HLPF 2019 - LO delivers Norway’s statement on SDG 8 "Decent Work & Economic Growth"

LO Norway’s Anne-Beth Skrede was appointed by the Norwegian government to deliver the country’s statement on SDG 8 "Decent Work & Economic Growth" in the HLPF Plenary on the revision of SDG 8 that took place in the UN on Wednesday 10 July. This was her intervention.

Thank you, Chair,

SDG 8 is in deed a multidimensional goal, and we have in this session heard several linkages and integrated aspects to many SDGs. I would like to highlight the clear linkage between SDG 13 on stopping Climate Change, the UNFCCC Paris Agreement on Climate Change and SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth. Central here is a Just Transition.

Together with 54 other Heads of State and Government, The Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg signed the Solidarity and Just Transition Silisia Declaration at the UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice, Poland in December last year.

The Just Transition declaration highlights that the 2030 Agenda with the SDGs confirms the need to tackle environmental, social and economic problems in a coherent and integrated manner, underlining that Just Transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs are crucial to ensure an effective and inclusive transition to low-emission societies and climate resilient development, and also for enhancing the public support for achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.

Social partners, employers` organizations and trade unions, must be involved in the development and implementation of policies and strategies for ambitious emissions reductions, in order to ensure a Just Transition that guarantees decent jobs.
We have a long tradition for social dialogue and tripartite cooperation in Norway between government, workers and employers. This ensures a high degree of trust, and widely accepted solutions to various challenges. Hence, Norway has enjoyed higher economic growth, a higher employment rate and lower unemployment than in many other advanced economies. Our success from Social dialogue is very much in line with the lead agency on labour issues, ILO`s Decent Work Agenda. Labour rights are at the core of this.

Full Employment and a sound economic growth is a prerequisit in a sustainable development. Good governance is a central factor for a country for achieving economic progress. As are giving incentives to promote productivity preferably based on cicular economy principles.

 
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