20 February 2026 – World Day of Social Justice: decent work, inclusion and international cooperation
In 2026, the World Day of Social Justice, organised by the United Nations, will focus on the theme ‘Renewed commitment to social development and social justice’
This international framework highlights three interdependent pillars of social development:
• the eradication of poverty, • full and productive employment and decent work for all, and • social inclusion.
The concept of decent work, as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), refers to productive employment opportunities with rights at work, social protection and social dialogue. In this context, Public Employment Services (PES) contribute mainly to the pillar of full productive employment and decent work, while also supporting social inclusion more broadly.
Employment, a strategic lever for inclusion and cohesion
Employment remains one of the most important levers for social inclusion. It provides income, but also stability, autonomy and, often, access to other rights such as training and social protection.
Conversely, long-term exclusion from the labour market can undermine individual trajectories and affect confidence, health and social cohesion.
The Declaration on Social Justice of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) emphasises that employment cannot be separated from social protection, labour rights and social dialogue. When economic and technological change outpaces support mechanisms, those who are already vulnerable become even more exposed to risk.
Different contexts, shared challenges
WAPES members operate in a wide variety of environments:
• formal economies or economies characterised by a high degree of informality, • varying levels of service coverage, • economic and technological transitions of varying intensity, • contrasting institutional capacities.
In some countries, the priority is to extend coverage and reach the most vulnerable groups. In others, the challenge is to facilitate professional transitions or improve the quality of services. These differences reflect the diversity of labour markets worldwide and highlight the importance of sharing experiences between institutions facing similar challenges.
WAPES: strengthening the impact of Public Employment Services through cooperation
In this context, WAPES plays a facilitating role. As a global association of Public Employment Services, WAPES does not replace national action; it reinforces its impact by promoting collective learning. Its objective is operational: to enable members to learn more effectively, compare their approaches, adapt proven practices and continuously improve the quality of services.
By structuring dialogue between regions and facilitating the sharing of information and comparable data, the network supports improvement based on the exchange of experiences and respect for the diversity of institutional frameworks. WAPES is part of a broader reflection on improving the performance and impact of public services.
Digital transformation and equitable access
Digital transformation is a cross-cutting issue for PES.
According to the ILO, technological developments are transforming the organisation of work and the skills required. For public institutions, this means adapting services while ensuring equitable access.
Discussions within the WAPES network enable the sharing of approaches to the digitisation of services, data management and the responsible use of digital tools, with a view to supporting inclusion and service quality.
A renewed commitment in practice
The theme for 2026 calls for consolidating the progress made while addressing persistent challenges, including structural inequalities and informal work.
With this in mind, WAPES will continue to strengthen exchanges between members on:
• service quality and performance, • effective access to schemes, • support for career transitions, • and inclusive digitalisation.
Members’ contributions — case studies, comparative data, feedback — fuel this collective learning dynamic.
It is through this technical and international cooperation that the Public Employment Services contribute, each in their own context, to the promotion of decent work and social inclusion.