Social Dialogue for Sustainable Development in Uruguay, Ghana and Indonesia
The three case studies contained in this publication showcase the contribution that social dialogue can make to development processes. These national case studies provide valuable examples of the role that social dialogue can play in reaching many of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda such as ending poverty, reducing inequality, promoting decent work and sustainable economic growth, promoting gender equality. The studies focus primarily on tripartite social dialogue, although bipartite social dialogue is also part of the analysis.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals cover issues highly relevant to the work of trade unions, including the promotion of decent work, the fight against poverty, inequalities and climate change; and recognise the need for greater gender equality, free quality education and stronger institutions. This web page is intended as the reference point for the work of the ITUC and its affiliates relating explicitly to the SDGs.
Social dialogue for development – Brussels seminar report
A thematic seminar was jointly organised between TUDCN and the ILO to explore the role of social dialogue in development. Participants examined some of the conditions required in order to maximise the developmental impact of social dialogue at the company-level as well as the national and international levels.
East African Trade Union Confederation obtains African Union ECOSOCC membership
The East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC) has obtained membership of the African Union’s Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC). ECOSOCC was established in 2004 as an advisory organ to the African Union composed of civil society organisations. As the continental policy-making body, the African Union is a major development actor. Through ECOSOCC, civil society organisations can contribute to AU policies.
Denmark is in the process of changing its approach to development cooperation. It has some major implications for how development aid is delivered and aims to more narrowly align it with the government's interest. While Denmark has long been upheld as a model of development cooperation, these changes will likely mean additional challenges to a long-term based approach.
The dismantling of funding for civil society in Spain - new study by Instituto Paz y Solidaridad
A new study by the Peace and Solidarity Institute, of Spain´s CC.OO 1st of May Foundation, highlights that the funds earmarked for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have fallen by 71% in the last five years. The study looks at the recipient organisations and suggests a number of improvements for the Spanish development cooperation agency instruments to ensure greater transparency, effectiveness and complementarity of the resources allocated to non governmental organisations.
The CFDT's Belleville Institute (France) working with informal sectors in India and West Africa
Over half of the world’s active population works in the informal economy. In India, the percentage of people active in this sector is as high as 90%. In West Africa, informal economy now represents over three quarters of the active workforce and is on the rise. Bellevue Institute has been undertaking some work in both these contexts.
Find out about its work in India here and in West Africa here.
Solidar Suisse – Enlargement of Asian engagement
By Zoltan Doka and Sanjiv Pandita (Solidar Suisse)
The Swiss SSO Solidar Suisse will enlarge its current engagement in China towards a broader engagement with regional networks in Asia and projects in Cambodia in order to share workers’ empowerment and experiences across borders.
Ghana has a thriving democracy because of its commitment to social dialogue - Equal Times article
By Daniel Oberko, Internacional de Servicios Públicos @danieloberko
The key to this country’s democratic robustness lies in its promotion of social dialogue. Bringing workers and employers together when making decisions that affect them builds a national consensus and reinforces the institutional stability that maintains Ghana as one of the healthiest democracies in Africa.
The Solidarity Center warns that the broad crackdown on garment workers, union leaders and worker rights activists in Bangladesh marks a troubling escalation of efforts to silence garment workers and criminalize their fundamental rights to organize, speak to power and improve their lives and livelihoods.
In July 2016, twenty-two countries presented national voluntary reviews of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, over a day and a half during the ministerial segment of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This report synthesizes some of the findings of the reports, drawing primarily from the written reports and executive summaries of the majority of countries.
Training Course: Civil Society Organisations against tax avoidance, tax evasion and tax fraud
Civil society makes a valuable contribution to the fight against tax avoidance, tax evasion and tax fraud. In 2017, the European Commission will launch a new training and networking project for civil societies around Europe. This will involve a series of training courses as well as guidance to organisations on how to build and improve pan-EU networks.
The ILO has compiled a number of useful case studies on social protection. They are available in three volumes:
Volume 1 - Universal Schemes: showcases universal old-age and disability pensions as well as universal maternity and child protection schemes in developing countries.
Davos: Global Alarm Bells Call for Emergency Response
Pointing to the rise in populism and xenophobia, the labour leaders are demanding that governments act to hold corporations responsible for their global supply chains, adopt policies and regulations to ensure the benefits of digitalisation flow to workers and their families, crack down on company tax avoidance and put in place just transition measures in the fight against climate change.
The TUDCN secretariat puts together daily e-mail alerts with 3 or 4 highlights of development news of particular relevance to Trade Unions. If you are interested in receiving them, sign up by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with "Daily News Report SIGN UP" in the subject line.
Upcoming events
TUDCN Working Group on EU Development Policies and Advocacy (Brussels)
16-17 February 2017
3rd Trade Union-OECD/DAC Forum (Paris)
20-21 March 2017
Policy Forum on Development (Brussels)
21-23 March 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.