Currently we are running a programme with partners in Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, DRC, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe), Asia (Palestine) and Latin America (Colombia, Cuba, Peru). Decent Work is the basis of our programme, in which we work on the implementation of the four strategic objectives of the ILO, (job creation, guaranteeing rights at work - including trade union rights, social protection and promoting social dialogue). We specifically focus on workers’ and trade union rights, social protection, health and safety issues, and the promotion of social dialogue. We implement our programme on inter-professional as well as sector level, and in the formal as well as in the informal economy.

This year the ABVV-FGTB participated with all its partners in the World Social Forum in Tunis from 26-30th March 2013. Our presence at the World Social Forum was two-fold. On the one hand, we took advance of this opportunity to organise a two-day workshop with our partners on international cooperation and the role of the trade unions herein. The debates focused on two major themes: the mission and vision of trade unions on international cooperation and how to integrate these in all levels of the union as well as in society. The debates turned around trade union cooperation based on solidarity and unity, including capacity building (through training and education), networking on national and international levels, awareness, lobbying, mobilization, balance of power and democracy as well as around a just society , social justice and solidarity and equality. On the other hand we organised workshopstogether with our professional structures on domestic work, on violation of trade union rights and on tax justice. Indeed, the world social forum represents for us an important moment to come together with other movements and discuss alternatives for the increasing neoliberal policies. The fact that it was organised in Tunis, as the birthplace of the Arab spring movement, added a symbolic value to the Forum and gave out a strong signal of solidarity with the democratic process in Tunisia.

For the ABVV-FGTB and its partners, the World Social Forum offered an excellent opportunity to learn more about each other and to reinforce our international network. Indeed, in order to have a bigger impact in the global society in which multinational companies are organized across the borders, trade unions need to stick together and create their proper international networks to offer an adequate counter power to the cross-border abuses of workers’ and union rights. Trade union cooperation aims at making the voice of the workers and of the trade union movement heard in the development policies. We do not just fight against poverty, but we fight against inequalities and for social justice for all.

Needless to say that the current economic crisis and the austerity measures taken by Europe, have a big influence on the cooperation with the south. All over Europe there have been major cuts in the budgets for development cooperation. Many countries are focusing on solving their national budget problems and forget their pledge to budget 0,7% of their Gross National Income for development cooperation. We have to keep development cooperation high on the political agenda of our countries – and Tunis presented us with the perfect place and opportunity to do just this. Together with all our partners and with a strong ABVV-FGTB delegation we seized this opportunity to send out a strong signal to our political leaders that international cooperation must be kept high on the national agenda’s.

Article provided by the FGTB-ABVV