Major Group: Workers & Trade
ITUC INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION CSI CONFÉDÉRATION SYNDICALE INTERNATIONALE
CSI CONFEDERACIÓN SINDICAL INTERNACIONAL IGB INTERNATIONALER GEWERKSCHAFTSBUND
Bd. du Roi Albert II, 5, Bte 1, B ? 1210 Bruxelles Belgique
Tel. +32 (0) 2224 0211 Fax +32 (0) 2201 5815 E-mail info@ituc-csi.org http://www.ituc-csi.org
Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM)
17th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
Dialogue with Major Groups ? 23rd February 2009
Statement on behalf of the Workers and Trade Unions Major Group
Thank you Chair, Ladies and gentleman,
As the Chair and most of you rightly pointed out this morning, we are living in a context
of profound crises. It is our view that agriculture and rural development have a role to
play in addressing these crises in an integrated manner, and that we should not miss this
opportunity for realizing sustainable development and changing agricultural production.
On behalf of the workers and trade unions major group I would like to briefly introduce
you the main policy options we would like to see this IPM to promote.
In this session, we will make the case for promoting ?green growth?, new jobs and rural
employment. A few months ago, unions launched a report jointly written with the United
Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation and employers,
which emphasises the role Green jobs can play in a new green economy, including in
agriculture. The promotion of concrete policies aiming at creating good and green
employment in rural areas are expected from this meeting.
Inequality is raising in our world and this is to be aggravated by recent instability in food
prices, which also threatens low income earners. Vigorous and immediate actions need to
be taken to protect the purchasing power of rural and urban workers, especially in
developing countries.
Further regulation of commodity markets and promotion of a development-centered
agriculture is needed. In addition, trade unions think that there is a need for agriculture to
become sustainable for communities, through the provision of decent and high quality
jobs, as this will be key in combating poverty, reducing vulnerability to economic, social
and environmental changes and for empowering communities. There is a need to promote
the shift from informal to formal work in this sector, thereby extending coverage of
rights, social protection and social dialogue as well as increasing earnings, in particular
for vulnerable groups, such as women workers and young workers.
Chair, agricultural work remains one of the three most dangerous occupations in the
world, with more than 170,000 workers killed every year. Pesticides only kill 40,000
workers annually. A truly sustainable agriculture can not ignore the need for fostering the
implementation of the sound management of chemicals and for respecting occupational
health and safety standards, such as those provided by the International Labour
Organisation.
Unions call also on governments to provide with long-term solutions to populations
which will face climate change-related stresses. Economic diversification, alternative
income opportunities as well as training for workers and employers will be needed.
Chair, during this meeting we will be making the case for workers and trade unions being
part of ambitious policies aimed at advancing sustainable development in all this CSD
policy themes.
We look forward for a successful meeting under your guidance.
Thank you.
CSI CONFEDERACIÓN SINDICAL INTERNACIONAL IGB INTERNATIONALER GEWERKSCHAFTSBUND
Bd. du Roi Albert II, 5, Bte 1, B ? 1210 Bruxelles Belgique
Tel. +32 (0) 2224 0211 Fax +32 (0) 2201 5815 E-mail info@ituc-csi.org http://www.ituc-csi.org
Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM)
17th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
Dialogue with Major Groups ? 23rd February 2009
Statement on behalf of the Workers and Trade Unions Major Group
Thank you Chair, Ladies and gentleman,
As the Chair and most of you rightly pointed out this morning, we are living in a context
of profound crises. It is our view that agriculture and rural development have a role to
play in addressing these crises in an integrated manner, and that we should not miss this
opportunity for realizing sustainable development and changing agricultural production.
On behalf of the workers and trade unions major group I would like to briefly introduce
you the main policy options we would like to see this IPM to promote.
In this session, we will make the case for promoting ?green growth?, new jobs and rural
employment. A few months ago, unions launched a report jointly written with the United
Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation and employers,
which emphasises the role Green jobs can play in a new green economy, including in
agriculture. The promotion of concrete policies aiming at creating good and green
employment in rural areas are expected from this meeting.
Inequality is raising in our world and this is to be aggravated by recent instability in food
prices, which also threatens low income earners. Vigorous and immediate actions need to
be taken to protect the purchasing power of rural and urban workers, especially in
developing countries.
Further regulation of commodity markets and promotion of a development-centered
agriculture is needed. In addition, trade unions think that there is a need for agriculture to
become sustainable for communities, through the provision of decent and high quality
jobs, as this will be key in combating poverty, reducing vulnerability to economic, social
and environmental changes and for empowering communities. There is a need to promote
the shift from informal to formal work in this sector, thereby extending coverage of
rights, social protection and social dialogue as well as increasing earnings, in particular
for vulnerable groups, such as women workers and young workers.
Chair, agricultural work remains one of the three most dangerous occupations in the
world, with more than 170,000 workers killed every year. Pesticides only kill 40,000
workers annually. A truly sustainable agriculture can not ignore the need for fostering the
implementation of the sound management of chemicals and for respecting occupational
health and safety standards, such as those provided by the International Labour
Organisation.
Unions call also on governments to provide with long-term solutions to populations
which will face climate change-related stresses. Economic diversification, alternative
income opportunities as well as training for workers and employers will be needed.
Chair, during this meeting we will be making the case for workers and trade unions being
part of ambitious policies aimed at advancing sustainable development in all this CSD
policy themes.
We look forward for a successful meeting under your guidance.
Thank you.