The Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Guy Ryder, condemned “the unprovoked and unjustifiable attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine conducted without regard to international law, and the continuing loss of life, and immense human suffering that it is inflicting on the people of Ukraine.”
Mr. Ryder joined the General Assembly of the United Nations in criticizing the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demanding that it immediately cease its use of force and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
This stands among the darkest chapters in the ILO’s century long history and a brutal repudiation of our organization’s mission to promote peace through social justice. Those responsible for the aggression know full well that among its first victims will be working people and that the devastation of jobs, enterprises and livelihoods will be massive and endure for many years
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that because of the actions of the Russian Federation the world is facing the biggest global peace and security crisis of recent years, and that the attack on Ukraine challenges all of the multilateral system.
Mr. Ryder added that “the ILO’s duty is to stand in solidarity with the government, workers, and employers of Ukraine and to join with the rest of the United Nations system in providing all possible assistance to them.”
To our revulsion and outrage as horrified witnesses to events unfolding in Ukraine, we must add the determination to act practically to bring them to an end. Goals pursued through aggression and violation of human rights must not prevail. Our responsibility is to meet our obligations to the Ukrainian people
This statement comes as news emerged of a seafarer dying after a ship was hit due to a an artillery or missile attack near Mykolaiv.
The bulker Banglar Samriddhi was reported as stranded at the anchorage off the Port of Olvia, located in the Mykolaiv region on the northern Black Sea coast.
The vessel said had a crew of 29 with supplies to last no more than two weeks. After the beginning of the war, the crew reported that they were stranded when Ukraine closed its seaports.
In addition, earlier reporting from the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported that the Panamanian flagged cargo vessel Helt has been struck whilst anchored 23nm ESE Odesa Port.
