Major Group: Workers & Trade Unions
A trade union perspective on the declaration
We share the concerns expressed by many of the Member States on the attempt to cluster the 17 goals into 9 headlines in the preamble. We are particularly concerned about the decision to leave out Decent Work. In fact, throughout the document decent work is replaced with employment – these are not the same thing and the aim should of course be decent work.
There is not a single reference to workers, labour and/or trade unions in the zero draft; we insist on the inclusion of labour and/or trade unions whenever business and the private sector are mentioned
In para 3, we seek an inclusion of human rights, social justice and decent work.
In paragraph 12 on challenges we are facing, we want to see references to threats to democracy and fundamental human and labour rights, underemployment (i.e. working poor), and shrinking space for civil society.
In paragraph 15 on our vision, we would like to include Decent Work and Social Protection Systems. We also suggest removing affordable before drinking water, and replacing basic education with “free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education”.
In paragraph 17 we would like to see the explicit articulation of the fundamental freedoms: freedom of association and collective bargaining, of speech, of the press, and of religion.
In paragraph 18, we suggest access to quality education and decent work in place of employment
In paragraph 22 on education, we propose reaffirming our commitment to free primary and secondary education
In paragraph 24 it would be important to address income and wealth inequality and add language on redistribution. As the aim is decent work for all, we propose rewriting as follows: …promoting decent work for all and young people in particular. Finally, we would like to see references to the social dialogue, as well as social protection, including floors
On Implementation, there is an overemphasis on the role of the private sector to generate the resources needed to deliver the agenda. The role of the state and the right to development should be reaffirmed at the very start of the chapter, including the importance of quality public services and the responsibility of the state to provide health, education and water and sanitation. Not enough attention has been given to the alternatives to public-private partnerships, such as public-public partnerships. We are concerned about the numerous references to “basic” services and would like these to be replaced by “public” services throughout the document.
Tax justice as well as fighting corruption is the best alternative to austerity, structural adjustment, and privatization and liberalization of public services. Corruption is mentioned in the introduction as one of the factors behind violence, insecurity and injustice, but it is also the cause of inequality and budgetary constraints and a consequence of the lack of protection of whistle-blowers.
On follow up and review: if not required, reporting on progress should be strongly encouraged. We welcome the integration of existing mechanisms for monitoring the agenda should be integrated, which could ultimately create space for accountability instruments which are by their nature stronger than what is proposed in the post 2015 framework—the ILO Supervisory Machinery is a good example.
We share the concerns expressed by many of the Member States on the attempt to cluster the 17 goals into 9 headlines in the preamble. We are particularly concerned about the decision to leave out Decent Work. In fact, throughout the document decent work is replaced with employment – these are not the same thing and the aim should of course be decent work.
There is not a single reference to workers, labour and/or trade unions in the zero draft; we insist on the inclusion of labour and/or trade unions whenever business and the private sector are mentioned
In para 3, we seek an inclusion of human rights, social justice and decent work.
In paragraph 12 on challenges we are facing, we want to see references to threats to democracy and fundamental human and labour rights, underemployment (i.e. working poor), and shrinking space for civil society.
In paragraph 15 on our vision, we would like to include Decent Work and Social Protection Systems. We also suggest removing affordable before drinking water, and replacing basic education with “free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education”.
In paragraph 17 we would like to see the explicit articulation of the fundamental freedoms: freedom of association and collective bargaining, of speech, of the press, and of religion.
In paragraph 18, we suggest access to quality education and decent work in place of employment
In paragraph 22 on education, we propose reaffirming our commitment to free primary and secondary education
In paragraph 24 it would be important to address income and wealth inequality and add language on redistribution. As the aim is decent work for all, we propose rewriting as follows: …promoting decent work for all and young people in particular. Finally, we would like to see references to the social dialogue, as well as social protection, including floors
On Implementation, there is an overemphasis on the role of the private sector to generate the resources needed to deliver the agenda. The role of the state and the right to development should be reaffirmed at the very start of the chapter, including the importance of quality public services and the responsibility of the state to provide health, education and water and sanitation. Not enough attention has been given to the alternatives to public-private partnerships, such as public-public partnerships. We are concerned about the numerous references to “basic” services and would like these to be replaced by “public” services throughout the document.
Tax justice as well as fighting corruption is the best alternative to austerity, structural adjustment, and privatization and liberalization of public services. Corruption is mentioned in the introduction as one of the factors behind violence, insecurity and injustice, but it is also the cause of inequality and budgetary constraints and a consequence of the lack of protection of whistle-blowers.
On follow up and review: if not required, reporting on progress should be strongly encouraged. We welcome the integration of existing mechanisms for monitoring the agenda should be integrated, which could ultimately create space for accountability instruments which are by their nature stronger than what is proposed in the post 2015 framework—the ILO Supervisory Machinery is a good example.