Intervention by Davids Etyang (EATUC) on behalf of Workers and Trade Unions at the HLPF2016 general debate

Davids Etyang (Eastern Africa Trade Union Confederation) intervened at the general debate of the HLPF2016, on behalf of the Workers and Trade Unions Major Group.

Thank you, Chair.

My name is Davids Etyang, I come from Uganda and I speak on behalf of the Workers and Trade Unions Major Group.

I would like to introduce you the workers’ priorities for realising the 2030 Agenda and leaving no one behind.

Increasing inequality risks leaving many behind

High and rising inequality has a significant social and economic cost.

The current rise in inequality is increasingly at odds with established paths towards sustainable development and achievement of the SDGs.

Instruments to combat increasing inequality must be utilized to their fullest.

Social dialogue, freedom of association and collective bargaining are useful indicators and instruments for national reviews

Decent work is crucial to ensure that “no one is left behind”.

In light of global trends, the importance of social dialogue and collective bargaining cannot be understated in efforts to combat inequality.

It is clear that social dialogue has a key role to play in managing societal change.

Social dialogue brings together the social partners (workers and employers organizations), and should be promoted as a means of implementation that can support all three pillars of Sustainable Development.

There is a need to reverse the current trends by promoting and supporting social dialogue and the role of social partners

At the same time, the national level review processes can benefit from the participatory and democratic nature of social dialogue when conducting the reviews.

The follow up and review process of the 2030 Agenda aspires to be an inclusive and participatory endeavour, and social dialogue is a means to ensure that this is the case.

This will be particularly important when reviewing areas which cover the Decent Work Agenda: employment creation, workers’ rights, social dialogue and social protection.

The International Labour Organization and the social partners have a key role to play

In both implementation and monitoring, the role of the ILO, its tripartite constituents and its supervisory system, will be fundamental in the 2030 Agenda monitoring process.

As the specialized agency of the UN on all labour related areas, the ILO possesses the required attributes to support the realization of many of the SDGs.

Thank you, Chair.