Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina departed Dhaka for Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday morning to attend the two-day “World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All” that will be conducted in Geneva on Wednesday and Thursday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to participate in the esteemed “World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All,” a two-day event taking place in Geneva, Switzerland on June 14-15. Today, at 10:14 a.m. local time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina embarked on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines commercial flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, with an anticipated arrival at Geneva International Airport at 5:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m.).
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Upon reaching her destination, a grand reception awaits Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, where the assistant director-general and the regional director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) will extend a warm welcome, where there will be a red carpet and a distinguished guard of honour guiding her from the gate to the meeting and plenary venue.
The World of Work Summit 2023
The World of Work Summit will take place with the theme “Social Justice for All” as its main focus. It is a forum for global leaders to discuss the need for increased, coordinated, and consistent action in support of social justice.
Before this high-level forum, the ILO World of Work Show will provide a preview of the two-day agenda and introduce some of the global figures who will be present. The summit will also discuss what more could be done to ensure that domestic workers, one of the most marginalized groups of workers worldwide, have access to decent work and social justice. At its 347th Session, the Governing Body of the ILO welcomed the proposal to establish a global coalition for social justice. This summit will provide an opportunity to discuss and provide input on this initiative.
Who will attend and what will be discussed?
Distinguished speakers at the conference will encompass former French President Francois Hollande, former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 2014 Kailash Satyarthi, alongside prominent representatives from both employers and employees. The two-day summit will emphasize the importance of social justice in creating a more sustainable and equitable world, as well as strategies for increased and better-aligned joint action to advance social justice and assure policy coherence. It will provide a forum for participants to discuss their vision and priorities for social justice, as well as the actions they are taking and will take to advance social justice. It is anticipated that the outcomes of the summit will inform discussions in other multilateral forums regarding the importance of and strategies to achieve greater social justice, such as the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2023, the G20, and the BRICS summits.
The summit will feature speeches from chiefs of state and government, the UN secretary-general, the ILO director-general, and senior representatives of employer and worker organizations. Four panel discussions with high-level representatives of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, United Nations entities, and other international organizations to identify and reinforce actions towards social justice across the multilateral system and to commit to a joint, coherent, and coordinated engagement.
PM’s Itinerary in Switzerland
- Day 1 (June 14): UNHCR chief Flippo Grandi will call on Sheikh Hasina at her place of residence on June 14. Later, the prime minister will meet with Alain Berset, the president of the Swiss Confederation, at Palais de Nations. There will likely be a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Bangladesh and Switzerland regarding the improvement of Knowledge and Skills following the visit. The prime minister is scheduled to address the Plenary of the “World of Work Summit 2023” at Palais de Nations in the afternoon.
Sheikh Hasina will also meet with Dr. George Vella, the president of Malta. Later, she would meet with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo. In the evening, the premier is likely to dine with high-ranking dignitaries at the headquarters of the DG ILO.
- Day 2 (June 15): Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to attend “A talk at the WEF” on June 15, followed by a meeting with Prof. Klaus Schwab, the founder of the WEF, at the WEF Office. There, she will deliver a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF)-hosted event titled “New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh.” In the evening, WTO Director General Dr Okonjo-Iweala will call on her at her place of residence. She will also attend an evening community engagement.
The premier is scheduled to depart Geneva International Airport for Dhaka on Friday (16 June) at 11 a.m. (local time). She is anticipated to arrive in Dhaka early on June 17th. Lastly, the two-day summit aims to promote discussions on social justice and coordinated action among global leaders. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s participation in the “World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All” underscores Bangladesh’s commitment to promoting social justice and fostering meaningful global collaborations.
Photo Credit: Yeasin Kabir Joy
