WEConversations | Walk the Talk! Advancing Social Justice through Employment

February 20th is World Day for Social Justice, the occasion to celebrate all initiatives that help address inequalities and exclusion. While the changes affecting the world of work have brought significant new opportunities, they have also led to situations threatening social cohesion, economic growth, and human progress.

In 2024, the World Employment Confederation joined more than 100 other partners, including governments, trade unions, companies, international organisations, NGOs, and academia, in the Global Coalition for Social Justice, established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

As the Coalition gets off the ground, this WEConversations webinar examined the role this global alliance can play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the Decent Work Agenda, and some concrete initiatives already implemented by our member organisations.

Our experts:

Sana de Courcelles, Director of the Secretariat, ILO Global Coalition for Social Justice

Sana de Courcelles is a public governance and innovation specialist with over 20 years of experience. Sana leads the Global Coalition for Social Justice at the ILO, focusing on social justice and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She has held leadership roles at Sciences Po and Capgemini Consulting and remains active in academia.

Gustaaf van Oosterom, Global Public Affairs Officer, Randstad

Gustaaf van Oosterom completed his master’s degree in political economy and spent his first years of his career working as a consultant in the Randstad business in The Netherlands. As a consultant, Gustaaf learned the operational business of Randstad by helping talent to find work around the country, as well as clients to find the talent they needed to grow their business. This was predominantly in the administrative and professionals industry. In 2020, he became manager of a “talent center” at Randstad, which was equipped to help talent find work in the production, logistical, and technical sectors. This included the recruitment of production-workers, operators, and lab-assistants to work at Johnson & Johnson during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After managing 3 recruitment teams, he joined the Randstad global public affairs team in 2022 to become responsible for policy-advocacy and stakeholder engagement at the European and international level. Currently, Gustaaf represents Randstad towards the International Labor Organization (ILO), International Organization of Employers (IOE), and several committees in the World Employment Confederation (WEC).

Manmeet Singh, Vice President, Indian Staffing Association & CEO, FirstMeridian Global and Innovsource

Manmeet Singh is the Vice President ISF, Chief Executive Officer and Board member of FirstMeridian Global and Innovsource , one of India’s largest workforce solutions organisations providing meaningful employment to more than 1.5 Lakh employees spread across the country. Manmeet has been associated with ISF since its inception and is deeply passionate about enhancing employment and employability in India. He recognizes the need for the staffing industry to adapt to a rapidly changing talent landscape by focusing on acquiring new skills and innovative staffing solutions. His commitment to industry advancement is evident in his role as a Vice President and executive board member of the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), where he actively champions initiatives that promote industry recognition and sustainable employment.

He is dedicated to addressing key challenges within the staffing sector, including compliance issues and the adoption of new technologies. Manmeet believes in empowering associates to secure meaningful job opportunities and guiding them toward long-term career success. His vision highlights the staffing industry’s potential to shape careers and positively impact the economy.

In addition to his executive responsibilities, Manmeet also served as a Governing Council member of the NASSCOM IT-ITes Sector Skill Council and was involved in launching India’s first digital skills portal “Future skills prime initiative” . His educational credentials include a degree in Computer Science Engineering and a Postgraduate Diploma in SCMM ( Software capability maturity Models) along with executive programs at Harvard Business School. Outside of work, he enjoys mentoring startups and playing table tennis, reflecting his commitment to both professional development and personal growth.