Director-General, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very proud to salute all of you,
personally and on behalf of Italy, during such a difficult historical moment,
in which our lives,
our habits and our work
are confronted with the effects of COVID-19.
We have experienced an unprecedented shock,
from which we are finally and laboriously coming out;
but we cannot think of simply returning
to the status quo ante.
The pandemic united us in grief over the severe human losses
and in the heavy economic crisis,
which has already had a cost that is equivalent to over 400 million jobs worldwide.
And it is with the same unity, with the same cohesion
that we must seek a common path for the revival of the economy.
Italy was one of the first countries hit by the coronavirus.
And it is now ready to contribute to the international community
with its vision on the world of work
and on the benefits for enterprises.
In the wake of the health crisis and similarly to other countries, the Italian government
has taken action by giving a robust stimulus to economic revival
through emergency interventions that support citizens, workers and enterprises.
These interventions are worth over 80 billion euros.
But we know that, in order to overcome this challenge, we have to make a collective effort,
that Italy is ready to support, also during its Presidency of the G20
that will start as of the coming 1 December.
One of the lessons learned from this very tough experience that has united our countries
is that we have to go back to the very meaning
of the anthropological and cultural dimensions of work.
Work is not only a source of income,
it is not just a production factor.
Work is one of the foundations of the quality of life,
it is one of the factors that constructs the very meaning of life,
it is the universe in which human personality develops,
— and the reference to the Italian Constitution is clear —
in which each person finds his/her own realization,
contributing to the material and spiritual progress of the entire society.
It is also, and perhaps above all, for this reason
that we have to protect it.
A few weeks ago and in line with the ILO's tripartite approach,
which gets governments, workers and employers acting together,
I promoted a courageous and common project for the future of Italy and of our children.
It has been a unique and fascinating exercise.
Together with the main economic, social and cultural partners in the country,
we committed to support the revitalization of the Italian economy
around three strategic objectives:
modernization of the country,
ecological transition,
social inclusion,
including territorial cohesion and — last but not least — gender equality.
The ILO has indeed pointed to the fact that women
are likely to suffer the major socio-economic consequences of the crisis
because they are more represented in the sectors most affected by the pandemic
and because they are the main victims of possible distortions
in the management of living and working spaces,
caused by an inadequate regulation of working from remote.
We have launched an ambitious plan that we intend to include in the European framework,
which is primarily aimed to safeguard the Single Market,
and that intends to achieve the shared objectives among the partners of the European Union:
a Europe that we want greener, more digital and more inclusive.
Italy stands for this.
The restart must therefore be grounded on productive,
freely chosen employment and decent work for all,
according to the spirit of the ILO Centenary Declaration of last year.
This commitment is even more relevant today
to take, with greater determination, a new path
that puts the well-being of individuals and of the community at the centre,
and promotes fairness and sustainability in all regions of the world.
A new path that leaves no one behind.
I wish you a good work. Thank you.