1. Workshop Orientation Trade Union Training on
ACTRAV/ITC-ILO Course (A902576)
Trade Union Training on
Decent Work Response to the Global Economic Crisis: Global Jobs Pact
Nov 2010, Turin & Geneva
Workshop Orientation
ACTRAV-Turin

2. Background
The Global economic crisis worsened the employment crisis that has been facing the world of unemployed people in many countries for quite some years now.
As the impact of the crisis on labour markets deepened in 2009, most governments woke up to the political challenge of managing spiraling job losses in the economy – and it is in this context, that all member States of ILO unanimously adopted Global Jobs Pact in June 2009 – as a policy framework for responding to crisis.
In fact, it is not just a question of creating more jobs – the crisis may have been set off through financial markets greed, but the foundations for this crisis are laid in neo-liberal economic orthodoxies, including the labour markets policies that promote precarious employment – therefore - what is also needed are Decent Jobs – Jobs with living wages, social protection and respect for collective rights.
Changing nature & terms of employment offered in today's labour market pose major challenges for labour movement – undermines workers incomes, social protection, organizing, collective bargaining, aims of the labour law & years of TUs struggles for workers rights

3. Global Jobs Pact
Aimed at promoting tripartite response for economic recovery with jobs creation & provision of social protection to working people at its core;
It’s a framework for policies, based on DWA & 2008 Social Justice Declaration - Recognises the need to reform global economic & financial systems and measures for equitable income distribution for sustainable recovery;
Recommends, among other things, measures to promote real wage increases and social protection for all thru - social dialogue, collective bargaining & statutory or negotiated minimum wages (in recognition of stagnating wages relative to productivity, growing wage inequality & absence of social protection as among the major structural causes).
In regard to employment generation, among the areas for action at national level are: Employment incentive public investment; Special employment programmes, training, skills, support for small & medium enterprises

4. Thru exchange of experiences & mutual collaborative learning this course will seek to develop understanding on structural causes of the crisis, national experiences of responses to crisis and the alternatives in the framework of the policy recommendations in the Global Jobs Pact
We hope our discussions will also help in developing strategies for influencing policies & initiatives to promote decent work led job-rich recovery programme as part of crisis response.

5. Objectives of the Workshop
Develop understanding on the causes of the global economic crisis and the macroeconomic alternatives in the framework of the policy recommendations in the Global Jobs Pact;
Strengthening the education, training, advocacy and implementation capacity of trade unions in regard to the Global Jobs Pact at national level;
Develop a plan of action for putting trade union priorities and ensuring role of unions in the development of national jobs pact.

6. Key issues to be discussed
The ILO response to globalization and the global crisis: the Social justice Declaration & GJP
From crisis response to recovery and sustainable growth: Priorities of Workers’ Group
Priorities of the unions at national level (in the context of national scans)
Public policies for the promotion and maintenance of employment,
Social dialogue and tripartism: Modalities for GJP implementation at national level

7. Key issues to be discussed
International labour standards in the context of the economic crisis, including also Labour law and labour relations in periods of crisis
Macroeconomic frameworks to promote decent employment
Social security systems, fiscal systems and social protection floor initiative
Minimum wages and wage protection in crisis context
Role of Trade and industrial policy
Collective bargaining, MNEs and sustainable enterprises
Development of National action plans

8. Main Outputs Expected
Strategies for influencing policies & initiatives to promote decent work led job-rich recovery programme as part of crisis response
Preparation of follow up work plans to strengthen national trade unions work in the context of National Jobs Pact

9. Evaluation Feedback is welcome on daily-basis
End of the workshop evaluation
Feedback is welcome on daily-basis

10. 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…..  every one is expected to come for the sessions on time, preferably 5 minutes before time.
Start thinking of follow up work plan ideas

11. Any Questions?