Member states at the UNCSW61 (13-24 March) are currently negotiating the agreed conclusions on the priority theme, ‘Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work’. Unions are appalled that the substantive role of the ILO in implementing and monitoring the agreed conclusions has been removed from the latest draft.
The global unions’ statement says: ‘This deletion, dilution and diminution of the ILO’s role flies in the face of the CSW’s espoused commitment towards women’s economic empowerment. It is a regressive and retrograde step and will leave all workers, in particular women, deprived of protection and minimum standards at work. This is not a precedent we want as the trade union movement.’
In a message sent today, ITF general secretary Steve Cotton asked unions to take urgent action on this matter before the agreed conclusions are finalised, and warned that the conclusions could be adopted this week so urgent support and influence was critical.
ITF vice-president for women Brigitta Paas, who is part of the ITF delegation at the CSW, said: “The ILO is crucial in protecting workers and providing minimum standards at work. We need it included in the agreed conclusions if we are to achieve what unions are pressing for at this conference: not just economic empowerment for women but economic justice, where women are able to exercise real power at work. I urge ITF unions to respond to Steve’s message and act urgently.”
The global unions had earlier submitted a joint statement to the CSW, in which they argued that unions are central to achieving women’s empowerment, and that organising empowers women to directly and collectively negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment.
Other ITF representatives in the global delegation are vice-president for women Ekaterina Yordanova, members of the women’s committee and women transport workers equality officer Jodi Evans.
The other global unions represented are the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Education International (EI), International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Public Services International (PSI).
Unions – take action NOW!
• Find out who is on your government delegation at the UNCSW and lobby them to support the inclusion and retention of the full and substantive role of the ILO in the Agreed Conclusions – specifically its implementation and monitoring role
• Let the ITF know about any dialogue (positive or negative) you have with your government
Read the global union statement on the ILO’s role in the agreed conclusions.
Find out more from the UNCSW61:
Read the global unions’ joint statement to UNCSW6 (available in English, French and Spanish).
Read the ITF and union Tweets @ITF_women and @unioncsw.
See union news from the conference.
Read, share and comment on Tweets from the conference using #CSW61.
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