Joint Statement by the International Organisation of Employers and the United Nations Global Compact
Read more
Doha, Qatar
Business as a Partner for Inclusive and Sustainable Social Development
The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the United Nations Global Compact welcome the adoption of the Political Declaration at the Second World Summit for Social Development, building on the commitments and follow-up mechanisms of the Pact for the Future and the Sevilla Commitment. We reaffirm our support for advancing the goals of poverty eradication, full and productive employment and social integration, while acknowledging the essential role of sustainable enterprises in realizing these objectives.
Social and economic progress are inseparable. On the occasion of the Second World Summit for Social Development, we recognize that businesses committed to responsible and inclusive growth can be powerful engines of social development. As drivers of innovation, investment and employment, enterprises of all sizes can make a decisive contribution to eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and building more resilient and sustainable societies that leave no one behind.
Our Shared Priorities
1. Decent Work and Sustainable Enterprise
Decent and productive employment, including respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, is the foundation of social development. Effective social dialogue and balanced wage-setting mechanisms, which support the progressive realization of living wages — within the framework of the 2024 ILO agreement — are also instrumental to achieving social cohesion. Enabling environments that allow enterprises to operate and grow sustainably — through sound and adapted regulation, access to finance, and policies that foster responsible business conduct — are essential to ensuring that economic progress translates into better livelihoods for all.
2. Skills, Lifelong Learning and the Future of Work
As digitalization and artificial intelligence reshape economies, people must be supported with relevant and adaptable skills. As reaffirmed by the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations, business and government must work together to expand education, reskilling and lifelong learning systems that prepare individuals for the evolving world of work. Targeted efforts are needed to reach groups that are more vulnerable or have fewer opportunities and to bridge gaps in access to technology and decent work, ensuring equitable access to opportunity for all.
3. Innovation and Investment for Inclusive Growth
Enterprises drive sustainable development through innovation, entrepreneurship and responsible investment. Governments should enable business to contribute to social progress by creating effective policy frameworks that foster sustainability and resilience — especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
4. Social Inclusion, Equality, and Human Rights
No one should be left behind in the transition to a sustainable and increasingly digital economy. Businesses can help achieve this through inclusive employment practices, respect for human rights, advancing gender equality and responsible supply chain engagement.
5. Partnerships for Impact
Achieving the ambitions of the Political Declaration and the Pact for the Future requires collaboration built on trust. Building on our previous statements and the Sevilla Commitment, IOE and UN Global Compact call for strengthened multilateral cooperation, public-private dialogue and partnerships that leverage responsible business innovation to advance shared social and economic goals.
Our Call to Action
● Engage the private sector as partners in policy design and implementation to ensure that social commitments translate into practical, sustainable results.
● Enable the conditions for responsible and sustainable business — including sound governance, adapted regulatory frameworks and coherence, and investment incentives — to drive inclusive and equitable growth built on decent work, gender equality and respect for human rights.
● Mobilize collaborative action between governments, the private sector, workers’ organizations, civil society and UN agencies to pilot and scale effective solutions.
● Support private sector engagement, transparency, accountability and sustainable growth towards inclusive and sustainable development.
As societies transform, the IOE and UN Global Compact stand united in the conviction that sustainable enterprises are central to achieving social justice and prosperity for all. Together, we can harness the role and responsibility of business — advancing decent work, equality and stronger communities — to build a future that leaves no one behind.
About the UN Global Compact
The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 66 Country Networks covering 85 countries and 9 Country Managers establishing Networks in 16 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world. For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org.
