The ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities organized a Regional Seminar on Strengthening Governance in Export Processing Zones/ Global Supply Chain through promoting Global Framework Agreements and other instruments, from 29-31 May 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Seminar is a follow up to the Resolution and Conclusions of the 105th Session of the ILC on Decent Work in Global Supply Chain, as well as to the Bali Declaration of the APRM. The Seminar will provide input for the ILO Governing Body Decision in November 2017 to follow up the Resolution concerning the ILO Program of Action 2017-2021 on Decent Work in Global Supply Chains, especially to identify possible actions to promote decent work and protection of fundamental principles and rights at work for workers in export processing zones (EPZs) through organizing and collective Bargaining. According to the ILO, the number of people employed in global supply chain (GSC) related jobs increased over the past decade from 296 million in 1995 to 453 million in 2013 in 40 advanced and emerging economies.
Resource Persons from ITUC AP (Patuan) and Global Unions (IndustriAll/Annie and UNI Apro/Kun) shared good practices of Global Framework Agreements (GFAs) with International Brands. Participants from Indonesia (KSBSI/Maria & GARTEKS/Elli Rosita), Malaysia, Cambodia (CCAWDU/ Vong Vuthy), Philippines (FFW), Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand (NCPE/Thawatchai), Bangladesh (NGWF/ Amin), India, SriLanka and Fiji shared good practices of trade unions concerning social dialogue, Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining in Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Note that WSM (Bismo) is the only international NGO invited to this seminar. In the seminar, Trade Unions complaint that labor law and regulations are not properly enforced in the GSCs, in many cases expansion of GSC led to decent work deficits and has negative implications for employment, working conditions and labor rights, including the rights of workers to Freedom of Association, the right to organize and Collective Bargaining. That situation is even worse in the Export Processing Zones where many of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by Multinational Enterprises and its Supply Chains operated.
The seminar was aimed at promoting decent work and fundamental labor rights for workers in export processing zones (EPZs)/ global supply chain (GFAs) through implementation of Global Framework Agreements. It also intends to share good trade union experiences concerning social dialogue, Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining in EPZs. Group discussion tried to define and develop union strategies to make use of various international instruments, such as GFAs, OECD guidelines, UN Guiding Principles and other ILO international instruments, including the 105th Session of the ILC 2016 on Decent Work in Global Supply Chain, APRM Bali Declaration and the coming ILO Governing Body decision concerning Program of Action 2017-2021.
One of the most important instruments is the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) adopted 40 years ago (November 1977), and amended in year 2000, 2006 and March 2017. The revision of the MNE Declaration was a respond to the new economic realities including increased international investment and trade, and the growth of the global supply chains. It also takes into account the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Millennium Development Goals) where Goal number 8 highlighted the importance of Decent Work for all.
The revision has enriched the MNE Declaration by adding principles addressing specific decent work issues related to social security, forced labor, transition from the informal to the formal economy, wages, access to remedy and compensation of victims. It also provides guidance on “due diligence” processes – consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (explained by Ms Tandiwe Gross ACTRAV).
The MNE Declaration is the only tripartite agreed global instrument with recommendations addressed to MNEs, whether they are of public, mixed or private ownership. The MNE Declaration encourages MNEs – and all other enterprises in the supply chain – to obey national laws and respect international standards. It clarifies the roles and encourages dialogue between home and host governments; enterprises, governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations, and management and workers at the enterprise level. It addresses 5 key areas; general policies, employment, training, conditions of work and life, and industrial relations.
To encourage commitment to the principles of the MNE Declaration, the ILO adopted a range of operational tools, including regional follow-up mechanism, tripartite appointed national focal-points, company-union dialogue, capacity building, information gathering mechanism and country level assistance for governments, employers and workers. The ILO created the Multinational Enterprises and Enterprise Engagement Unit (ENT/ MULTI) for promotional activities and its follow up.
In 2018, the ILO will organize a tripartite meeting of experts on cross-border social dialogue to address decent work in global supply chain issues, identify possible actions to promote decent work and protection of fundamental principles and rights at work for workers in EPZs, including human rights “due diligence”. Again in 2019, the ILO will organize a meeting following a midterm report concerning Decent Work in Global supply chains.
Reported by Bismo, WSM – Thematic and Political Coordinator for Asia
Resource Persons from ITUC AP (Patuan) and Global Unions (IndustriAll/Annie and UNI Apro/Kun) shared good practices of Global Framework Agreements (GFAs) with International Brands. Participants from Indonesia (KSBSI/Maria & GARTEKS/Elli Rosita), Malaysia, Cambodia (CCAWDU/ Vong Vuthy), Philippines (FFW), Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand (NCPE/Thawatchai), Bangladesh (NGWF/ Amin), India, SriLanka and Fiji shared good practices of trade unions concerning social dialogue, Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining in Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Note that WSM (Bismo) is the only international NGO invited to this seminar. In the seminar, Trade Unions complaint that labor law and regulations are not properly enforced in the GSCs, in many cases expansion of GSC led to decent work deficits and has negative implications for employment, working conditions and labor rights, including the rights of workers to Freedom of Association, the right to organize and Collective Bargaining. That situation is even worse in the Export Processing Zones where many of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by Multinational Enterprises and its Supply Chains operated.
The seminar was aimed at promoting decent work and fundamental labor rights for workers in export processing zones (EPZs)/ global supply chain (GFAs) through implementation of Global Framework Agreements. It also intends to share good trade union experiences concerning social dialogue, Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining in EPZs. Group discussion tried to define and develop union strategies to make use of various international instruments, such as GFAs, OECD guidelines, UN Guiding Principles and other ILO international instruments, including the 105th Session of the ILC 2016 on Decent Work in Global Supply Chain, APRM Bali Declaration and the coming ILO Governing Body decision concerning Program of Action 2017-2021.
One of the most important instruments is the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) adopted 40 years ago (November 1977), and amended in year 2000, 2006 and March 2017. The revision of the MNE Declaration was a respond to the new economic realities including increased international investment and trade, and the growth of the global supply chains. It also takes into account the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Millennium Development Goals) where Goal number 8 highlighted the importance of Decent Work for all.
The revision has enriched the MNE Declaration by adding principles addressing specific decent work issues related to social security, forced labor, transition from the informal to the formal economy, wages, access to remedy and compensation of victims. It also provides guidance on “due diligence” processes – consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (explained by Ms Tandiwe Gross ACTRAV).
The MNE Declaration is the only tripartite agreed global instrument with recommendations addressed to MNEs, whether they are of public, mixed or private ownership. The MNE Declaration encourages MNEs – and all other enterprises in the supply chain – to obey national laws and respect international standards. It clarifies the roles and encourages dialogue between home and host governments; enterprises, governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations, and management and workers at the enterprise level. It addresses 5 key areas; general policies, employment, training, conditions of work and life, and industrial relations.
To encourage commitment to the principles of the MNE Declaration, the ILO adopted a range of operational tools, including regional follow-up mechanism, tripartite appointed national focal-points, company-union dialogue, capacity building, information gathering mechanism and country level assistance for governments, employers and workers. The ILO created the Multinational Enterprises and Enterprise Engagement Unit (ENT/ MULTI) for promotional activities and its follow up.
In 2018, the ILO will organize a tripartite meeting of experts on cross-border social dialogue to address decent work in global supply chain issues, identify possible actions to promote decent work and protection of fundamental principles and rights at work for workers in EPZs, including human rights “due diligence”. Again in 2019, the ILO will organize a meeting following a midterm report concerning Decent Work in Global supply chains.
Reported by Bismo, WSM – Thematic and Political Coordinator for Asia
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