Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary
There can be no progress towards a better world without a new social contract, and peace is an essential pre-requisite. People have a right to live in peace, and "universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice."
This must be central to discussions at the long delayed Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in August. We must not allow the multiple areas of crisis facing working people to stall this work. The anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a reminder of what can happen if we do not work for peace, common security and a new social contract.
The outcomes from the annual International Labour Conference show what can be achieved when we work together. Occupational health and safety is now a fundamental right at work, progress was made towards standards for quality apprenticeships, support for decent work in the social and solidarity economy and promoting job creation including through the UN’s Global Accelerator on jobs and social protection for just transitions.
I congratulate all of our affiliates, ITUC staff, regional organisations and the Global Union Federations for their work towards these achievements.
The new social contract was central to the demands we took to the HLPF: Jobs, rights, wages, social protection, equality and inclusion.
A return to full employment with decent, climate-friendly jobs with gender-responsive just transition must be a foundation for recovery. It requires investments in the care economy, infrastructure and industry policy for climate action. And it requires support for skills with education, training and lifelong learning.
Decent work can only be guaranteed with a rights-based recovery for all with mandated due diligence and compliance. These measures, with minimum living wages and equal pay for work of equal value along with an end to all kinds of discrimination, harassment and violence inside and outside the world of work, guarantee a labour protection floor.
Social dialogue is vital to ensure the voice of working people in the plans for a recovery that includes people and the environment.
These messages were heard and a full report can be found on the ITUC website.
Remember, the deadline to submit an official list of representatives as well as nominations for Congress standing committees, general secretary and auditors is 17 August 2022. Also, invitations have been sent to participants for the third session of the ITUC World Women’s Conference that will take place during Congress.
You will find the nomination forms and the draft Congress statement on the Congress website.
Finally, if you are lucky enough this summer to have some free time for free thinking, consider the Global Labour University Online Academy. The courses are free and flexible, and cover subjects that include just transition, gender equity, fair wages, labour rights, regulating global supply chains and more.
Details are here about how it works.
In solidarity,
Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary
@SharanBurrow