TUDCN Working Group on EU Development Policies and Advocacy meeting
The meeting, organised in collaboration with the ETUC, covered the following themes: trade union involvement in the EU External Investment Plan (EIP) and trade union criteria for private sector engagement in development cooperation; donors engagement in decent work and the OECD-DAC Credit Reporting System (CRS); trade union 2030 Agenda engagement and TUDCN 2017 SDGs country profiles; the Join Africa-EU Partnership and the 5th Africa-EU Summit; and the post-2020 EU Multi-annual Financial Framework.
The meeting documents and report are available here
Policies and advocacy
Asia-Pacific Ministerial Summit on the Environment
The first Asia-Pacific Ministerial Summit on the Environment, which included the Conference on Environment and Development in the region, took place 5-8 September 2017 in Bangkok. TUDCN member Federation of Free Workers (FFW - Philippines) represented the voice of trade unions at the event.
Ahead of Ireland’s Voluntary National Report next year – trade unions discuss objectives
The TUDCN was present at the Global Solidarity Summer School, which brought together Irish trade unions working on international development issues. In light of the fact that Ireland is set to report on its progress at the 2018 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals was on the agenda including an outline of objectives for the coming year.
Zimbabwe’s civil society discuss progress on the Sustainable Development Goals
By Naome Chakanya (LEDRIZ)
Civil society organisations of Zimbabwe and government representatives got together on 8 September 2017 to discuss national progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following Zimbabwe’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the SDGs at this year’s High Level Political Forum (HLPF), CSOs were keen to share experiences and lessons learned and map out engagement mechanisms.
Negotiating the EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) – a trade union update
By Stijn Sintubin (ACV-CSC) & Sulistri Afrileston (KSBSI)
In 2016, the EU and Indonesia initiated discussions on a free trade agreement with the aim of facilitating trade and investment between the two parties. Trade unions on both sides are working together to bring the worker’s voice to the negotiation process, the outcome of which will have implications for the working and living conditions of people in both Indonesia and the EU.
The ILO and the 2030 Agenda: the role of trade unions
Alejandra Ortega (CCOO – Spain) penned an article entitled “The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: the role of trade union organisations”. It appeared in the 40th edition of the Revista Española de Desarrollo y Cooperación (Spanish Review of Development and Cooperation), an academic journal edited by the University Institute of Development and Cooperation of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Measuring and reporting the SDGs: Last push to help the ONS sufficiently report UK progress
This TUC blog post calls on its members to participate in a consultation on the SDG indicators by the UK’s Office for National Statistics. It outlines the need for these statistics, maps out the current monitoring provisions and sketches out a way forward.
GEFONT welcome new Labour and Social Security Acts in Nepal
The recently approved Labour and Social Security Acts are set to enter into application in Nepal. They are the fruit of social dialogue consultation and have been welcomed by both worker and employer representatives. They address OHS issues and extends basic social security coverage to all formal employees.
World Solidarity (WSM) and ACV-CSC go undercover in Cambodia for their campaign on “clean” sportswear
"You like to suffer in your sportswear but nobody likes to suffer for your sportswear”. This is the slogan for the most recent campaign for “clean” sportswear, calling for a larger share of sportswear produced in good working conditions.
Kailash Satyarthi: Unions Essential to Ending Child Labor
Kailash Satyarthi, a Solidarity Center ally, won the Nobel Prize in 2014 for his lifelong efforts to end child labor. Recently, Satyarthi was in Washington, D.C., to address congressional lawmakers on the situation of child labor globally. The Solidarity Center spoke with him about his Foundation’s work and the role of the labor movement in combating child exploitation.
The report argues for a globally coordinated strategy of expansion led by increased public expenditures, with all countries being offered the opportunity of benefiting from a simultaneous boost to their domestic and external markets. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide the political impetus for this much-needed shift towards global macroeconomic policy coordination.
United Nations General Assembly calls for a second UN High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation
The United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus on Monday, 28 August 2017 the draft resolution titled “Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation” to be held in Buenos Aires from 20 to 22 March 2019.
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Upcoming events
World Day for Decent Work
7 October 2017
TUDCN Partnerships Working Group (Brussels)
24 October 2017
TUDCN Open Coordination Meeting (Brussels)
25-26 October 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.