Campaigning Decent Work

The Belgian Experience

Overview

• Towards a Decent Work Campaign

• 2008-2010: A Decent Work Campaign

• Some good results

• Follow up

• Lessons learnt

1. Towards a DW Campaign

• Core business TU’s and some NGO’s

• International campaign DWDL

• Two years of preparation

• Unique synergy between TU’s and broader North-South movement

1. Towards a DW Campaign

2. 2008-2010: a DW campaign

2. A DW Campaign

3. Some good results

3. Some good results

• 167.269 signatures• DW in code of conducts and CBA’s• Large media/press coverage• Political support and engagements:

– DW on the agenda!– Parlementary Resolution on DW– DW as condition for trade and investment

agreements (e.g. BIT Colombia)?– …

4. Follow up

• Policy Working Group on DW continues

• Member-driven: focus on 2 topics:– Labour rights in FTA’s and BIT’s– Labour rights in supply chains

• Lobby activities

• DE: visibility and public action on WDDW– Domestic work (media and policy, 2011)– Youth Employment (facebook action, 2012)

5. Lessons learnt

• Innovative theme towards public, policy makers,…– N-S interconnectedness– New public: workers: identification!!

• Synergy between TU’s and NGO’s• DW as development strategy: TU core

business recognized by NGO’s• Need concrete demands and examples for

DE

5. Lessons learnt

• Heavy consultation process

• TU’s and Development education?– a win-win?– own interest– crisis as opportunity?– bring the same message– good example: domestic work convention