15GC/E/11

Trade Union
Priorities forDevelopment
Draft Resolution ITUC GC, São Paolo, Brazil, 9-10 October 2015

International Trade Union Confederation

InternationalDevelopmentAgenda
1.

During the period of 2013-2015, the ITUC/ Trade Union Development Network – TUDCN – coordinated union inputs into the United Nations processes on Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), and Financing for Development (FfD), at national, regional and global levels. Theseprocesses culminated with the adoption of the new SDGs framework at the September UN
General Assembly and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) in July 2015.

2.

The new SDGs framework includes a set of 17 goals including key priorities for trade unions.
Among others: Goal 8: “Inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” is enshrined in the framework as a specific goal. Goal 1 includes
the implementation of “nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all,including floors” by 2030 in relation to poverty eradication and reducing inequality within andamong countries would be a significant achievement. We are pleased to see specific goals foreducation, gender and commitments to food, energy and climate action. The AAAA identifies
Decent Work and Social Protection among the seven crosscutting areas relevant to the financing for development agenda.1

1 Agreed outcomes of the AAAA FfD 13-16 July: http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/AAAA_Outcome.pdf and the unions reaction to the FFD:
https://csoforffd.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/trade_unions_reaction_to_ffd3_action_agenda_final.pdf

Trade Union Priorities for Development: Draft Resolution ITUC GC

Recommendations:
1.

The TUDCN, bringing together in its Post 2015 Working Group, the ITUC affiliates, GUFs,TUSSOs, ETUC, TUAC and ACTRAV, will be pushing for high-level standards on the“indicators” that will further determine the implementation of the SDGs. The ITUC GC
encourages members of the Network to advocate with governments and development
bodies to ensure that commitments made in the SDGs and FfD frameworks are funded
and implemented at global, regional and national levels and include the role of tradeunions.

2.

Alliances will be built with likeminded civil society organisations (CSOs) and governments
to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of decent work, social dialogue andcollective bargaining (through for example, the “Friends of Decent Work” and the “GlobalDeal”), in connection with the ILO. This should form a part of international union actions
to generating a transformational agenda to achieve social, economic and environmental
justice.

3.

Promoting of the developmental role of social dialogue, and fighting the privatisation of
the development agenda, will be a key trade union pillar for advocacy at national, regionaland global level.

3|9Trade Union
InternationalSolidarity
3.

The TUDCN has prioritised the need for greater coherence and coordination among trade union
partners in international solidarity. These have been promoted through the creation of spaces
for exchanges on policy and practice and information sharing. The development of the Trade
Union Development Effectiveness Principles (endorsed by the ITUC CG in 2011) has contributed
to reinforce trade union solidarity initiatives, allowing for greater ownership of development
processes and more equitable partnerships.

Recommendation:
1.

Trade Unions further support the implementation of those Principles, and the TUDCN will
provide the necessary backing in terms of coordination and capacity building.

2.

The trade union development cooperation partnerships, crucial for reinforcing solidarity,
building organising capacity and supporting the efforts of the trade union movement topromote representative, democratic and effective organisations and realise rights, will
be supported.

3.

The ITUC will work to improve shared approaches and supporting common objectives
based on our trade union development effectiveness principles as a priority of the Network.

4.

The Network will focus on developing the institutional and representational capacitiesof trade union organisations, enhancing shared international solidarity initiatives, andbenefiting from the ITUC Organising Academy program.

5.

Multilateral trade union solidarity initiatives will be encouraged, as well as support to tradeunion south-south cooperation initiatives

Regional
Trade Union
Development
Networks
4.

The collective voice of trade unions from the regions with their counterpart regional development institutions has been the focus for the regional networks. The TUDCN has encouraged
the creation of regional development networks in Latin America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific toensure that union voices are heard and taken up in development debates.

Recommendation :1.

The Network will continue strengthening the capacity of the regional development networks
in order to support their advocacy at regional and national level, giving prominence to therole of unions, union organising and union policies relevant to national and international
development agendas with a specific focus on the SDGs’ union south-south cooperation
initiatives

Trade Union Priorities for Development: Draft Resolution ITUC GC

6|9

Among the 17 SDGs and associated 169 targets,the most important for unions are2:
Goal 1.
Goal 2.
End poverty in all its forms everywhere. End hunger, achieve food security andimproved nutrition and promote sus1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people tainable agriculture, in particular:
everywhere, currently measured as people livingon less than $1.25 a day.
1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportionof men, women and children of all ages living inpoverty in all its dimensions according to nationaldefinitions.
1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection
systems and measures for all, including floors, andby 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poorand the vulnerable.
1.4 By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal
rights to economic resources, as well as accessto basic services, ownership and control over landand other forms of property, inheritance, naturalresources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including micro finance.
1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and thosein vulnerable situations and reduce their exposureand vulnerability to climate-related extreme eventsand other economic, social and environmental
shocks and disasters.

2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity andincomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers,
pastoralists and fishers, including through secureand equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services,markets and opportunities for value addition andnon-farm employment.

Goal 4.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, in particular:
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women andmen to affordable and quality technical, vocationaland tertiary education, including university.
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number ofyouth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment,
decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

1.a Ensure significant mobilisation of resources froma variety of sources, including through enhanced
development cooperation, in order to provide
adequate and predictable means for developing
countries, in particular least-developed countries,
to implement programmes and policies to end
poverty in all its dimensions.

2	For the full list of the 17 goals and associated 169 targets. See: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

Goal 5.
Goal 8.
Achieve gender equality and empower Promote sustained, inclusive and susall women and girls, particularly:
tainable economic growth, full andproductive employment and decent
5.4 Recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work for all.
work through the provision of public services,
infrastructure and social protection policies andthe promotion of shared responsibility within thehousehold and the family as nationally appropriate.
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation andequal opportunities for leadership at all levels ofdecision-making in political, economic and publiclife.

Goal 7.
Ensure access to affordable, reliable,sustainable and modern energy for all,in particular:
7.a By 2030, enhance international cooperation tofacilitate access to clean energy research andtechnology, including renewable energy, energy
efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fueltechnology, and promote investment in energy
infrastructure and clean energy technology.
7.b By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, inparticular least-developed countries, small-island
developing States, and landlocked developing
countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support.

8.1 Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular,
at least seven per cent gross domestic productgrowth per annum in the least developed countries.
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation,
entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, andencourage the formalisation and growth of micro-,small- and medium-sized enterprises, including
through access to financial services.
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment
and decent work for all women and men, including
for young people and persons with disabilities,
and equal pay for work of equal value.
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion ofyouth not in employment, education or training.
8.7 Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and humantrafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including
recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025
end child labour in all its forms.
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure
working environments for all workers, including
migrant workers, in particular women migrants,
and those in precarious employment.
8.b By 2020, develop and operationalise a global
strategy for youth employment and implement
the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour
Organization

Trade Union Priorities for Development: Draft Resolution ITUC GC

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Goal 9.
Goal 13.
Build resilient infrastructure, promote Take urgent action to combat climate
inclusive and sustainable industrialisa- change and its impacts, in particular:tion and foster innovation, in particular:
9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation
and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share ofemployment and gross domestic product, in linewith national circumstances, and double its sharein least developed countries.

13.2 Integrate climate change measures into nationalpolicies, strategies and planning.
13.b Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least-developed countries and small-island
developing States, including focusing on women,
youth and local and marginalised communities.

Goal 10.
Reduce inequality within and amongcountries:
Goal 16.
Promote peaceful and inclusive socie10.1 By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain in- ties for sustainable development, procome growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the vide access to justice for all and build
population at a rate higher than the national av- effective, accountable and inclusive
erage.
institutions at all levels, in particular:
10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective ofage, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion
or economic or other status.
10.4 Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social
protection policies, and progressively achieve
greater equality.
10.6 Ensure enhanced representation and voice fordeveloping countries in decision-making in global
international economic and financial institutions inorder to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions.
10.7 Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible
migration and mobility of people, including throughthe implementation of planned and well-managed
migration policies.

16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all formsof violence against and torture of children.
16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justicefor all.
16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent
institutions at all levels.
16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory andrepresentative decision-making at all levels.
16.8 Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.
16.b Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws andpolicies for sustainable development.

Cover photo: LO/FTF - Aniruddh Kaushal