Sustainable economic growth and decent work: Switzerland at UN high-level political forum in New York

Since 2016, the HLPF has been reviewing progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forum enables member states to report on progress and the challenges they face in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each year, a selection of SDGs are reviewed in depth. The 2025 HLPF will put the spotlight on five SDGs: health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), sustainable economic growth and decent work (SDG 8), oceans (SDG 14) , and partnerships to implement the SDGs (SDG 17).

This year, Switzerland is being represented in New York by a sizeable delegation, led by Federal Council Delegate for the 2030 Agenda Markus Reubi. The delegation comprises representatives from the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE), and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Head of the Swiss delegation Markus Reubi emphasises that the cooperative approach remains essential to implementing the SDGs, despite mounting geopolitical challenges and the pressures on multilateralism: "the SDGs can only be achieved by countries working in synergy with regional actors and non-state actors from business, academia and civil society." He also highlights the example of International Geneva, which provides a dynamic platform for building the networks needed to take collective action.

The side event co-hosted by Switzerland, Qatar and the ILO is focusing on SDG 8 under the 2030 Agenda, which is to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth as well as full and productive employment and decent work for all. 

The purpose of the event is to explore the interaction between economic growth and social progress. More specifically, Switzerland and its partners note that economic policy does not automatically drive social progress, although they are intrinsically linked in terms of sustainable development. This can be seen from the growing inequalities within and between countries, stalled progress in reducing global poverty, and persistent decent work deficits, especially in the informal economy, despite sustained global economic growth. In order to ensure that the 2030 Agenda is implemented, social development concerns therefore need to be incorporated more effectively into the priorities and strategies defined for economic development. 

The event co-hosted by Switzerland is therefore intended to raise awareness of the need to promote people-centred economic growth. It also aims to encourage participants to identify innovative policies that fully integrate and combine the objectives of economic development and social progress and to discuss and highlight the various challenges currently faced at global level. 

Productivity and decent work are closely interrelated and, given the right conditions, can even be mutually reinforcing. Productivity gains improve pay and working conditions, while decent jobs make work more productive. However, the labour productivity slowdown around the world in the last two decades, despite major technological advances, has significantly impeded the promotion of decent work, especially in low-income countries. In this context, the 'Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work' programme, developed and implemented jointly by the ILO and Switzerland, shows an innovative approach to addressing the productivity and decent work deficit. By fostering an enabling environment at policy, sectoral and company level, this systemic approach creates a virtuous circle of better working conditions and greater productivity. This in turn promotes inclusive and sustainable economic development benefiting all segments of society in line with SDG 8. 

The unequal impacts of globalisation and climate change and uneven access to technological innovations, have also been identified as issues requiring special attention. Ambassador Valérie Berset Bircher at SECO has stated that she is committed to "helping developing countries transition to the formal economy, develop their private sector, and integrate into the global economy." To this end, Switzerland is working closely with a range of international actors, including financial institutions, UN agencies, the private sector, and civil society.

The side event co-hosted by Switzerland in New York is being held in the run-up to the second World Summit for Social Development taking place in Doha, Qatar in November 2025. The intention is to foster pragmatic discussion and create positive momentum ahead of the Doha Summit. This international forum represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the alignment between economic policies and social progress objectives at global and national level, with a view to ensuring sustainable and inclusive development. 

In the current context, Switzerland strongly believes that effective and resilient multilateralism is essential to achieving the SDGs under the 2030 Agenda. As Markus Reubi notes, "multilateralism is coming under great pressure. Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism and the effectiveness of the UN system. The only way to resolve global crises is for us all to work together within the UN."