Opening speech at Decent Work conference

• Welcome to the international meeting in Oslo – one of the most important issues of our times – globalization and the consequences for the labour market.
• This is indeed not an abstract theme – it deals with consequences for one of the most treasured values for all people – the right to work, the respect for human dignity – the respect for decent work.
• For the Norwegian Government, the struggle for decent work is in itself a core value – and a driving reason for our very existence. We stood before the electorate in 2005 and pledged to strive for an inclusive labour market, more equitable distribution and a more active engagement for the protection of labour rights and the rights of active labour unions.
• So – it is part of our mandate and part of our platform – it is indeed an issue that transcends traditional division lines between foreign policy and domestic policy. It is a global issue – and thus international and local at the same time.
• And this conference is a milestone in our effort to frame a new agenda.
• In Norway – as you know - the Tripartite cooperation is key to the modus operandi of our labour market and how it is managed and governed.
• We are proud of this tradition. It is a treasure we should do our utmost to acknowledge, recognize and value. The formal and informal links between government and the social partners have proven invaluable in the development of our society.
• We find the essence of this model in the approach and composition of the ILO. To me one word describes this way of addressing contemporary social and economic challenges: It is modern. It is an inclusive and modern way of addressing issues that require the efforts of more than one. It is method that enhances consensus on a few critical values in society.
• So I wish to thank LO represented by its leader Roar Flåthen – and NHO by its Managing Director Finn Bergersen Jr for co-hosting this conference with me – and I wish to thank the Director Generals of the ILO and the WTO – Juan Somavia and Pascal Lamy – for joining us here in Oslo today – and let me add – for being so open to meet not only with us.
• Juan Somavia and Pascal Lamy are also setting aside time to meet with civil society – thus acknowledging what a major undertaking it is to broadly address the key governance issues in the age of globalization.
• ILO and WTO are key institutions in the norms based international society. We need them more than ever to make sense of globalization. We need them in each of their capacities. And we need them to work more closely together. Not least on the agenda that we will be developing here in Oslo today and in the work that will follow. 
• Let me share with you three major objectives for this conference:
• 1) To place globalization of the labour market on the Norwegian political agenda in order to better understand the consequences of globalization – at home and abroad.
• 2) To discuss opportunities as well as challenges of this global agenda – seen from different perspectives – form the employee, from the employer, from civil society and from government  - again – nationally as well as internationally.
• 3) And last but not least – invite inputs on how we move ahead: How do we approach the real governance issues of the global economy in order to make globalization work for all. And of course – as we are gathering in Oslo – what contribution can Norway – its government and social partners do to take the agenda forward.
• Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends.
• This is the point of departure – as for so many other issues related to globalization: What used to be foreign affairs are now domestic.
• Growing interdependence is particularly striking in labour markets. Conditions of work in one country are increasingly affected by political priorities in other countries: through migration, trade, investment and globally integrated production systems.
• Economic globalisation has been promoted for decades – dynamics of market forces and stronger international trade agreements (despite recent setbacks, although we now know that Pascal Lamy will walk every extra mile to finally reach a deal) have all pulled in the same direction.
• The benefits are many and obvious: higher growth, greater freedom and new opportunities for many people in many countries.
• At the same time: many people in many countries also live in fear – of changes caused by globalisation. Some lost their jobs, some forced to compromise on standards and rights. 
• Fear is a special phenomenon in politics. It may be based on reality and it may not be. But it is hard to tell someone who is afraid that they are wrong. Fear is complex. Perception matters. As long as there is fear we need to take it very seriously and demonstrate that we are able to deal with the fear factor through better policies – policies that are perceived to be relevant to the people’s everyday lives.
• And at the centre of people’s lives there is work.
• A majority of those who experience increased vulnerability as a result of globalization are often vulnerable at the outset – the poorest of the poor in the informal sector, in particular in developing countries.
• Increasingly also irregular immigrants in rich countries like our own.  Many of them women and children, so-called “children on the move”, subject to abuse, trafficking and the worst forms of child labour.
• This globalised misery is a social problem, a moral shame – and a growing threat of serious social instability which – if unchecked – risk undermining the social fabric of our societies – the empathy for people of different colours, from different continents and different cultures.
• This trend must be reversed. It is critical to bridge the gap between economic and social dimensions of global governance. If economic progress for some means social decline for others – then we end up in a dangerous gap.
• It s important to understand the reasons behind gap. That is one reason why we are here.
• I think we can agree – and we hear Juan Somavia repeat it again and again – now also supported by the historic declarations recently voted by his membership: Only by making globalisation more fair can we make it legitimate – and only by making it legitimate can we make globalisation sustainable in democratic societies.
• This is what is called for by the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, adopted by consensus of governments and workers’ and employers’ representatives from 182 countries, on 13 June this year.
• I repeat – adopted by consensus. As a point of departure this is not controversial. The follow up – the implementation – of course – is quite another story.
• One reason why we are gathered here today is to start the political process of writing and telling this story.  
• The declaration presents the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda – which presents itself as both a vision and toolbox.
• It puts employment creation at centre of economic policy-making, it calls for adequate social security and labour protection, it promotes social dialogue and tripartism, and it underscores the importance of respecting, promoting and realising fundamental principles and rights at work.
• It underscores the crucial importance of gender equality and non-discrimination at the workplace.
• And it highlights the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
• This is an important reminder – even in my country. As we speak – and as we approach elections in one year’s time – we face a political alternative the calls into question precisely these pillars of how the Norwegian labour marked is structured and governed – the role of collective bargaining, the role of the labour unions and the responsibility for a modern government to put in place regulations that will prohibit social dumping.
• We will take that struggle and face that alternative. Looking abroad we see countries in which labour unions are prohibited or severely hindered in their work. Again, these are not modern policies. And in the long round countries with such policies perform poorly. Less effective, less apt to seize the needs of an increasingly knowledge based economy.
• We need to raise our voices to defend all those brave women and men who stand up for their rights – for their fundamental right to enjoy decent work.
• We need to create rules – and norms – to back up the Decent works agenda – in all its components.
• Child labour is one example of abuse and neglect of human rights that we need to address. It needs to be fought. Companies at all levels of their value chain – from the centre to the remote subsidiary - need to be attentive. Systems need to be put in place to avoid this kind of modern abuse. If the phenomenon still emerges, it needs to be urgently corrected. That is a key corporate, social responsibility – yes – a key corporate responsibility in any context.
• Ladies and gentlemen,
• This new ILO Declaration has a very attractive dualism in its approach: It reminds us on the one hand that labour standards should not be used for protectionist trade purposes. And it makes clear on the other hand that the violation of fundamental principles and rights cannot be used as a legitimate comparative advantage.
• We are thus talking about a potential breakthrough for coherence in global governance, putting social justice on par with economic efficiency, paving the way for the sustainable company.
• I believe there is ample evidence to say that this equation is true. I believe in essence that it represents the core of a social contract for the 21st Century.
• Now, the challenge to make it happen – to put these good intentions into action.
• Here both ILO and WTO are key players. I stated on behalf of Norway at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong that the next round of WTO negotiations – after we have successfully landed the Doha round – needs to address the agenda of Decent Work – it needs to find ways of codifying the coherence – the balance that I just described.
• Political vision and will to compromise will be key. Regulations may be needed. But nothing can replace a well established social dialogue.
• In my country we have had a lot of this highly renewable resource – social dialogue and the will to compromise. I will shortly give the floor to Mr. Flåthen and Mr. Bergesen – they are chief negotiators – and chief compromisers in my country.
• Let me first – once again - express gratitude to all of you for joining us here in Oslo, both from Norway and abroad.
• Juan Somavia, Pascal Lamy and Mary Robinson – you are visionaries at the forefront of global governance. You will be joined by representatives from around the world, bringing full range of relevant perspectives into discussion.
• With such a list of outstanding speakers and with Quentin Peel of The Financial Times as moderator, this is likely to be conference out of ordinary. 

 Thank you.