SNTUC - ACTRAV/ITC-ILO Workshop (A354627) ‘Decent Work Response to Economic Crisis’, Global Jobs Pact & Union Agenda 1 - 5 Aug 2011, Singapore Workshop Orientation ACTRAV-Turin

Brief background of the Region 2006-2015: Decent Work Decade in A-P - Economies are growing BUT Decent Work? Open unemployment low but under-employment & employment in informal economy high and growing – 60% of the workers (1.1 b) are in vulnerable employment; 73% of the world’s working poor are in Asia, with 422 million workers living with their families on less than US$1.25 per day. implies: economies are not creating decent work While economic growth in most Asian economies is picking up, employment not likely to rebound as quickly

Main challenges facing TUs Changing world of work & changing nature of employment – pose difficulties for unions, collective bargaining, social protection systems & also undermine the labour law & years of TUs struggles for achieving some rights for workers TU density & CB coverage low (1-19%) - Restrictions on FoA, anti-union discrimination & denial of collective bargaining rights Within unions, lack of capacities for engaging in informed social dialogue & collective bargaining on economic, social & environment policies, and insufficient knowledge of ILO standards & supervisory machinery

‘Crisis’ exposed many vulnerabilities of Asian countries – export dependency, low & declining real wages for majority & insufficient social protection for workers. If economic growth has to benefit all… need to promote Decent Work Crisis represents also an opportunity - What can trade unions do – is the main question

ILO Response 205 m unemployed globally in 2010, 630 m living below $1.25/day poverty line

GJP is not just about creating more jobs! the roots of global ( & national) crisis lie in economic & labour markets policies that undermine employment, purchasing powers & demand in the economy, weaken social security systems, collective rights and labour standards. Therefore – GJP seeks to provide a framework for fostering a growth process that promotes Decent Jobs led economic growth

Objectives of the Workshop Developing understanding on the causes & responses to the ‘crisis’ – globally & in Asia - sharing experiences & building knowledge on the alternatives in the light of recommendations of the Global Jobs Pact; Discuss strategies for promoting TU priorities on economic, social & labour policies (thru public actions, advocacy, dialogue & collective bargaining) Identify capacity gaps within trade unions that need addressing for improving effectiveness of trade union actions and participation in the implementation of economic development policies.

Key issues to be discussed From crisis to recovery: understanding causes of crisis and responses Country reviews: focus on Union experiences of crisis and crisis response policies, process, results & challenges faced Experiences of Singapore labour movement (Crisis response, Employment policies and management of response through social dialogue and negotiations) Economic & social policies for Decent Work led Development Process Priorities of the unions at national level (in the context of promotion of decent work and national jobs pacts) Social Security as Crisis response: Key Issues for Trade Unions in Asia Public policies for the promotion & maintenance of employment FoA & Organizing: pathway to Decent Work Communicating union agenda and policy on National Jobs Pacts, Decent Work & follow up Action Plans

Main Outputs Expected Union strategies for influencing policies & initiatives to promote decent work led job-rich recovery programme as part of crisis response and for socio-economic development in general Preparation of follow up work plan

Evaluation Feedback is welcome on daily-basis End of the workshop evaluation Feedback is welcome on daily-basis

Role of Participants Your experience is valuable! Please contribute actively – your experience is a source of education for all of us! Be PUNCTUAL! – please…..  every one is expected to come for the sessions on time, preferably 5 minutes before time.

Any Questions?