Luca Visentini, currently the General Secretary of the ETUC, has been elected as the new General Secretary of the ITUC at the 5th ITUC World Congress in Melbourne, Australia – the global workers’ parliament where nearly 1,000 trade unionists from over 120 countries met to set the global agenda for trade unions.

After his election, Luca Visentini said: “I feel incredibly proud to have this opportunity to lead the ITUC and to represent the voice of working people on the world stage. Thank you for putting your trust in me. I realize that this is a historically difficult time for working people. The world is on the brink of an economic downturn and working people are on the frontline of this. Many people are already living through the consequences, peace and democracy are under threat․

The ITUC will lead the call for a new economic model based on a new social contract. We want climate-friendly jobs, workers’ rights, just wages, social protection, equality and inclusion. This must be at the centre of the plans of all governments.”