Course Orientation

Aims of Orientation 1/To understand the background, objectives, contents and expected outputs of this training programme; 2/To take on board participants suggestions and/or specific needs.

Background Rapidly changing World of Work – due to economic, political & technological factors Impacting labour markets, employment relationships as also social protection & social security systems [changing nature of employment in the economy & its impact on workers rights, widely different employment relationships, casual/contractual daily wage work, informal employment, home based work, declining coverage of workers under social security,…] Situation has worsened due to the current global economic crisis Need for reforms in labour laws & social security systems How have unions been responding to these?

Thru exchange of experiences & mutual collaborative learning, the participants will review developments in employment relations and analyze effectiveness and shortcomings of existing labour relations systems, laws and practices in their countries, keeping in view the ILO standards and develop trade union strategies for influencing reforms in labour relations systems, organizing strategies and extend social protection to the workers.

Objectives of the Course As part of Actrav’s capacity building initiatives for promotion of Decent Work for All workers, this training is aimed at – Promoting wider knowledge of current issues facing the labour movement (global economic crisis, climate change, Decent Work, FoA) Developing understanding of the key issues in the area of employment relations and workers rights and how ILO standards can help address unequal bargaining position between parties to an employment relationship and promote Decent Work for all workers Developing trade union strategies for Decent Work, aimed at promoting FoA, organizing and collective bargaining rights.

Key issues to be discussed Responding to Global Economic Crisis, Employment & Decent Work : Challenges for the labour movement Current trends in the employment & industrial relations in Asia-Pacific - Country Situation Review Evolution of work and labour rights Employment Relationships, labour law & ILO Reco No. 198 Regulating employment relationships: role of International Labour Standards (ILS) Union Responses to precarious employment Regulating Employment Relations in European countries Employment Relationships in Informal economy: issues and challenges

Key issues to be discussed Migrant workers, Decent Work & trade unions Employment Relationships in Italy: Role of law v/s collective bargaining Precarious work: Union strategies & initiatives Protecting workers rights in TNCs & Supply chains IFAs & role of national level unions Changing employment relations & reforms of social security systems Approaches to management of conflict & negotiations Discrimination at work: Work, Emp’t Relations & Gender Organizing & social protection of Workers in informal employment relationships Promoting FoA & Decent Work Agenda in A-P:

Main Outputs Expected Preparation of follow up work plans to strengthen national trade unions work on reforms of labour law, organizing and social protection of workers - these plans will be used for evaluation purposes for any future follow-up seminar. Strengthening of Asia-pacific Regional Educational Network on Workers Rights – to share experiences, news and promote campaigns on workers rights, social security and sharing of information on developments on trade union rights front with the labour movement across the globe …more on all this later

Study Visit to Berlin (FES) 3rd Week (28-31 March 2010) Study Visit to Berlin (FES) Focus of the study visit: German system of IRs and collective bargaining Employment regulation: role of law V/s role of collective bargaining General overview of organizing, employment and other labour relations issues facing trade union movement. Factory visit and interaction with local unions

Evaluation Feedback is welcome on daily-basis Daily Summary – by participants Weekly & End of the course evaluation Post-course evaluation to be conducted one year after the completion of the course Feedback is welcome on daily-basis

Role of Participants Be active & participative in all activities through out the course – your experience is also a source of education for all, including us! Be PUNCTUAL! – please…..  Form a 2 member Daily Report Team – to take notes of, summarize major points & key issues of each training session – the team will change daily & will present the summary of previous day’s training sessions every day at 8.30 a.m. Start thinking of your Project Work Plan Ideas

Any Questions?