The event was attended by prominent figures from the labor unions and workers in the labor market, part of the KSPSI network, which has been operating for over half a century.

ILC President Ali Yalçın Addresses KSPSI National Coordination Meeting in Indonesia with Video Message, Emphasising Labour-Centred Global Transformation

The President of the International Labour Confederation (ILC), Ali Yalçın, delivered a video message to the II National Coordination Meeting of the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), highlighting the growing importance of international solidarity and labour-centred governance in a rapidly transforming global world of work.

On behalf of the International Labour Confederation, Yalçın extended his respectful greetings to the participants and expressed his wishes for a successful and productive meeting, underlining that such gatherings represent far more than organisational coordination. He described the event as a strategic platform that strengthens the shared will, vision, and collective agency of the global trade union movement at a time of profound economic, technological, and political change.

A Transforming World of Work and the Central Role of Labour

In his message, Yalçın emphasised that the ongoing transformation driven by technological innovation, digitalisation, and economic restructuring raises fundamental questions about justice and inclusion. He posed a critical question to the international labour community: for whom is this transformation unfolding, at whose expense, and through whose voice?

“Without the voice of labour, no transformation can be just,” he stated, stressing that trade unions play a decisive role in ensuring that change serves people rather than markets alone.

He highlighted that the role of trade unions has become increasingly critical as global production systems evolve, calling for stronger collective representation to safeguard workers’ rights and dignity.

Global Political Context and Challenges Facing Workers

Yalçın also addressed the broader international political environment, noting the erosion of the rules-based international order and the growing dominance of power politics over legal norms. He warned that rising instability, geopolitical competition, and conflict disproportionately affect workers and vulnerable communities.

“In this fragile environment, it is once again workers who pay the highest price,” he said, urging the global labour movement to respond with unity and strategic coordination.

Building the Future of Work Through Justice and Solidarity

According to Yalçın, the mission of the trade union movement today extends beyond protecting existing rights. It also involves defending the dignity of labour, strengthening global social justice, and contributing to the reconstruction of democratic governance through a labour-centred perspective.

He outlined key principles for shaping the future of work, including decent work standards, robust social dialogue, inclusive economic models, and democratic, human-centred governance of technological change.

Calling for stronger international solidarity, Yalçın stated:

“The direction of global transformation must be determined not by markets, but by people — because a just world is only possible through organised labour.”

A Global Labour Movement for a Shared Future

Concluding his address, Yalçın reaffirmed that the International Labour Confederation represents a global movement committed not only to defending workers in individual countries but also to shaping the shared future of labour worldwide.

“We are not merely observers of change; we are a global movement that actively shapes transformation with a labour-centred vision,” he said.