HLPF 2023: The clock is ticking for an SDG 8-driven recovery, with a gender transformative New Social Contract

The ITUC is preparing for the upcoming High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and its review of Goals 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, around which trade unions have articulated their #timefor8 campaign on the leveraging role of SDG 8 in advancing the 2030 Agenda.

The launch of the campaign “#Timefor8, the clock is ticking for a New Social Contract” will trigger the ITUC’s countdown to this year’s High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which will take place from 10 to 19 July in New York.

The campaign, which is a central tool of the promotion of trade unions as key development actors, will target stakeholders participating in and following the HLPF discussions to raise awareness on the labour movement’s position on the five goals that will be under review this year, namely SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, 7 on affordable and clean energy, 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals.

As every year, #timefor8 will be framed in the ITUC’s call for a SDG 8-driven recovery, with a gender transformative New Social Contract based on (1) creating decent, climate-friendly jobs with a just transition; (2) protecting workers’ rights; (3) minimum living wages and equal for work of equal value; (4) providing universal social protection; (5) ending discrimination and promoting equality; and (6) empowering developing countries through inclusive development systems.

This edition of the campaign will have the privilege to count with the support of five leaders from across the confederation, who have committed their support to each of the positions of the ITUC on the reviewed SDG. ITUC President Akiko Gono on Goal 17; LO Norway President Peggy Hessen Følsvik, on Goal 11; AFL-CIO President Lisa Shuler on SDG 9; COSATU president Zingiswa Losi on Goal 7; and Argentina’s SGBATOS-CGTRA secretary general José Luis Lingeri on goal 6. The complete policy analysis and positioning on each goal will be presented in the ITUC’s position paper to the HLPF.

Trade unions’ take on the SDGs

The High-level Political Forum will also host governments’ voluntary national reviews on the progress their country has made on the reviewed SDGs. This occasion will be an opportunity for national trade unions to confront their government’s narrative with a counter report they produce with the support of the Trade Union Development Cooperation Network of the ITUC.

This year, the network will produce the following reports: Bangladesh (ITUC Bangladesh), Belgium (ACV-CSC, CGSLB, ABB-FGTB), Burkina Faso (CSB), Canada (CLC-CTC), Colombia (CUT, ENS), Fiji (FCTU), France (CFDT, CGT, FO), Maldives, Peru (CUT), Rwanda (CESTRAR), Tanzania (TUCTA), and Venezuela (ASI). The reports will be available on the ITUC web page dedicated to the 2030 Agenda and compiled in the yearly report A Trade Union Take on the SDGs.

For more information about the #timefor8 campaign, contact alain.rodriguez[@]ituc-csi.org