Trade Unions at HLM2: Trade Unions were well represented at the GPEDC HLM2 as speakers in the various plenary and amphitheatre sessions on taking stock of development effectiveness, GPEDC-2030 Agenda synergies, private sector, south-south cooperation, youth and women and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Throughout these events, trade unions strongly emphasized the centrality of the Decent Work Agenda to achieve sustainable development. Inclusive development is not possible without democracy, accountability, and an enabling environment allowing for freedom of association, collective bargaining and social dialogue between employers and workers" representatives.
Main achievements of the HLM2: Trade Unions generally welcome the NOD and its recognition of trade unions and social partners as key actors of development and aid effectiveness. Trade unions welcome the NOD emphasis on the value of decent work and the recognition, for the first time, of social dialogue as a way to realise sustainable development. In particular, by recognising the link between enabling environment and freedom of association and collective bargaining, along with other development effectiveness commitments. For the first time, a GPEDC document includes specific criteria to hold business accountable, with direct reference to International Labour Organisation (ILO) labour standards, UN Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Trade unions applaud the NOD's determination to reverse shrinking space for civil society and to accelerate processes which support an enabling environment for CSOs, in line with internationally agreed rights. Trade unions greet the business commitment to set up reporting and accountability systems on environmental, economic and social impacts of their efforts, in particular on the generation of full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Concerns and remaining issues: Trade unions still have serious reservations with the preferential role that the HLM2 and the NOD has given to business, as a main actor of development cooperation. The emphasis on business is most concerning where the NOB praises ODA as a catalyser of resource mobilisation and highlights that a key purpose of development cooperation should be to attract private investment. Trade unions believe ODA's original purpose is to reduce poverty, which clashes with business" primary goal of seeking profit. Trade unions remain critical about the role of blending and public-private partnerships (PPPs), as evidence shows that these innovative finance mechanisms make public services less inclusive and more expensive, and can lead to privatisation.
Way forward and commitments: Trade unions appreciate the consideration for a 4th non-executive co-chair for the GPEDC and support further discussion on a more inclusive and representative structure for GPEDC's leadership and its overall governance. As a constituency of the GPEDC and its Steering Committee, and as a sector of the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), trade unions remain committed to the development effectiveness agenda, with the aim of promoting democratic spaces to support trade unions priorities in development. Trade unions will contribute to this with own initiatives such as the Trade Union Principles on Development Effectiveness and the ITUC-TUDCN Global Partnership Initiative (GPI) on Social Dialogue in Development, launched at the HLM2.
Find this statement here.
For more information about this statement, contact Paola Simonetti, ITUC-TUDCN, paola.simonetti@ituc-csi.org
For more information about the trade union participation at the HLM2: www.ituc-csi.org/HLM2
For more information about the GPI on Social Dialogue in Development: http://www.ituc-csi.org/SD-GPI
