President Ramaphosa arrives in Geneva to launch Future of Work Report

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this morning, 22 January 2019, arrived in Geneva, Switzerland to launch the International Labour Organization’s Global Commission on the Future of Work Report.

President Ramaphosa and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven are co-chairs of the 27-member Global Commission that has been tasked to identify challenges and make recommendations that will sustain and protect the livelihood of workers around the world amid the proliferation of the   fourth industrial revolution, climate change and the changing world economic cycle.

The Global Commission’s report will be launched at the ILO headquarters and will form part of this United Nations agency’s centenary year. The ILO has  since its founding in 1919 advocated for social justice and promoted decent work in all of its 187 member states.

The President has, since his appointment in May 2018 as co-chair Global Commission, hosted the Presidential Jobs Summit and the South Africa International Investment Conference in October 2018.

These forums sought, among other objectives, to strengthen inclusive planning in protecting and creating sustainable livelihoods in an era of rapid technological change and climate impact, and attract investment that will yield returns in a fast-evolving digital economy.

More recently, government and social partners introduced a national minimum wage which sets an historic precedent in the protection of low-earning workers and provides a platform for reducing inequality in society and decreasing huge disparities in income in the national labour market.

President Ramaphosa will engage with the ILO ahead of leading Team South Africa to Annual Meetings of the World Economic Forum - a gathering of world leaders in government, business and civil society - in Davos, Switzerland, from 22 to 25 January 2019.

For the ILO engagement President Cyril Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of Labour, Ms Mildred Oliphant.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria