LISBON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Guy Ryder, director-general of the International Labor Organization (ILO), said on Tuesday that the rise of nationalism and populism in several countries has its roots in people's frustrating experiences in the job market, the Portuguese Lusa News Agency reported.
"Globally, we are facing strong challenges. In a number of countries we see a rise in populism and nationalism," which is "to a large extent rooted in the world of work," Ryder told the annual conference of the Confederation of Portuguese Business (CIP) at the Estoril Congress Center near Lisbon.
He explained that the expectation of a large part of the world's population for a working life was not met, and this led them to look for an alternative, a "simple but misleading solution" that has little to do with the goals of tolerance and social justice.
Citing an ILO report released in January, Ryder noted that two out of 10 workers around the world live in poverty despite having a job, and that 25 million people are victims of forced labor.
He also mentioned the changes the world of work is undergoing due to technological advances, demographic and climate change and globalization, but stressed that care must be taken not to fall into the "trap" of being afraid that the so-called "fourth industrial revolution" destroys more jobs than it creates.
The ILO director-general said that it was necessary to invest in strengthening social protection, creating sustainable jobs that contribute to a carbon-neutral economy, and adopt laws and regulations that ensure results agreed through social consultations.
