As the International Labour Confederation, we know that the power that sustains and transforms the world does not lie only in machines, systems, or capital. Its true source is labour joined with love, and mothers are the first and greatest embodiment of that labour.

Motherhood is not merely a biological reality; it is the art of dedicating one’s life to the existence of another without expecting anything in return. Within this art, there is patience, there is compassion, and above all, there is a noble form of labour that no market value can ever measure.

Mother’s Day is not only a special occasion on which we express our love and gratitude to our mothers. It is also a meaningful reminder of the care work that carries the invisible burden of society. The labour of mothers occupies a central place not only within the family, but also in the renewal and continuation of society and economic life. Raising children, caring for the elderly, fulfilling household responsibilities, and sustaining the family through emotional labour are often rendered invisible. Yet they constitute a fundamental form of labour that makes the continuation of life possible.

Working women across the world labour with dedication in factories, fields, offices, and hospitals, while at the same time patiently shaping future generations at home. They are the unnamed heroes of the double shift. Our duty is not only to praise the sacrifices of mothers, but also to ensure that they enjoy the decent working conditions, equal pay, and social protection they deserve.

Motherhood carries with it the desire to make the world more liveable. A mother seeks peace, justice, and dignity not only for her own child, but for all children in the world. Today, it is again mothers who pay the heaviest price for wars, forced migration, poverty, and inequality. The suffering of every mother who loses her child to hunger, disease, or conflict is a wound in our collective conscience.

As the International Labour Confederation, we declare loudly and clearly:

No economic growth or political success can be legitimate in a world where mothers shed tears. Our struggle is the struggle to build a world where mothers can raise their children in safety, where child labour is brought to an end, and where labour is no longer exploited.

On this Mother’s Day, while extending our love, respect, and gratitude to all mothers, we call for motherhood to be understood not only through sacrifice, but also through the concepts of rights, labour, justice, and social responsibility. A more just world is possible, a world in which the labour of mothers is made visible, the burden of care is shared fairly, and every family is supported through strong social policies.

It is our mothers who first taught us justice, honesty, and solidarity. They are the moral compass of society. The sense of justice we feel when defending workers’ rights is, in fact, a reflection of the pure conscience instilled in us by our mothers. The struggle for labour is, at its core, a struggle for human dignity; and on this journey, our greatest guide is the unique values our mothers have taught us.

Esteemed Mothers, 
You are not only raising your children; you are raising the future of humanity. From our hardworking mothers whose hands bear the marks of labour, to our mothers who build peace and harmony within their homes, and to all women who contribute to life in every sphere, we make this pledge:

• For equality,
• For justice,
• For a life worthy of human dignity,
• And against the system of exploitation that seeks to darken the future of your children,

we will continue our struggle with determination.

Your love gives us strength, and your compassion lights our path. With my deepest and most heartfelt sentiments, I salute all mothers, the source of labour, patience, and life.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Long live our mothers,
Long live women,
Long live labour and solidarity!

Respectfully,
Hamza Öksüz
Secretary-General of the International Labour Confederation