President Higgins on the future of work and the rights of workers
Published: Thu 22nd Apr, 2021 | 13:09
President Michael D Higgins has described the battle for decent work and social justice as one of the defining struggles of our times.
In his speeches, President Higgins has highlighted how the economic paradigm of the last four decades, which has prioritised deregulation and advocated a shrinking role for the State, has led to an undervaluing of workers and workers' rights, in addition to creating pressing global problems such as inequality, environmental destruction and global warming.
The President has also highlighted how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on workers, and he has called for the contribution of essential workers during the pandemic to be valued.
Some of the key events, and most important speeches on these topics, are listed below:
- President addresses Fórsa conference on challenges in the workplace during Covid-19 (2020)
- President addresses ILO Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work (2020)
- President publishes May Day Poem (2020)
- President and Sabina mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (2020)
- President delivers Opening Address at National ILO Centenary Event (2019)
- President and Sabina host a reception to mark May Day (2019)
- President speaks at the Congress of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (2019)
- President delivers keynote address at ILO World of Work Summit (2018)
- President and Sabina unveil ‘The Plough and the Stars’ (2018)
- President officially opens a new Employment Action Service (2017)
- “The Future of Work” – President delivers the Edward Phelan Lecture (2015)
- ‘Remembering the 1913 Lockout (2013)
- ‘The Task of Remembering the Lockout of 1913’ (2013)
- President unveils a tapestry to commemorate the centenary of the 1913 Lockout (2012)