New TUDCN Pamphlet: The Sustainable Development Goals - a trade union issue!
The TUDCN has released an introductory pamphlet on the Sustainable Development Goals as part of its mobilisation and engagement work on the 2030 Agenda. The pamphlet aims to introduce trade unionists to the 2030 Agenda and its overlap with the work of the labour movement. It gives an overview of how the Sustainable Development Goals and the work of trade unions can be mutually reinforcing and outlines some steps for trade union engagement at national, regional and international level.
The TUDCN Working Group on EU Development Policies and Advocacy met in Brussels on 16-17 February 2017. The meeting, organised in collaboration with the ETUC, covered the following themes: TUDCN action on EU development policies during 2016-2017; the new European Consensus on Development and the 2030 Agenda; the future of EU-ACP relations; the mid-term review of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the MFF post-2020. It also covered the role of private sector in development, focusing on the OECD’s ODA modernisation, the EIB and External Investment Plan, and European DFIs.
The TUDCN has released a light version of the Trade Union Development Effectiveness Profile (TUDEP). The TUDEP light is a shorter version of the TUDEP tool with a reduced number of questions, from 52 to 27. It allows for a good analysis of the contributions to the eight trade union development effectiveness principles.
Business Accountability FOR Development - New Layout
How can we ensure that business – in particular multinational enterprises (MNEs) – really contribute to development in the countries where they operate? How can responsibility of their actions be granted against development impacts? How to keep them accountable for spending public money? This study, now available in a fresh new look, aims to shed some light on these enduring questions.
Can the EU better support job creation in developing countries?
On 24 January 2017, the International Trade Union Confederation, the European Trade Union Confederation and ActionAid organised a half-day event bringing together officials from the European Commission and member states, civil society organisations and trade unions, academics and European think tanks to discuss whether and how the EU trade policy could better support job creation in developing countries.
The UK government is making moves to increase the share of its development funding for the private sector. Plans for an eight-fold increase in the funding cap for CDC Group, its development finance institution, are being waved through parliament. There continues to be a blatant contradiction between the use of employment creation as the primary tool for attempting to alleviate poverty and the CDC Group’s contempt for workers’ rights.
Sustainable Development Goals and trade unions in Zimbabwe
By Naome Chakanya, economist and senior researcher at LEDRIZ
The Zimbabwean economy is characterised by massive and increasing deindustrialisation, policy discontent and informalisation of the economy. In this context, the SDGs can present a welcome opportunity for a change of path. While the Government recognised the role of decent work by placing SDG 8 among its priorities, it has so far failed to consult trade unions. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and its affiliates are nonetheless persevering in their efforts to strengthen their capacity on the issue in order contribute to the development effort and effectively engage other national stakeholders.
The 2030 Agenda in Sweden and the involvement of Swedish trade unions
By Oscar Ernerot,International Department of LO Sweden - @OErnerot
The Swedish trade union movement, LO, has high expectations for the Swedish Government to set the standard on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In 2016, the Swedish Government appointed a delegation consisting of people from different disciplines in the society. Their initial task is to put together a report consisting of a scan of which of the Agenda’s goals and targets Sweden fulfils. Dialogue with trade unions plays a crucial role for the democratic process and for ensuring the Agenda’s legitimacy.
Video: TUCA-ITUC Coordinated Cooperation with Haiti
Rebuilding has been the rallying cry in Haiti since the devastation of the 2010 earthquake. It is in this context that trade unions from across the globe have come together to bring their support to the people of Haiti. The international labour movement’s support, with the participation of many TUDCN members, has been essential to take on very difficult conditions and there have been some notable achievements.
Global supply chains, decent work and social responsibility: an example from the toy industry
The toy sector is emblematic of global supply chains: working conditions are poor despite the industry as a whole being governed by a code of conduct since 1995. Pressure from public opinion can, therefore, act as a tool to counterbalance flawed corporate social responsibility (CSR) and to force companies to act more responsibly when it comes to their sourcing operations. An example is the recent campaign waged by Solidar Switzerland against the toy industry and toy manufacturer Mattel.
By Santiago González Vallejo, Sotermun/Unión Sindical Obrera
2017 could be the year that brings us a binding international treaty on the respect of human rights by transnational corporations and other business enterprises. It would, logically, take priority over other bilateral or multilateral trade agreements because it would set out the minimum conditions to be met.
The French Committee for International Solidarity on choosing international solidarity
By Marie-Christine Naillod, CGT France
The Comité Français de la Solidarité Internationale (French Committee for International Solidarity – CFSI) brings together associations, trade unions, local authorities and non-profit organisations involved in international solidarity initiatives. The CGT, a member of the TUDCN, is also a member of the CFSI governing board and secretary of its Bureau. The CFSI held in-depth discussions with its members – and other partner organisations – with a view to redefining its concept of solidarity and international cooperation.
2016 was one of the most tumultuous years the world has seen since the end of the Cold War. The long-lamented phenomenon of “closing space” for civic engagement is certainly real, and it spread dramatically in 2016. A recent report from CIVICUS found that roughly 85% of the world’s population lives in countries where the rights to expression, assembly or association have faced serious challenges. In some places, progress was palpable, illustrating just how powerful assembly and association rights can be in motivating change.
The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report
From Eurodad: "After crunching all the numbers, the UN’s top finance experts calculate that, in net terms (finance inflows minus finance outflows), developing countries as a whole have been exporting money to the developed world at least since 2004.The first obvious conclusion is that we should be very concerned about what is happening with private financial flows, and we should be supportive of developing countries that want to use sensible tools to manage these flows (which sometimes they are denied by trade and investment treaties)."
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Upcoming events
3rd Trade Union-OECD/DAC Forum (Paris)
20-21 March 2017
Policy Forum on Development (Brussels)
21-23 March 2017
TUDCN Partnerships Seminar for East Africa (Nairobi)
3-4 April 2017
TUDCN General Meeting (Lomé)
19-21 April 2017
Financing for Development Forum follow-up (New York)
22-25 May 2017
2030 Agenda High Level Political Forum (New York)
10-19 July 2017
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the ITUC and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.