The presidents of Brazil and the US this Wednesday launched a global initiative for workers’ rights and the promotion of decent work, in a show of unity between the “two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere”, the North American head of state said.
“We promote inclusive economic growth. The two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere defend human rights in the hemisphere and around the world, including the rights of workers,” Biden said alongside his Brazilian counterpart Lula da Silva in New York, on the sidelines of the General Assembly. of the United Nations.
“Working class people have a chance to move up and the rich will continue to do well as long as they pay their taxes,” he pointed out.
The North American president also emphasized that it was an “honor to launch the new partnership” and said he hoped to work with Lula da Silva in building this “new world” during Brazil’s presidency of the G20 bloc .
Lula da Silva, who reminded Biden that he worked as a metalworker for 27 years and that he does not have a university degree, stated that in today’s world “more and more workers are working more and earning less.”
“It is the rebirth of a new era in the relationship between the US and Brazil. A relationship of equals, sovereign, of common interests of the working people of your country and my country,” he said.
At the presentation of the global pact for labor rights, Lula da Silva, also alongside Biden, and also the Director of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, stated that there are no “democracies without strong trade unions”, because These are the ones who speak “that the worker is trying to defend his rights”.
The Brazilian head of state also praised the importance Biden has placed on North American unions.
Lula da Silva vowed to “create conditions in which all governments in the world can accept a protocol such as the one signed today.”
Gilbert F. Houngbo, on the other hand, praised the signing of this pact, describing it as a “historic moment”.
“It is a historic moment to see two of the most influential leaders in the world come together here to work on this initiative,” he stressed.
The global pact launched today, which aims to involve other countries and partners, has as its main objectives strengthening the successful cooperation between Brazil and the United States on issues such as promoting racial equality, protecting the environment and tackling the climate crisis, strengthening democracy and defending workers’ rights.
The key points of the decent work initiative are the protection of workers’ rights according to ILO standards, the promotion of safe, healthy and decent work, accountability in public and private investments and “promoting a worker-centred approach to digital and clean energy”.
The document also states that the emphasis is on “harnessing technology for the benefit of all and combating discrimination in the workplace, especially for women, LGBTQI people, and marginalized racial and ethnic groups.”
During the meeting between the two heads of state, Lula da Silva had the opportunity to express his concern about the growth of “extremist sectors” that are “trying to take up space, because of political denial.”
“This has already happened in Brazil, it’s happening in Argentina and it’s happening in several other countries,” he said.
Source: DN
