Delegation of Bulgarian employers participates at the 110th International Labour Conference in Geneva
The 110th International Labour Conference is taking place in Geneva in the period 27 May – 11 June 2022. Representatives of the governments, the trade unions and employers’ organizations of 187 member-states of the International Labour Organization (ILO) are discussing global labour issues, including: occupational safety and health, apprenticeships, as well as social and solidarity economy.
The Association of the Organizations of Bulgarian Employers (AOBE) is represented at the conference by Mariya Mincheva, Vice-President of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) - official delegate, Tsvetan Simeonov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) - deputy delegate, and Zhasmina Saraivanova, BIA Expert - advisor.
During the session, the first meeting of employers with the newly elected ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, former Prime Minister of Togo, was held. His term will begin in October 2022, and until then he will hold a wide range of meetings to shape his agenda. Mr. Houngbo pointed out the good cooperation between government representatives, workers and employers as the solid foundation and accent of his work. The newly elected Director-General said that his priorities will include fight against the informal economy, support for the least developed countries, social justice, gender balance, etc.
Mariya Mincheva, official delegate of the Bulgarian employers, delivered a speech on behalf of AOBE. In her statement, she emphasized the prioritization of sustainable growth based on the promotion of entrepreneurship, a favorable business environment and sustainable private enterprises that can create productive employment and decent work.
The Vice-President of BIA identified as key challenges for employers the promotion of productivity, flexible forms of work and skills development in the workforce, given the economic consequences of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.
In her statement, the Bulgarian official delegate also said that in times of crisis we must not forget that competitiveness and higher productivity, based on skills and knowledge, remain a successful recipe for maintaining and improving the well-being of societies and should be used in the implementation and achievement of the goals set in the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.
See the full statement HERE