Trade Union Movement
Trade Unions' engagement is key to implement the UN Reform and the Agenda 2030
On the occasion of the launch of two ACTRAV flagship publications for trade unions, Maria Helena ANDRE, Director of the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) explains why the engagement of trade unions is key for the implementation of UN Reforms and achieving progress on the SDGs. She stresses also the ILO’s expectations vis-à-vis the important role of workers’ organizations in development processes.
Maria Helena ANDRE, Director of the ILO's Bureau for Workers'Activities (ACTRAV) |
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ACTRAV INFO: The ILO is launching two key publications for trade unions. Why are the UN Reforms and SDGs so important for trade unions?
Yes, today we are launching two publications with important and interlinked messages for trade union actions.The first is one of our flagship publications titled United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation and the Decent Work Agenda: A trade union reference manual. The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work stresses the importance of multilateralism and the need for the office to play its role in ensuring policy coherence within the multilateral system. It is therefore in line with this mandate that the publication is aimed at expanding the knowledge base of workers on the interlinkages between UN Cooperation Frameworks, Agenda 2030/SDGs and the Decent Work Agenda. Workers’ organizations should be more active in the UN sustainable development processes, emphasize their experiences, their perspectives in relation to the economy, employment and jobs, social protection, social dialogue and collective bargaining, occupational safety and health as well as on working conditions in general. UN reforms, or rather the ongoing UN Cooperation Framework processes, are there to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2030, ensuring that no one is left behind and that includes workers and their organizations. At the same time, trade unions must be pro-active by arming themselves with the necessary knowledge and tools for influencing the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the UN Cooperation Frameworks. The ILO will continue to support their efforts of bringing the voice of workers to the centre of sustainable development Agenda 2030/SDGs.