Abstract
This article outlines the ILO’s historical and ongoing role in integrating labour issues into economic, industrial, and monetary policies throughout the twentieth century. As preparations advance for the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 6 November 2025, the global context is marked by deepening inequality, persistent poverty, armed conflict, and accelerating climate change. In this challenging landscape, trade unions—working through the ILO—play a pivotal role in confronting the widespread erosion of trust in institutions and individuals. This crisis of confidence contributes to societal polarization, fuels misinformation, and undermines legal and administrative systems. Looking ahead to the post-2030 world, the paper draws on key lessons from the 1995 Copenhagen Summit to guide workers and the ILO in ensuring the effective implementation of the Declaration of the Second World Summit for Social Development.