meeting of the EU Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs in Brussels, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Gilbert F. Houngbo, urged European leaders and social partners to place fair employment at the core of social justice. Addressing the opening plenary of the EPSCO meeting, he stressed that fair and inclusive labour policies are essential for economic security, social cohesion and lasting peace. He warned that persistent gender inequality, in-work poverty and barriers to labour market access must be addressed urgently to safeguard long-term stability and prosperity.
The meeting, organized under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, focused on building fair, inclusive and future-oriented employment and social policies. While the European Union’s framework, particularly the European Pillar of Social Rights, aligns closely with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, Houngbo noted that significant gaps remain. Gender pay disparities, limited opportunities for young people, migrants and persons with disabilities, and the growing number of working poor across Europe continue to challenge progress toward social justice.
The Director-General emphasized that fair employment must be grounded in international labour standards. He called on European countries to complete the ratification of two key occupational safety and health conventions and welcomed renewed EU attention to job quality. Measures such as adequate social protection, fair wages, skills development and reduced inequalities were highlighted as central to strengthening social justice. He underlined the importance of living wages, referencing recent international agreements and the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages, which was upheld by the European Court of Justice.
Addressing Europe’s structural transformation, Houngbo pointed to demographic shifts and the green and digital transitions as both urgent and inevitable. He cautioned that without deliberate and inclusive policymaking, these transitions could deepen exclusion, widen regional disparities and fuel social resistance. Fair employment and just transitions, he argued, are necessary to ensure that economic transformation remains socially sustainable.
The Director-General also underscored the importance of social dialogue in shaping effective labour policies and maintaining public trust during periods of change. Countries with strong dialogue mechanisms, he noted, are better equipped to manage crises and recover in inclusive ways. He highlighted the Global Coalition for Social Justice as a milestone initiative advancing international cooperation, with strong participation from EU Member States.
Concluding his remarks, Houngbo encouraged ministers to reaffirm their commitment to democratic resilience, shared prosperity and global cooperation in line with the Doha Political Declaration. Cyprus’ Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Marinos Moushouttas, expressed appreciation for the ILO’s support in ensuring that discussions remained firmly rooted in international standards and the principles of social justice.
