2.   SDGs Relevance to the World of Work  “Environment and Climate Change with focus on Just Transition”
Hilma Mote, Executive Director
Africa Labour Research and Education Institute (ALREI) of ITUC-Africa
Regional Academy on SDGs, Praia, Cape Verde

3. Content
Introduction
The Sustainable Development Goals: The Trade Union Priorities
The Just Transition: What it means for Africa (Decent work, green jobs and sustainable development)
How can we ensure that SDGs work for Trade Unions?
Key steps for effective engagement: A gap analysis

4. 169 Targets 15 Years 17 Goals 230 Indicators a. Introduction: The SDGs
193 countries committed to 17 goals to achieve 3 main things in 15 years (by 2030)
End Extreme Poverty
Fight inequality and Injustice
Address Climate Change

5. b. Are the SDGs relevant to the work of Trade Unions?
They cover issues relevant to the current and future work of trade unions
They promote decent work
They address inequalities
They address climate change
They recognise the need for gender equality
They recognise the importance of quality education & health provision and stronger institutions

6. C. What are the Trade Union Priorities?
We have identified 6 Entry Points

7. Goal 1: End Poverty in all its forms everywhere
By protecting people’s rights we can ensure that they are lifted out of poverty.
A job alone is not enough to secure a dignified livelihood. Therefore in addition to a job, Social Protection Floors should be put in place to ensure that people including the working poor do not fall deeper into poverty.
Addressing the huge decent employment deficit (informality has the potential of lifting millions out of extreme poverty).

8. Goal 5: Gender Equality & the Empowerment of Women and Girls
Unequal access to economic opportunities and specifically the labour market are a major component of gender inequality.
To bridge this gap, there is a need for policies and laws that protect both formal and informal economy workers, ensure non-discrimination at the workplace, inaction livable minimum wages, respect for core labour standards and ensure access to universal social protection.

9. Goal 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
Trade unions are known to fight for equitable economic resource distribution. Workers in particular should share in the wealth they help to create.
The Decent Work Pillars:
Employment Creation
Workers Rights
Social Dialogue
Social Protection

10. Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
High levels of inequalities are costly-economically, Socially and Politically
No development can be sustained alongside high levels of inequalities
We thus promote the adoption of a fiscal, wage and social protection policies that reduces inequalities and promote decent work in global supply chains.

11. Goal 13: Climate Action
The change in climate and its social and economic consequences has necessitated the the urgent need for a shift to low carbon societies.
This requires massive change in how economies and industries are organised and operate
Thus, national Just Transition Plans are needed to appropriately reorient workers in high-emission industries and provide appropriate adaptation measures to workers impacted by climate change

12. Goal 16: Just and Inclusive Societies
Inclusive and just societies cannot be realized in the absence of functional social dialogue institutions
Social dialogue promotes consensus among social partners on socio-economic policies
Through the promotion of Freedom of Association & Collective Bargaining, Fighting against injustices in all forms trade unions fight for inclusive and just societies

13. Decent work, green jobs and sustainable development
SAICM Implementation in SEARO - health sector engagement
25 June, 2018
Guiding principles
Social dialogue. It hast to be a participating process.
Fundamental ILO rights respected. It has to take into consideration gender perspective.
Policies has to be coherent: labour, economy, environment, industry, social affaires, education.
Policies have to be adapted to national circumstances.
International Cooperation
Respect to a Just Transition Framework for all
Described by SAICM “Core texts” which include Dubai Declaration, the Overarching Policy Strategy and the Global Plan of Action 13 13

14. Decent work, green jobs and sustainable development
SAICM Implementation in SEARO - health sector engagement
25 June, 2018
Policies towards a just transition for all
Macroeconomic policies towards full employment and greening sectors and economies. Investments. Employment creation in all supply chain in 8 key sectors.
Industrial and sectoral policies based in social dialogue and collective bargaining. Push for formalization.
Fiscal policies, public procurement. Regulatory framework. SMES special attention.
Skill and occupational training (142 convention)
Described by SAICM “Core texts” which include Dubai Declaration, the Overarching Policy Strategy and the Global Plan of Action 14 14

15. Decent work, green jobs and sustainable development
SAICM Implementation in SEARO - health sector engagement
25 June, 2018
Policies towards a just transition for all
Occupational health and safety (155, health services 161, chemicals 170, industrial accidents 174 )
Public protection policies. Social, integral and sustainable systems. (Recommendation 202, SS 102
Active labour market policies: information, data gathering, employment services.
Policies based on rights: freedom of association, collective bargaining, no discrimination, minimum wage.
Described by SAICM “Core texts” which include Dubai Declaration, the Overarching Policy Strategy and the Global Plan of Action 15 15

16. d. Decent work, green jobs and sustainable development
SAICM Implementation in SEARO - health sector engagement
25 June, 2018
Government should:
Establish the framework to create green jobs and enterprise. Call social dialogue.
Guarantee coherence
Design programs to monitor policies
Social actors should
Promote awareness raising and participation of its members.
Have an active role in policy design
Promote culture of dialogue
Described by SAICM “Core texts” which include Dubai Declaration, the Overarching Policy Strategy and the Global Plan of Action 16 16

17. Decent work, green jobs and sustainable development
SAICM Implementation in SEARO - health sector engagement
25 June, 2018
Decent work, green jobs and sustainable development
EXAMPLE – ENERGY GHANA
Ghanaian greenhouse gases emissions. Only 0.03% of total.
Described by SAICM “Core texts” which include Dubai Declaration, the Overarching Policy Strategy and the Global Plan of Action 17 17

18. SAICM Implementation in SEARO - health sector engagement
25 June, 2018
Energy Sector-Ghana
Ghana has oil / 30% of people no access to energy / dumsor
Unions calculated workers have lost their jobs due to dumsor. The current power deficit is estimated at between 150 to 300MW. Hydro is reducing due to climate change and competition with neighbours.
Chinese offer investment for a coal plant
Described by SAICM “Core texts” which include Dubai Declaration, the Overarching Policy Strategy and the Global Plan of Action 18 18

19. SAICM Implementation in SEARO - health sector engagement
25 June, 2018
Energy Sector-Ghana
Acces to energy / overcoming dumsor: solar electrification benefits.
Investments in renewables: foreign aid, resources from oil revenues, long term investments against short term nor economic wise investments.
Efficiency of the energy system: Role of workers.
Rural electrification: training of workers.
Described by SAICM “Core texts” which include Dubai Declaration, the Overarching Policy Strategy and the Global Plan of Action 19 19

20. e. How can we ensure that SDGs work for Trade Unions?
At the National Level
Ensure that your government is consulting you before, during and after implementation
Raise awareness amongst the rank and file of trade unions about the SDGs and trade union priorities
Raise workers priorities in social dialogue with employers & Government
Consult with the ILO and other International Agencies
Participate in multi-stakeholder processes related to the implementation of SDGs
Undertake research-highlight the link between trade union work and development priorities

21. At the regional level
Ask national governments to bring trade union priorities to regional bodies dealing with 2030 agenda (ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC etc,) and other multilateral institutions such as (UNECA)
Participate in UN regional mechanism for 2030 agenda monitoring review and follow up
Take part in regional civil society initiatives for 2030 agenda implementation

22. “Send policies not just people”!
At the Global Level
Ask national governments to bring trade union priorities to the annual UN-high-level Political Forums which review and monitors the 2030 agenda implementation
Provide Trade Union Monitoring reports on the 2030 Agenda
“Send policies not just people”!

23. f. Key steps for effective engagement: A gap analysis
Step 1: Who is responsible for what? Identify who is responsible for implementation (government agency, department, person) Step 2: What is the current implementation level? Assess the current implementation levels (what steps have been taken already?) Step 3: What are our priorities? Identify priority areas for action and make your inputs/recommendations (short, medium, long-term)

24. Continues…
Step 4: What human and financial resources do we need and how do we get them? Existing task force and or Inter-Ministerial Committees on SDGs Step 5: Share your findings with the government and all other relevant stakeholders. “Its important to develop an organizational action plan through an inclusive/participatory process”