Breadcrumb Home What We Care About Global Worker Rights Global Worker Rights We live and work in a global economy. As corporations spread their reach, and industries and sectors become increasingly linked, our fate as working people in the United States is bound up with the fate of working people across the world. Our brothers and sisters in other countries face many of the same challenges: a lack of fundamental labor rights, precarious work, poverty, income inequality and a push by business interests to drive down wages and working conditions. The AFL-CIO believes that confronting these challenges requires building power for people around the world. We cultivate strong partnerships with unions and labor rights movements in other countries and develop joint strategies to improve protections for all working people, including multinational organizing campaigns and an economic agenda on trade, tax and development that puts human rights before private profit. Working people share a common struggle that transcends borders, and it is only by acknowledging our shared humanity and working together that we can ensure fair and equitable treatment at home and throughout the world. The Global Labor Movement's Response in the Face of the COVID-19 Crisis Did You Know More than 1,800 factories were inspected under the binding Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety. 107 The number of countries which exclude workers from the right to establish or join a union. Did You Know The International Labour Organization approved a binding Convention that ensures all workers have meaningful protection from violence and harassment in the world of work. 207 million The number of workers represented by the International Trade Union Confederation. What We’re Doing Select type Article Event Media Hit Multimedia Report Resolution Speech Statement November 10, 2021 SPEECH Shuler at COP26: We Cannot Leave Workers Behind AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's remarks at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). October 26, 2021 SPEECH Shuler: A Clean Energy Future Runs Through the Labor Movement AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's remarks to the Global Unions’ Committee on Workers’ Capital at the 2021 Workers’ Capital Virtual Conference. October 26, 2021 SPEECH Shuler: Worker Voice Is Important in Technology Development AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's remarks to the L20 Summit in Rome. September 8, 2021 SPEECH Shuler: Global Economy Must Work for Working People AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's remarks at the OECD 2021 60th Anniversary Ministerial Council Meeting. June 8, 2021 BLOG Mexican Worker Tells Vice President: ‘There Is Still No Justice’ In a meeting today with Vice President Kamala Harris, Imelda Jímenez, a worker from the Teksid Hierro plant in Ciudad Frontera, Mexico, which makes engine cylinder blocks for the North American market, described the workers’ seven-year battle to form an independent union in the factory where the top wage is $2.50 per hour. April 20, 2021 SPEECH Trumka: The Survival of Democracy Anywhere Depends on Working People To Defend It Everywhere AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka's remarks at the Democracy at Risk event hosted by the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas. Load More Get Email Updates Sign Up Text WORK to 235246 to opt in to mobile messages from the AFL-CIO. Message and data rates apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Reply HELP for help. You will receive periodic messages with updates and news about our work. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Contact Us About Us Affiliated Unions Careers and Apprenticeships Executive Council Statements Labor History Leadership Our Unions and Allies Programs Blog AFLCIO.tv Form a Union Press Press Releases Speeches Take Action Union Plus Benefits What Unions Do Corporate Accountability Social and Economic Justice Advocacy Workplace Advocacy What We Care About Better Pay and Benefits Civil Rights Corporate Greed Criminal Justice Reform Gender Equality Global Worker Rights Health Care Immigration Infrastructure Labor Law Manufacturing Quality Education Right to Work Sexual Harassment Social Security and Retirement Tax and Budget Policy Trade Workplace Health and Safety Legislative Alerts Legislative Voting Records Reports © 2021 AFL-CIO. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy & Terms of Use