More than a century ago, workers fought for “8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, and 8 hours of life.” They did so because they knew that a person’s entire time could not belong to work and production. Despite all the years that have passed, this demand remains just as relevant today.

Millions of people around the world continue to work in undeclared and informal employment, for low wages, under long working hours, and without adequate social protection. Occupational accidents and diseases continue to claim lives. While women bear the heavy burden of wage inequality and unpaid care work, migrant workers are more exposed to discrimination, poor working conditions, and exploitation. Workers on digital platforms, meanwhile, often face new and invisible forms of insecurity.

No one should have to sacrifice their health, safety, or life in order to earn a living. Labour rights are universal.

Technology is developing rapidly. Artificial intelligence and digitalisation are increasing production and productivity. However, technological progress should not mean making people work longer and more intensively. On the contrary, the benefits of increased productivity should be returned to workers in the form of shorter working hours, better wages, stronger social protection, safer jobs, and more time for themselves.

Because work is a part of our lives; it is not the entirety of our lives.

People need time for their families, their children, their friends, society, and themselves. Resting, spending time with loved ones, and participating in cultural, artistic, and social life are not privileges; they are part of living a decent human life.

A human being is not a machine. A human being is not merely a cost item or a factor of production. The economy exists for people; people do not exist for the economy.

For this reason, we do not regard the struggle for decent work merely as a question of wages. This struggle is also a struggle for a fairer distribution of income, security, power, and time.

The way to achieve this is through organised labour. Freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and genuine social dialogue are indispensable if workers are to make their voices heard, protect their rights, and have a say in the future of the world of work.

As the International Labour Confederation (ILC), our demands are clear: decent wages, secure employment, universal social protection, safe working conditions, equal rights for women and migrant workers, protection for informal and platform workers, and full guarantees for trade union rights.

In this context, as the International Labour Confederation (ILC), we regard the ILO Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, adopted in June 2026, as an extremely important development. We call on all governments to ratify this Convention, incorporate it into their domestic legislation, and take concrete steps to safeguard the fundamental labour rights of platform workers.

Social justice means not only the fair distribution of income, but also the fair distribution of time and the future.

On 7 October, we once again address all workers around the world:

Our labour is valuable.

Our time is valuable.

Our lives are valuable.

Human beings were not born to work. Work is for living; living is not merely working.

For decent work, decent wages, and a decent life, we will continue to strengthen solidarity and organised struggle.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFEDERATION (ILC)