IOE wraps up a busy week at #UNGA81, engaging in 17 events across New York — with IOE representatives speaking, delivering keynotes or joining panels at 14 of them. From AI and skills to human rights, investment, industrialisation and the future of work, IOE brought the employer perspective to some of the key discussions shaping the global agenda. Across very different conversations, one message connected our engagement: global ambition needs to translate into practical solutions for the real economy. Explore our UNGA81 recap: ioe-emp.org/index.php?id=36&… #Employers #FutureOfWork @smgthink

IOE kicked off its strategic engagement at #UNGA81. The programme began at the Private Sector Forum with the UN Secretary-General where IOE and other leaders discussed job creation, economic growth and how business can contribute to national development agendas. We also joined the Women Leaders: Security and Digital Compact discussion, exploring peace, security, AI, trust and who gets to shape the governance of technology. At the private event From Service to Leadership: Rethinking Talent for the AI Era, IOE joined a conversation on how AI is reshaping early-career pathways and the skills future leaders will need. A major spotlight of our UNGA engagement was the launch of The Future of Industrialization – Rethinking Economic Development at the Penn Club yesterday. Co-organised by IOE and the Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development, the event brought together H.E. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, @NOIweala, Director-General of the @wto, @DGgerdmueller, Director General of @UNIDO, IOE President @jacquelinemugo, and other prominent leaders. IOE also contributed directly to the book, with Secretary-General Roberto Suárez Santos authoring a chapter on the private sector’s role in global governance. Ms. Mugo captured the central message: “The future of industrialisation will ultimately be decided in the real economy.” Global ambition matters. But transformation happens when enterprises — large and small — can turn it into investment, innovation, better jobs, and more resilient and sustainable production. #UNGA81 #Industrialization #EconomicDevelopment #PrivateSector #SustainableDevelopment

📸 #AdvocacyInAction Competitiveness, labour and skills shortages, demographic pressures, AI and the changing world of work: with economies and labour markets under growing pressure, Europe and Central Asia IOE members discussing regional challenges and coordinating advocacy priorities for the year ahead. #Employers #Europe #CentralAsia

Happening next week in New York: the launch of The Future of Industrialization – Rethinking Economic Development, edited by Gerd Müller, Director General of @UNIDO. Together with Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development, IOE is co-organising this special book presentation and discussion, bringing together leading voices from business, government and international organisations to explore a new vision for industrialisation and economic development. IOE President Jacqueline Mugo, EBS will join Gerd Müller, Director General of UNIDO; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the @WTO; and other distinguished speakers. 📍 The Penn Club of New York, 30 W 44th St 📅 21 September | 4:00–6:15 pm EDT If you are around, scan the QR code in the flyer to register and join us. #Industrialization #EconomicDevelopment #SustainableDevelopment #BusinessVoice

#DemocracyDay #FreedomOfAssociation #Employers

2026 IOE Europe and Central Asia Regional Meeting underway 🇸🇪 More than 30 employer representatives from 24 countries are gathering in Stockholm for the 2026 IOE Europe and Central Asia Regional Meeting. Hosted by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (@svenaringsliv), the meeting brings IOE members together from 10–12 September to exchange on the key priorities, challenges and opportunities facing employers and businesses across the region. Members are sharing national perspectives, discussing common challenges and strengthening cooperation across Europe and Central Asia. A valuable space to connect, compare experiences and shape shared priorities for employers across the region. #Employers #Europe #CentralAsia #Business #Stockholm

🌏 IOE will be in Asia-Pacific this September to strengthen the business voice on human rights and turn responsible business commitments into practical action. 📍 14–15 September | Bangkok — UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, including the IOE Business Caucus and Business & Civil Society Dialogue 📍 17 September | Phnom Penh — Responsible business conduct training with CAMFEBA and local businesses 📍 21–22 September | Kuala Lumpur — Training with MEF and support for the launch of a new responsible business conduct programme for employers From policy discussions to practical implementation, we look forward to working with our members and partners across the region. 🔗 More information: ioe-emp.org/events/event/ioe… #BusinessAndHumanRights #ResponsibleBusiness #AsiaPacific

#UNGA81 opens today at a pivotal moment for the multilateral system. As discussions begin in New York, major institutional changes, reform efforts and leadership transitions are shaping the UN agenda. For employers, this is an important moment to ensure the business voice is part of the conversation. Read the latest updates and what they mean for employer engagement: ioe-emp.org/news/details/ung… Watch this space for more updates from New York.

#AdvocacyinAction IOE members exchanging ahead of the General Council Meeting. Held each year in June, just before the International Labour Conference, the General Council brings IOE members together to take stock, align on priorities and look ahead. It is where IOE’s key priorities and workplan are discussed and approved, helping shape the organisation’s direction for the year ahead.

Circular economy is changing how businesses think about resources, production, skills and jobs. But the concepts around this transition are not always the same thing. A year on, IOE’s Business Pathway to Circular Economy remains a useful guide for employers and business organisations navigating what this shift means in practice. Revisit the report: ioe-emp.org/index.php?eID=du… #CircularEconomy #JustTransition #FutureOfWork #Employers

#AdvocacyinAction 📸 Policy discussions are often shaped not only around the meeting table, but also through the informal exchanges that happen in between. Here, @SasaJantjies from @BusinessUnitySA shares perspectives with @opiodouglas from the Federation of Uganda Employers. #AdvocacyInAction #Employers #BusinessVoice

Effective social dialogue is a pillar of democratic labour governance. Democracy at work is not only about having a voice — it is about having meaningful ways to participate, be heard and shape decisions that affect the world of work. Back in June, the International Labour Conference adopted a resolution reaffirming the role of social dialogue in democratic labour governance, while stressing the importance of practical and meaningful outcomes. As we continue exploring what makes social dialogue effective, revisit the key elements of the resolution and what they mean in practice. #SocialDialogue #IndustrialRelations #Employers #ILC2026

Informality has a wide range of causes. Tax pressure is one of them. Some micro and small enterprises simply do not generate enough income to meet tax obligations. Others can, but do not trust institutions or how those taxes will be used. Building trust is therefore an important part of the path towards greater formalisation. Listen to @Free_4_Africa, Senior Manager for Infrastructure and Innovation at the @AcetforAfrica, explain this intersection between informality and trust. #MSMEs #Informality #Formalisation #Taxation #Trust #BusinessEnvironment

Why do industrial relations matter to business? We’ve been exploring what makes social dialogue effective — from creating the right conditions for meaningful dialogue to achieving balanced, practical, and forward-looking outcomes. The next piece of the story is industrial relations. When employers and workers have constructive ways to engage, they are better placed to address challenges, manage change and find solutions that work for both businesses and workers. The result can be greater stability, stronger productivity and more resilient workplaces. Because effective social dialogue is not an end in itself. It is a means of building stronger labour markets and sustainable enterprises. Explore more on the role of industrial relations in making this happen. #IndustrialRelations #SocialDialogue #Employers #Business #FutureOfWork

From early sittings to late-night sessions, Employers’ representatives stay at the table, engaged in the discussions and negotiations that shape the outcomes. In this week’s #AdvocacyInAction picture: Miriam Pinto Lomeña, Head of European and International Affairs at @CEOE_ES, Spain, during one of the Conference sessions at #ILC2026. #Employers #ILO #SocialDialogue

Strong social dialogue needs strong social partners In yesterday’s post, we looked at what makes social dialogue effective: not dialogue for its own sake, but a process that delivers balanced, practical and forward-looking outcomes. But what makes that possible? Strong social partners. Effective dialogue relies on independent and representative employer and workers’ organisations, as well as the right structures at national and regional levels to bring them together. In the latest episode of our Peer-to-Peer Dialogue Series, IOE Secretary-General Roberto Suárez Santos and @ituc General Secretary @luc_triangle discuss why strong social partners matter—and what is needed to turn dialogue into meaningful results. Watch the full conversation: ioe-emp.org/resources-center… #SocialDialogue #Employers #Workers

What makes social dialogue effective? Not dialogue for its own sake, but a process that produces balanced, practical and forward-looking outcomes. Revisit IOE’s guidance on the conditions that help employers, workers and governments turn dialogue into stronger labour markets and sustainable enterprises. Read Effective Social Dialogue: A Quick Guide for Employer and Business Membership Organisations: ioe-emp.org/index.php?eID=du… #SocialDialogue #IndustrialRelations #Employers #SustainableEnterprise

MSMEs and digital trade: from access to real opportunity If you’re attending the WTO Public Forum 2026 in Geneva, join us in person on 17 September for an IOE–Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) working session on MSMEs in digital trade. The session will explore how digital platforms can expand market access and help translate new opportunities into enterprise growth and decent jobs. 📅 17 September 2026 🕔 17:15–18:15 📍 WTO Headquarters (Centre William Rappard, Rue de Lausanne 154, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Attendance is free, but registration is required and closes this Friday 21 August. 👉 Register here: us.list-manage.com/12Q6K_D4y… #WTOPublicForum #MSMEs #DigitalTrade #Trade

Dialogue. Consensus. Determination. Juliana Manrique Sierra (@julymanri), Employers’ Spokesperson for the Recurrent Discussion on Social Dialogue and Tripartism, together with Luis Rodrigo Morales-Velez, IOE Director of Policy, and Pierre Vincensini, IOE Special Adviser, during #ILC2026. #AdvocacyInAction