AICESIS and ILO renew strategic cooperation agreement under chairmanship of the SER of Curaçao

BRUSSELS / GENEVA, March 28, 2025 — Under the current chairmanship of the Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao, the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have renewed their cooperation agreement. The renewed partnership, signed on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, following intensive negotiations, extends through 2031 and reaffirms the shared commitment to advancing decent work, social justice, and inclusive socio-economic development through representative institutions.

The agreement strengthens the joint position of AICESIS and the ILO as global advocates for social dialogue and democratic consensus-building.
Since 2000, both institutions have collaborated to reinforce the rule of law, democratic governance, and sustainable labor markets across diverse national and regional contexts.
“Today we reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and democracy at work and beyond,” said Manuela Tomei, ILO Assistant Director-General for Governance, Rights and Dialogue. “Social dialogue is indispensable in a world where the willingness to listen is increasingly under strain. Through policy-oriented research, advocacy, and capacity-building, we aim to rebuild trust in representative institutions and deliver on the promise of decent work.”

Over the past two decades, the collaboration has yielded a series of global conferences and technical seminars focused on strengthening the institutional capacities of economic and social councils. In 2023, the partners adopted the Athens Declaration, a milestone statement on the role of these institutions in combating inequality in the world of work.
John Jacobs, Chairperson of AICESIS, emphasized the broader societal significance of the agreement:
“This partnership is ultimately a pledge to society. In a time of global uncertainty, we reaffirm our dedication to the values of decent work, social justice, and inclusive development. By renewing our cooperation, we also renew trust in institutions. To workers, employers, youth, and future generations we say: we hear you — and we are acting together in your interest.”

The next joint ILO–AICESIS Global Conference is scheduled for December 2025 in Spain, hosted by the Spanish Economic and Social Council.
With this renewed agreement, AICESIS and the ILO reaffirm their leadership role in promoting an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable global socio-economic order — a mission that, under the presidency of the SER of Curaçao, has gained new strategic momentum. The SER of Curaçao will continue to hold the presidency of AICESIS until the end of October 2025.