Tokyo 2020 and the ILO Agree to Unique Partnership to Promote 'Decent Work'

The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee (Tokyo 2020) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) agreed to sign a unique partnership aimed at advancing "decent work" through socially responsible labour practices amongst the Games’ delivery partners.

The partnership, announced during a visit of Guy Ryder, the ILO’s Director-General in Japan, will be formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed as soon as possible.

This constitutes Tokyo 2020’s first partnership with a UN organisation, and the first time that the ILO officially partners with an Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. The partnership will encourage the enterprises to play a positive role in promoting decent and work through Corporate Social responsibility (CSR).

Socially responsible labour practices will be promoted in all delivery partners of the Games taking guidance from the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational enterprises and social policy and will include technical seminars and symposiums on CSR practices.

Promoting jobs and enterprise development, guaranteeing rights at work, extending social protection and promoting social dialogue are the four pillars of the ILO Decent Work Agenda, a key driver of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Said Ryder, "This agreement is much to the credit of the Organising Committee, who reached out to the ILO. On this occasion, Tokyo 2020, we have the chance to move from ad hoc informal relationships to a formal and systemic cooperation and this marks a qualitative step forward. It parallels the on-going dialogue that the ILO has with the International Olympic Committee. This agreement can set the standards for future practices in the Olympic Movement."

Added Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto, "Since 2014, the ILO has been supportive of Tokyo 2020, providing insights and technical assistance, and we are delighted to further deepen our collaboration through this unique partnership, which reinforces Tokyo 2020’s commitment to sustainability."

A key focus area of the IOC Sustainability Strategy is "workforce" – the protection of the employees, volunteers and contractors engaged by the Olympic Movement. Its provisions require Organizing Committees to ensure that working environments are safe and healthy, and to take all necessary measures to ensure that working conditions on all projects carried out in conjunction with the organisation of Olympic Games comply with internationally-recognized standards and with all international agreements, laws and regulations applicable in the host country.

For more information, please contact:

Erika Umeki

Email: umeki@ilo.org

Tel: +81 3 5467 2701

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