It must be said, however, that they seldom received such sound policy advice from private and international institutions. Let me end by reaffirming the basic tenets of ILO's paper presented to this meeting. To my mind, the main question around this table of Ministers is the political and financial viability of strengthened social safety nets in the framework of active labour policies and strengthened industrial relations systems and institutions for social dialogue. I believe the world does not have an overall resource problem to deal with these issues if we creatively combine available private and public means. Rather, it is a question of national and international political priority and of business, trade union and civil society leadership.
Policies are available.
It is the capacity to act that must follow. I am prepared for ILO to promote the idea that beyond basic human rights, access to decent work is the single most important aspiration shared by women and men throughout all societies. I wish to mobilize and advocate for it and to help unleash through partnerships and alliances the energy, the consciousness and the political will to advance this global cause in practical terms. I urge the G-8 to help make decent work a worldwide economic, social and political priority. If we fail - the dangers are many.