ILO and Tripartism: Workers’ Perspectives Workshop for junior Diplomats Programme for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) ITC-ILO

Better Working Conditions Technical Co-operation ILO Constitution SOCIAL JUSTICE Better Working Conditions PREAMBLE “Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice” Standard Setting Technical Co-operation Tripartite System Meetings - Information - Research - Expertise

To seek solutions for issues of common concerns. Tripartism: Concept “Tripartism” is : The active interactions among the government, workers and employers as equal and independent social partners. Representative, Equal and Independent Partners: Why? - Representative: a recognised voice of those who have entrusted them; - Equal: to discuss solutions on equal terms. Otherwise, the solutions will not benefit all and not be respected by all; and - Independent: the whole exercise would be futile if one side manipulates two passive participants. What are “Common Concerns”? - Tripartism enables the parties concerned to have a say in decisions that concern them - an imperative of democracy - Tripartism is a strategy for effectiveness in pursuing a balance between economic and social concerns, between immediate and long term interests, and between individual needs and collective benefits. - Tripartism is a guarantee of accountability by allowing each partner to limit and control the other two, securing an equitable distribution of costs and benefits To seek solutions for issues of common concerns.

Tripartism: Strength of ILO ILO is the only UN agency which has the “tripartite system” imbedded in its root. The “Tripartite System” enables: the representatives of workers and employers to participate on an equal footing with those of governments in all discussions and the process of decision-makings. Tripartism : Benefits for Workers - Worker members (workers’ representative) in the Governing Body take part in determining the agenda of the International Labour Conference; - Workers’ delegates to the Conference take part in the framing and adoption of international labour standards; - Workers’ organizations have an important role to play both at the national and at the international level in monitoring the effective application of ratified Conventions; and - Special complaints procedures are available to the workers where trade union rights are being violated or the terms of a ratified Convention are not being observed.

Tripartism: Structure of ILO Governments ILO Employers Workers

Tripartism: How it works? Active Interaction in order to seek joint solutions Partners must be willing to reach, and respect, agreements Partners must be committed, competent and active Tripartism : for Success - The success of tripartism depends much on the extent to which workers and their organizations (as well as employers and their organizations) actively participate in the ILO’s standard setting and other works, and actively make use of the rights given to them, with a view to promoting a more effective and widespread application of ILO standards.

Tripartism: Standard Setting International Labour Standards (ILS) Conventions Recommendations Adoption by the Conference Application at national level (through legislation and practice)

ILS : Classification Basic human rights Conditions of work Employment Social security Social policy Women Labor administration Industrial relations Children and young persons Protection of special groups

ILS : Core Labour Standards Standards concerning fundamental human/social rights Freedom of Association Freedom from Discrimination Freedom of Association, 1948 Right to Collective Bargaining, 1949 C. 87 C. 98 Equal Remuneration, 1951 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958 C. 100 C. 111 Freedom from Forced Labour Minimum Age for Employment Forced Labour, 1930 Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957 C. 29 C. 105 Minimum Age, 1973 Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 C. 138 C. 182

Tripartism: Role of ACTRAV For the spirits and purposes of the Tripartism, trade unions must be “competent and responsible”, which gives real effect to the system and methodology. ACTRAV supports the establishment and strengthening of “free, independent, democratic and representative trade unions” in all countries in the world. Why do we have to have well-established trade unions? - Trade unions are “the building blocks of democracy”; - Trade unions are “training schools for democracy”; and - Trade unions are “the crucial partners in tripartism”. What do we have to do? - “Capacity Building” : Strengthening trade unions’ ability to train members and to build strong organizations; - “Policy Development” : Helping the unions to deal with new issues

ILO Tripartism: Summary Active Partnership ACTEMP ACTRAV Active Partnership Policy - Aims to strengthen the links between the ILO and its constituents in the design, implementation and follow-up of its action programme. - Means “proximity”, or how close office can be, to government, employers’ and workers’ representatives on a day-to-day basis (For?) - To improve the quality of its services to Constituencies by: Building up links of mutual confidence and allows better understanding of the social problems of the countries concerned; and Improving knowledge-base and understanding of the priorities of each country, which allows the ILO to meet member States’ needs more effectively. Achievement of “Social Justice” through establishment and maintenance of “Active Partnership” among the Governments, Workers’ and Employers’ Organizations.

Final Remarks “the failure of any nation to adopt humane conditions of labour is an obstacle in the way of other nations which desire to improve the conditions in their own countries” (Preamble of ILO Constitution)

Thank you for your attention and good luck to you all! Programme for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV)