1. The role of the ILO in the International Labour movement; Decent Work Agenda and ILO Workers’ Group priorities Turin 6 September 2012 Esther Busser

2. Workers’ Group Priorities ILO Workers group: elected once every three years (14 titulars, 19 deputies, 19 substitutes) Represent workers on the ILO Governing Body (tripartite) Priorities for the group are set at the start of their mandate Aim to include these priorities in ILO agenda’s, meetings, activities, outcomes and tools 2

3. Context and themes Context: economic crisis and growing injustice 6 broad themes: 1. international labour standards 2. employment and policy coherence 3. rights based approach to migration 4. collective bargaining and labour laws 5. social security, wages and working conditions 6. Strengthening the ILO statistical, research and analytical capacities 3

4. 1. International labour standards Standardsetting is at the core of the ILO mandate The ILO has to continue to set standards Identify gaps in standard setting and new areas for regulation One standard setting item per conference Promote the ratification and implementation of existing standards Follow up on the supervisory mechanism 4

5. International Labour Standards Increase ratification and implementation of selected up to date standards and those relevant in times of crisis: Core conventions (C87 and 98; C100 and 111; C29 and 105; C138 and 182) Governance standards: C122 (employment policy), C144 (tripartite consultations), C81 and C129 (labour inspection) C189 and R201 on domestic work C102 (social security) and R 202 on social protection floors R198 on the employment relationship C158 and R166 on termination of employment C131 on minimum wages C155 and 187 on OSH and R200 on HIV and Aids C183 on maternity protection and C156 on workers with family responsibilities C151 on labour relations in public services and C154 on collective bargaining C94 on labour clauses in public contracts C169 on indigenous and tribal people 5

6. International labour standards Identify countries for ratification and trade unions to lead campaigns and develop materials for ratification campaigns Ensure inclusion in DWCPs Follow-up to the ILC recurrent item discussion on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Priority to the ratification and implementation of the enabling rights: C87 and C98. Address the impact of precarious (non-standard) forms of employment on the exercise of rights-particularly the right to organise and collective bargaining Use the promotion of these rights to formalize the informal economy Fight attacks on workers rights and employment protection legislation as part of austerity packages Greater advocacy role of the ILO on fundamental workers’ rights Capacity building on the ILO supervisory mechanism, dissemination of jurisprudence and assistance with the follow-up of cases in the Committee on Application of Standards 6

7. 2. Employment and policy coherence Several instruments adopted: C122, the Global Employment Agenda (GEA), the Social Justice Declaration (SJD) and the Global Jobs Pact (GJP) as well as conclusions of the Recurrent item discussion on employment (2010) and the ILC discussion on the youth employment crisis (2012) Most important is to put decent and productive employment again at the centre of macro-economic policies: this requires research on alternative macro-economic policies and engaging in policy advice at national level Such policies would include fiscal policies (creating fiscal space to create jobs and stimulate demand) and monetary policies that maintain competitive exchange rates and low interest rates In addition the creation of decent and productive jobs requires an industrial policy, especially in developing countries. ILO to do more research on industrial policy for employment creation and on the role of trade policy and investment policies in industrial development 7

8. Employment and policy coherence Make employment and development impact assessments of trade agreements and a more critical approach on trade agreements Respond to austerity packages and examine employment and decent work implications of the policies and conditionalities imposed by the IFIs, OECD and EU Provide alternative policies advice to constituents Sustainable and social exit strategies to be promoted Better use of the MNE Declaration and new follow-up mechanism Promotion of green jobs (also as part of an industrial policy) and just transition 8

9. 3. Rights based approach to migration ILO to promote a gender-sensitive and rights based approach to migration Based on C97 and C143 on migration and the principle of equal treatment and opportunities Crisis has worsened situation of migrants ILO to be at the centre of global governance on migration (2013 UN high level dialogue on Migration and Development) 9

10. 4. Collective bargaining and labour laws Enhance knowledge on trends and innovations in collective bargaining coverage and on the role of collective bargaining in labour market governance Greater advocacy and capacity building at national level to ensure effective recognition Promote recognition of the employment relationship: increase in non-standard and unprotected forms of employment Strategies to formalize the informal economy Enhance research and advocacy on the impact of non-standard forms of employment on rights, wages and aggregate demand and on strategies to promote direct and stable employment relationships Enhance the use by trade unions of the Recommendation on the Employment Relationship (R198) Use of sectoral activities to address precarious work and decent work deficits 10

11. 5. Social security, wages and working conditions Extension of social security to all to promote economic and social development, lift people out of poverty and formalize the informal economy Promotion of Convention C102 (social security) and Recommendation 202 (social protection floors) Strengthen knowledge base and advocacy on wage trends and policies (Global Wage Trends Reports) Promotion of wage led growth (minimum wages, social protection floors, extend collective bargaining coverage, address the gender pay gap) Global campaign on income security (minimum wages and social protection floors) Promotion of OSH standards and role of trade unions in the promotion of safe and healthy workplaces Strategies to address gender based violence in the world of work 11

12. 6. Strengthening the ILO statistical, research and analytical capacities Alternatives to the neoliberal orthodox ideology High quality and evidence based macro- economic research Based on ILO core values and decent work Used in G20, to counter IMF, WB, OECD, WTO, EU, ECB Used for country level advice 12

13. Some warnings There are areas where the office focus has been problematic: Policy coherence and G20: not enough efforts have been made by the ILO to promote alternative/heterodox macroeconomic policies when interacting with the IFIs and the OECD and at country level Trade: The ILO has failed to give a critical voice to current trade agreements that undermine employment creation and industrial development Sustainable enterprises: focus is solely on how to set up businesses without any focus on the social pillar of sustainable enterprises, i.e. the need to promote at the same time safe and healthy workplaces, stable and direct employment, organizing and collective bargaining and decent wages and working conditions 13

14. Conclusions Trade unions have a role to play in the promotion of International labour standards, economic and social policies, the promotion of policy coherence, the promotion of collective bargaining and stable employment relationships and the promotion of social security At national level the support and push from trade unions is of enormous importance if we want to make a difference 14