The 5th ITUC Congress was held. This world-level event, held once every four years, officially opened in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday (17/11/2022) afternoon at 16:00 local time.
This time, the ITUC Congress’s opening ceremony was enlivened by cultural performances from outback Australia, which are still marginalized to this day, such as the Aboriginal and Woiwurrung Wurundjeri clans.
Secretary General of ITUC Sharan Burrow expressed his emotion for the remarks. Burrow, who is from Australia, said he was proud of the presence of performers from indigenous Australian tribes.
Meanwhile, the host’s remarks were delivered directly by the Australian Council of Trade Union (ACTU) president Michelle O’Neil and her Secretary General, Sally McManus. O’Neil emphasized that their movement is increasingly focused on strengthening PKB, which is the core of advancing its more than 2 million members, especially to ensure continuity of work, but also to be very at the forefront of pushing climate change issues and promoting the New Social Contract.
The opening ceremony was attended by Senator Patrick Dodson from the Labor Party, who previously served as head of the Aboriginal region’s trade union chairman. Senator Dodson is a spectacular Australian chaplain who won the John Curtin peace medal.
Guy Ryder, former director general of the ILO who recently retired last July, also attended the event this time. Ryder expressed his admiration for the leadership of great women like Sharan Burrow and Mechele O’Neil.
“They are known to be very brave and strong in leading their organizations,” said Ryder.
Guy also emphasized the many big challenges during their leadership, such as the health crisis due to the Covid pandemic, the energy crisis, the financial and economic crisis and even the massive food crisis. This certainly affects the standard of human life throughout the world.
Over the next 15 years, all this will not recover. It will be a critical point for ITUC leaders who are highlighted for their ability to overcome this. Trade union democracy in ITUC member countries will be needed to overcome all these challenges, and unity must become a better-shared strength in the future.
In his next speech, Ayuba Wabba, the president of ITUC, emphasized that upholding and respecting human rights must be a systemic force. Social justice is a strength and a positive side in overcoming many problems in ITUC member countries because that is the introduction and enforcement of the need for a New Social Contract, including recovery from pandemics and crises.
Ayuba emphasized several things that need to be considered to strengthen ITUC in the New Social Contract, including job promotion, rights, wages, social protection, equality and inclusiveness towards decent work.
ACV-CSC International Coordinator for Asia Pacific, Maria Emeninta, took part in the whole event intensively.
“The representatives of the federations from the countries that are members of the union and we will contribute, attending side events, which are a series of congress events. This includes providing interventions in plenary discussions on crucial issues at ITUC at this time to formulate policies for the next four years,” Maria said, as reported by ksbsi.org.
“One of them is increasing the gender quota to 50% from the current quota of 40%, as decided at the 4th World Women’s Conference at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Center (MCEC) the day before, on November 16, 2022, and accepted in the discussion of the ITUC General Council at a meeting morning, November 17, 2022.” closed Maria.
