Remarks by President Biden, President Lula of Brazil, and Director-General Houngbo of the ILO Launching the Partnership for Workers' Rights | New York, NY

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"Thank you. Please, have a seat. Thank you very much. Thank you all for being here.

When the press stops doing verbal interviews, we'll get going.

Growing up in my household, my dad used to have an expression, for real. He'd say, 'A job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about being able to look your child in the eye and say, "Honey, it's going to be okay,' and mean it.'

That idea is at the heart of my economic vision to rebuild our economy from the middle out, the bottom up, not the top down. Because when that happens, the middle class does fine and the la- -- unions built the class in America. But secondly, the poor have a shot up and the wealthy still do very well -- except they don't pay enough taxes, but that's a different issue. And that vision is powered by a strong labor movement.

That's why, in America, I'm proud that my administration is characterized as the most pro-union administration in American history. No, I really mean it.

And let me be clear: Whether it's your autoworkers or any other union worker, record corporation profits should mean record contracts for union workers.

Today, I am proud to stand next to a group of leaders who feel the exact same way as we launch our new Partnership for Workers' Rights.

Over the last few days, the nations of the world have talked about climate change, sustainable development, food security, economic resilience. But we know our progress on these challenges depends on our workers.

They will drive our clean energy transition. They will kleep [sic] the -- keep the global supply cains -- supply chains secure. They'll build the infrastructure we need to keep our economies strong. So, we have to empower them as well.

And that's what this new partnership is all about. The partnership actually was this man's idea.

Overall, we have five key goals.

First, protect workers' rights. That means ending forced labor, ending child labor, ending worker exploitation, which far -- is far too common around the world. A step toward this goal -- we'll work with leaders around the world to make sure that -- the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, who is here with us today -- to ensure that workers not only know their rights, but also have the tools to exercise their rights.

The second goal is to promote a safe and decent work that includes ensuring countries and companies are held accountable for the impacts on their -- of their investments on workers' health, workers' wages, and workers' rights.

And the third element of this is: We will advance a worker-centric clean -- a worker-centered clean energy transition. Folks, as I've told labor from the very beginning: When I think of climate change, I think of jobs. Jobs.

That's why, as we ramp up our production of technologies like solar and smart grids and doubling down on our efforts to ensure the transition to a fair and significant opportunity for workers and their communities.

Fourth, we're going to harness technology to benefit workers. That means ensuring the new technologies, like artificial intelligence and advanced platforms, work for working people.

And finally, we'll tackle workplace discrimination. Supporting our workers is about making sure no one -- no one is left behind.

So, through this new partnership, we're going to, with our labor movements, promote greater work equ- -- equality, including through collective bargaining.

And so, let me close with this. This announcement is also an invitation to every global leader and every labor organization to join us -- to join us and commit to a better future -- one where workers all across the nations are going to be treated with dignity and respect. Our economies and our nations will all be stronger because of it.

Now I'd like to turn it over to a leader who has made this partnership possible.

President Lula, the floor is yours. (Applause.)

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Good job.

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