World Bank’s World Development Report 2019: Unsatisfactory policy perspective on changes in the world of work
Responding to the World Bank’s publication of the “World Development Report 2019: The Changing Nature of Work” on Friday, ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow expressed disappointment in the Bank’s ‘flagship’ report: “The WDR 2019 seems more intent on delivering a few highly questionable and simplistic policy messages about the need to deregulate business and alleviate it of obligations to contribute to workers’ social protection than providing a thoughtful perspective on challenges created by rapid transformations in the world of work.”
Zimbabwe: Trade Unionists Beaten and Arrested
The ITUC has condemned the beating and arrest by police this morning of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions President Peter Mutasa and Secretary General Japhet Mayo, along with the arrest of 33 other trade unionists. Some 150 police surrounded the ZCTU offices in Harare to stop the holding of a demonstration against a transaction tax increase which would hit the country’s already impoverished workforce hard.
Governments Should Back Binding UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights
The ITUC is calling on governments to support a United Nations Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights in negotiations underway at the UN Human Rights Council. A “Zero Draft” of the Treaty will be the basis for a further round of talks starting on 15 October in Geneva.
World Bank and IMF should support a new social contract and full employment
The ITUC and its Global Unions partners, in a statement ahead of the IFI Annual Meetings taking place 12-14 October in Bali, Indonesia, are urging the international financial institutions to support a sustainable and fair future.
Amazon responds to union pressure with wage increase, but still denies workers’ rights
Trillion-dollar corporate behemoth Amazon’s announcement that it will increase wages of its lowest paid workers shows that pressure from national and international unions is having an impact. However, the company shows no sign yet of ending its systematic global anti-union strategy.
