ILO Actrav

07/10/2026

World Day for Decent Work 2026: A call to action for young workers

On this World Day for Decent Work, Oliver Röpke, Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV), calls for urgent action to ensure that young people everywhere have access to decent jobs, rights at work, social protection and a voice in shaping their future.

Young people are not only the workers of tomorrow ; they are workers, activists and trade unionists today.

Watch Oliver Röpke’s message on why solidarity, collective action and social dialogue are essential to building a future where decent work, social justice and dignity are realities for all.

On the World Day for Decent Work, Oliver Röpke, Director of the ILO...

07/10/2026

“Social dialogue is democracy at work.”

Speaking at the European Democracy Summit session in the European Business Summit 2026, Oliver Röpke, Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV), highlighted a message with global relevance: social justice is fundamental to democratic and economic resilience.

For millions of people around the world, trust in institutions is shaped by their everyday experience: whether there is access to decent work opportunities, whether fundamental principles and rights at work are respected, whether economic and technological change creates opportunity or insecurity, and whether workers have a meaningful voice representing them in decision making processes that affect their lives.

As economies navigate profound transformations , from artificial intelligence and the green transition to demographic change and geopolitical fragmentation; the question is not only how much value is created. It is also how that value is distributed, who bears the risks and whether those affected have a voice in shaping change.

This is where the International Labour Organization ’s mandate remains essential.

International Labour Standards provide common principles. Social dialogue brings governments, employers and workers organisations to the table. And strong, credible institutions help turn commitments into meaningful progress.

Sustainable development cannot be built on lower standards, weaker rights or greater insecurity. It must go hand in hand with decent work, international labour standards including of course fundamental principles and rights at work, social dialogue and a fair share of progress.

Social justice is not an obstacle to economic progress. It is one of its foundations.

30/09/2026

Join us for the Launch of the Trade Unions in Transformation HUB on 14 October 2026, 13:00 – 15:00h CEST.

Featured speakers include:

-Oliver Röpke, Director, ACTRAV
-Luc Triangle, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation - ITUC
-Sangheon Lee, Chief Economist, International Labour Organization

The event will bring together trade union leaders, researchers, and partners from around the world to exchange knowledge, showcase innovative practices, and explore how trade unions can successfully navigate the profound transformations taking place in the world of work.

The new HUB will connect initiatives across the global trade union movement, help scale up tools and resources, and strengthen collective action on Trade Unions in Transformation.

The launch will feature contributions from the ILO, ITUC, ETUC, ITUC-Africa, CSA, ETUI, FES, IndustriALL, CUT, and GLU, among others.

Interpretation will be available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Russian.

Join online via Zoom: https://itcilo-org.zoom.us/j/64629719738

27/09/2026

ACTRAV Director Oliver Röpke met with trade union leaders at the ILO this week.

During a visit organised under the HK Denmark Leadership Programme, discussions focused on the ILO's role in promoting International Labour Standards and advancing social justice and decent work worldwide.

Oliver also spoke at the IUF Agricultural Workers' Sector Group Conference, where he reaffirmed ACTRAV's support for sectoral trade unions and for agricultural workers, many of whom work in rural and informal economies.

18/09/2026

Happening Now!

Join this important session of the Global Social Partners'Academy: Shaping AI at Work-Social Dialogue for Fair and Human -Centred AI Transitions organized by the Programmes for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and Employers’ Activities (ACTEMP).

Join Oliver Roepke (Director, ACTRAV) and Maria Paz Anzorreguy (Director, ACT/EMP) for an open dialogue session.

https://itcilo-org.zoom.us/j/69096159418

15/09/2026

ILO and Trade Unions Supporting Namibia's Social Protection Agenda

On the sidelines of his visit to Windhoek, ACTRAV Director Oliver Röpke held bilateral meetings with the UN Resident Coordinator and Namibian authorities to discuss social protection and pension reform.

Leading an International Labour Organization delegation, he met with Hopolang Phororo, UN Resident Coordinator, to exchange views on the implementation of the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection in Namibia. Discussions also explored the national pension fund reform process and the role of trade unions in ensuring its successful implementation.

In meetings with officials from the Ministry of Finance, the delegation highlighted the importance of international labour standards, particularly ILO Convention No. 102 on Social Security (Minimum Standards), in building an effective, sustainable and inclusive social security system.

The delegation also met with members of Parliament's Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Labour and Industrial Relations. Oliver Röpke reaffirmed the ILO's commitment to supporting workers' organizations and social dialogue so that Namibia's pension reform delivers meaningful protection for all workers.

15/09/2026

What can workers’ organizations do to support quality apprenticeships?

✅ Shape and govern apprenticeship systems
✅ Protect apprentices’ rights
✅ Prevent misuse
✅ Promote inclusion
✅ Ensure recognized qualifications and decent work

A new International Labour Organization practical guide shows how trade unions can turn the ILO Quality Apprenticeships Recommendation, 2023 (No. 208) into concrete action. Learn more 👇
https://tinyurl.com/4pwj59h2

14/09/2026

Advancing Pension Reform and Social Dialogue in Namibia

During his mission to Namibia, ACTRAV Director Oliver Röpke, together with the International Labour Organization delegation, including Philile Masuku, Director of the ILO Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia, held productive meetings with government representatives and trade union leaders in Windhoek.

During a field visit to an informal business centre with the Minister of Justice and Labour Relations, Hon. Wise Emmanuel Philemon, discussions focused on Namibia's ongoing pension reform process, including developments related to the National Pension Fund and National Benefit Fund.

On behalf of the ILO, Oliver Röpke welcomed the progress achieved and reiterated support for the Government's commitment to advancing this important reform. He also commended Namibia for its preparations to host the 15th ILO African Regional Meeting, which will take place in Windhoek in December.

In discussions with Aune Mudjanima, Acting Executive Director at the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, and other ministry officials, Oliver highlighted the crucial role of social dialogue in ensuring that governments and social partners can exchange views and build consensus around reform processes. He stressed that workers' organizations must be equipped to participate meaningfully in the design, implementation and monitoring of social protection reforms.

Oliver Röpke also met with the leadership of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) and the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA). He encouraged unity and renewal within the labour movement and reaffirmed the essential role of workers' organizations in promoting social dialogue, labour rights, social justice and democratic governance.

He further commended Namibia's leadership as a pathfinder country under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions.

22/07/2026

During a courtesy meeting with ILO staff in Pretoria, ACTRAV Director Oliver Röpke expressed his appreciation for the strong partnership between ACTRAV and the International Labour Organization Pretoria Office, highlighting the importance of the "One ILO" approach in advancing workers' rights and social dialogue across the region.

He recognized Pretoria's strategic role in supporting institutionalized social dialogue structures in Southern Africa Economic Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Employment and Social Partner meetings and South Africa's National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) as important source of inspiration for the continent.

Reflecting on the challenges facing the world of work, he stressed the need for stronger collaboration, greater integration and more strategic use of resources as the ILO responds to evolving labour markets, technological transformation and organizational reform.

Looking ahead, Oliver Röpke underscored ACTRAV's priorities in Africa, including:
· Strengthening workers' organizations and trade union renewal
· Promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining
· Supporting the formalization of the informal economy
· Protecting migrant workers' rights
· Advancing a just transition and digital transformation with workers at the centre

He also reaffirmed a fundamental principle of the ILO: workers' organizations are not external stakeholders, they are constituents whose voices must be reflected in programming, policy advice and engagement with governments and partners.

Concluding the visit, Oliver described the Pretoria Office as a trusted strategic partner and expressed his commitment to deepening collaboration and cooperation in support of social justice and decent work across Africa.

21/07/2026

At the Asia-Pacific and Africa Trade Union Conference on Social Dialogue in the Age of Digital Acceleration in Johannesburg, Oliver Röpke, Director of the International Labour Organization Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), called on workers and their organisations to play an active role in shaping digital governance.
He underscored the importance of workers’ engagement on some of the most pressing issues facing the world of work today, including:

-Platform work and employment relationships
-Algorithmic management and automated decision-making
-Artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs and working conditions
-Workers’ data rights and privacy
-Skills development and lifelong learning
-Collective bargaining in digitally transformed workplaces
-Protection against discrimination, surveillance, and unfair treatment

Emphasising that social dialogue remains the most effective governance mechanism for managing periods of profound economic and technological change, Oliver Röpke also expressed his sincere appreciation to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) for its longstanding partnership with ACTRAV.

This collaboration continues to strengthen the capacity of workers’ organisations while fostering solidarity and shared learning among trade unions across Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Describing the conference as an investment in solidarity, he highlighted the value of South-South cooperation, enabling trade unions to learn from one another and develop common responses to the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation.