The Future of Social Dialogue

Perspectives of International Non- Governmental Organisations

(INGOs)1

Published on the occasion of the 111th Session of the International Labour Organisation, 5.- 16 June 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Rationale

This paper intends to contribute to the transformation of the social dialogue in order to ensure that those who are marginalised, vulnerable and unrecognised in the informal economy can participate meaningfully and make full use of social dialogue as a public good. It is a first response to the Director General’s Global Coalition for Social Justice, which will be launched on the occasion of the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference. The paper intends also to commemorate 30 years of engagement of Kolping International at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2023 exemplifying the continuous support of INGOs, particularly Catholic Inspired Organisations, for the ILO’s strive for social justice through decent work.

Background

The world of labour faces grave challenges and is changing rapidly. On the one hand, digitalisation forces workers to permanently increase the skills and demands flexibility, supported by the need for green and sustainable economy. On the other hand, the still existing paradigm of growth fosters global market competition, which causes forms of modern slavery and exploitation by marking labour as cost factor. Both developments, however, jeopardize the fundamental labour rights and contradict the recognition that only social justice leads to peace in the world. Since Labour is not a commodity as confirmed by the ILO Centenary Declaration of 2019, decent work is a precondition for social justice. The Centenary Declaration also reconfirms the contribution of social dialogue to the overall cohesion of society.(2)

Furthermore, social dialogue is one of the four pillars of the ILO-Decent Work Concept(3). Besides the implementation of the fundamental rights at work, an effective and encompassing social protection scheme and favourable employment policies, social dialogue is another precondition for power equilibrium between employers and workers. Though always highlighted as the stronghold against crisis while praising countries with traditionally strong social partners as economically and socially resilient, social dialogue is frequently jeopardized and undermined in sectors, which are labour intensive (service sector, construction, care work) and countries, which are weak in participatory structures. Particularly in countries where the informal economy prevails, social dialogue lacks efficiency because of low percentage of organised workers whereby the majority of the work force cannot access negotiation tables. Since the 70’s of last century, the ILO looks into the informal economy as a labour reality for the majority of the global work force. With the Home Work Convention C177 (1996)(4) the social partners negotiated a labour sector in which mostly informally working women earn their living. At that time, only few civil society movements and labour oriented NGOs were invited to the negotiation parties and engaged in ratification campaigns. Lately, the adoption of the C189 Decent work for Domestic workers (2011)5 proofed that social partners need the expertise of stakeholders when it comes to implementing the precious and powerful slogan ‘Nothing about us without us’. INGOs with their local membership- based constituencies and affiliates are often closer to the informal workers than the unions. The reasons for this fact are multiple and rooted in the origin of the groups being self- aid groups, church and faith based organisations sui generis or backed by those. Hence, from the perspective of INGOs they are usually the only ones siding with the informal workers. They often provide access to their members for unions and promote the right to organise. Faith based INGOs expressed this understanding of their role of INGOs in social dialogue in a statement to the social partners and the new Director General of the ILO after the 110th session of the ILC in 2022.6
Nowadays, the motto ‘Nothing about us without us’ proves to be even more significant in the broader context of protecting civic space and participation. Apparently, over the last two decades the fight against terrorism, the financial, climate, health crises and imperialistic attacks provide many causes for many countries to minimise the access of civil society to meaningful participation in shaping the future of their societies. Workers being citizens and consumers as well as caretakers of resources and maintainers of their societies are part of civil society and also part of the economic world. Therefore, social dialogue is a guarantor for social peace and also a fundamental element of civil society participation.

The ILO and INGOs

Social dialogue has been under pressure for many years. Therefore, it was and is a long-term concern for INGOs. In all discussion around the agenda of the ILCs, INGOs highlight the need for social dialogue, provide inputs for rethinking social dialogue facing the challenges for decent work and social justice. INGOs have given continuous support to social partners, while safeguarding the social dialogue. While acknowledging the most efficient and significant structure of tripartism in the ILO, the INGOs at the ILO consider themselves as organisations rooted in the grassroot movements of their members and national constituencies. They take up the immediate concerns of their members regarding matters of ecological, economic and social dimension. Thereby, they support the criteria for INGOs registered at the ILO being member based and globally working around all dimension of labour and work. Over the years, many INGOs have built relations to unions on national and international levels, so that representatives are integrated in the national delegations of unions, being advisors and negotiators for specific issues as was experienced with the Homeworkers (C177), the Domestic Workers (C189) and on the concern of sexual harassment (C190)7.

In the past INGOs have also proven to be important supporters for the ratification processes, especially on Conventions concerning workers in the informal economy since those are often members of INGOs and International Labour Movements. When it comes to further advocacy work, INGOs rooted in the informal economy, contribute to discovery and awareness rising on labour law violations and provide access for unions to vulnerable groups while ensuring their protection against arbitrariness. Their international structure provides access to far-reaching platforms for dialogue. Critical aspects, like the often very specific approach of INGOs, which does not consider the broader context of the world of work, needs attention. By claiming their own right to speak and to participate in negotiation, the negotiation power itself, if not concretized with the social partners is jeopardized. Furthermore, INGOs themselves sometimes do not conform to the values of labour laws and policies due to financial concerns and unawareness of their responsibility as employers. The legal settings in the ILO member countries where INGOs work sometimes foster the lack of credibility or – on another level – hinder the participation of INGOs in social dialogue altogether. Nevertheless, there is benefit in a trusting and mindful cooperation with social partners. Work around the ILO brings INGOs and social partners together and gives opportunity to do advocacy work. This advocacy work originates from the grassroot level. Its mandate to give a voice to the poor and the vulnerable on international level enables participation in ecological, economic and social aspects of the future of work. Using the possibilities the ILO provides gives INGOs the chance of being heard by social partners and governments. Making use of this chance on international level encourages INGOs to improve their relations to social partners also on the national level. It also has the potential to encourage social partners to take their place in the sharing of social difficulties in order to define standards of decent work. Common and individual statements, reports, results of discussions and workshops are useful to inform, train and empower members and other partners. They are as well a capacity training for negotiation skills, campaigning and legal issues.
This not only gives motivation to engage on international negotiation tables to the leaders of INGOs but first and foremost to the broad member base struggling with the improvement of the world of work on the grassroot level.

Recommendations for an efficient and meaningful social dialogue

The Global Commission on the Future of Work, which concluded its work before the centenary anniversary of the ILO in 20198, emphasized social dialogue to be a public good. In the rapidly changing world of work with various forms of precarious work in the digital and service oriented sectors, this public good has to be safeguarded and the awareness of it revived, social dialogue remodeled.
A unique and outstanding contribution to the 100 years anniversary of the ILO and the future of social dialogue was the ‘Shaping the Future of Work’ Document of Churches and Catholic INGOs in the European Union, published on 27th November 2018.9

The following recommendations do not only reflect the deliberations of this initiative but also the results of many years of debate around this topic.

RECOMMENDATIONS

What the ILO should do:

On national level

• Introduce a contact point on national level at ILO office
• Initiate round tables before ILC on the upcoming agenda
• Promote dialogue between different actors in all ILO member countries

At the International Labour Conference and ILO initiatives

• Increase speaking time for INGO I n the committees
• Ensure presence and effective participation of INGOs, esp. in the Global Coalition for Social Justice
• Limit the overall size of delegations in presence and facilitate virtual participation

What Social partners could do

• Initiate national dialogues on the agenda of upcoming ILC
• Install contact points for easy access and exchange on reports
• Consider opening the delegations to NGO participation as advisors on a regular base

What INGOs could do

• Mobilise their national members to have regular relations with the Union Federation
  and Employers’ Federation
• Mobilise their members to join their international delegations to ILC
• Engage in regular exchange with the Labour relevant departments of governments
• Build awareness on work of the ILO as part of global governance
• Support the national affiliates and members to build contacts and networks with the
  social partners and with each other.

Human Rights Council 52 Annual Panel Discussion

The Secretary-General of IMCS-MIEC Pax Romana, Victor Ayertey participated in the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming as a sign of support for the representative, Christine Salloum, of the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations (ICMYO). She represents ICMYO within the High-level Steering Committee of the United Nations Youth Strategy 2030. The theme panel was “A reflection on five years of the United Nations Youth Strategy (Youth 2030): mapping a blueprint for the next steps”. And during the panel session, the ICMYO representative shared some highlights about the challenges and the best ways to ensure accountability for meaningful participation, and partnership, from the youth perspective when it comes to implementing the UN Youth Strategy. 

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Christine stated that “For young people, to be accountable and take responsibility towards society means that one must exercise the right to be part of the decision-making process, to work in partnership with decision-makers and boards and be fully engaged. And acknowledging the importance of youth needs assessment from our knowledge, experiences, and perspective of youth helps in addressing the issues of the highest priority. Most importantly, the recognition of the value of investing in and empowering youth is unavoidable. Youth accountability is part of community engagement and the overall accountability that we need to achieve the Youth 2030 strategy. It is a way of working that recognizes and values community members as equal partners and the statement of working with and for youth. It makes sure their opinions are heard and used to design and guide the results and goals. Equal and equitable access to funding by youth organizations to build youth capacities and promote youth rights to ensure meaningful participation across all UN systems. More youth should have the opportunity to participate in the HRC processes and mechanisms.

In addition, some speakers also shared their concerns to reiterate that today’s young people are facing multiple challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a need to strengthen the partnership with young persons to achieve positive transformative change. Notwithstanding these challenges, young people were important agents of change, with enormous capacity to change the world for the better, and yet, globally, they faced enormous challenges to achieving their human rights. The United Nations had an obligation to provide a safe future, and in order to make progress in these areas, the United Nations Youth Strategy was a positive step to provide means to allow young people to participate in decision-making for their future”.

In sum, Christine advocated that there should be the presence of young people in future sessions of the Council. And IMCS-MIEC Pax Romana continues to advocate for young people’s participation, collaboration and involvement in the decision-making process, implementation and evaluation of projects spearheaded by United Nation Agencies. 

Note: IMCS-MIEC Pax Romana is a member of the network of youth-led organizations under the umbrella of the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations (ICMYO).

On the Environment Agenda

The broader push is to highlight interlinkages between human rights and environment issues, particularly as seen in “pure consensus” decision to include the Right to Healthy Environment at climate change #COP27 and biodiversity #COP15. Information from UNEP indicated that they have been working more on human rights issues, underscoring their engagement at #HRC52, including the launch of handbook on engagement with human rights mechanisms and Stocktaking of recommendations of treaty bodies, Universal Periodic Reviews (UPR) and Human Rights Council on environmental issues.

It includes reviewing the reports of actions taken by member countries and many other organizations such as the NGOs, Inter-governmental and International Organizations, and assessing the future possibilities based on the resolutions for the environment from the human rights perspective.

Global Study Session & World Assembly

According to the statutes of IMCS/MIEC Pax Romana, its World Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the Movement, is scheduled to take place this year.

• Theme: “Global Climate Emergency – Capacity building of tertiary students to be advocates for environmental, social, cultural, political and economic justice”
• Venue: International Youth Training Centre (IYTC), Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Date: 3rd to 9th of July 2023

Considering the threat of climate change to all life and mother earth, IMCS Pax Romana through the theme as mentioned above shall conduct global study session in response to the emergency. Within the precincts of the Global Study Session, IMCS Pax Romana is expecting to achieve the following objectives through its collaborations;

• Awareness building on climate change and global climate emergency
• Equipping participants with necessary analytical tools for understanding issues
• Skill building to respond to climate change-related issues
• Creating a global plan of action of 4 years
• Getting the members of IMCS network and partner networks engaging in local, national and international climate change advocacy and actions.

The study session shall be followed by the statutory session which provides the necessary guidelines to Global Catholic Tertiary students to make the organizational decisions. This session is considered an Assembly and the following are some of the objectives to be achieved through the statutory session.

• Election of International President, Secretary General and Ecclesiastical Assistant.
• Evaluating IMCS Pax Romana as a Movement and making necessary decisions for addressing the issues and the needs of the Movement at National, Regional and International levels for the coming 4-years.
• Reviewing IMCS General Statutes and making necessary amendments.
• Designing and approving IMCS Pax Romana Plan of Action 2024 – 2027

As a Movement, we understand that “Climate change is an existential threat to all life and the earth”, and we cannot stress this enough. Hence, to reinforce our climate actions, and set in motion strategies we’re gathering students and partners in Chiang Mai, Thailand in July.

For further information about sponsorship, participation or collaboration, kindly contact IMCS-MIEC Pax Romana via office.imcsmiec@gmail.com or office@imcs-miec.org 

Representation at the 13th Pan African Assembly

The International President and Asia Pacific coordinator contributed to the session as speakers of a panel discussion under the theme of “Youth Leadership in Africa: Youth and SDGS” and they brought the perspectives from their respective offices to the discussion. International chaplain shared his expertise through a session under the topic of “Environment, Common Home and Mother Earth: Leveraging on social platforms for a good cause and impact”. Following the statutes of IMCS Pan Africa, an election was held to elect new coordinators for the region. 

Pardington Nhundu from NMCS Zimbabwe was elected as the anglophone coordinator and Dr Stanislas Kpatcha N’djao was elected as the francophone coordinator for the mandate of 2023 – 2026.

NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee International Conference of NGOs 2022

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As part of the “Multistakeholder approaches to achieve the SDGs: Opportunities and challenges for NGOs”, Pax Romana represented students at the International Conference of NGOs at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Our interest is more than just the conversation and in the systems that facilitate and makes available the resources to support young people who take action. The 2022 International Conference of NGOs was held at the UNESCO Headquarters and online from 14-16 December 2022. Our discussion was guided by the theme “Breaking barriers – What role for civil society organizations towards a sustainable future?”. With all the NGOs presents and those who joined online, we reviewed and approved the activity and financial report of the previous team, brainstormed the work programme for the next two years and discussed the outcome of the survey on the implementation of the Directives concerning UNESCO’s partnership with NGOs. Member states cannot achieve the SDGs alone, hence it is crucial to be stronger together by working with UNESCO National Commissions. It is also because of the evolving role and future of civil society organizations (CSOs) and partnerships in the global movement for the transformation of education in a fast-changing and challenging world”. We co-create and the impacts are beyond the point where the Global North give lessons to the Global South about the best ways to address the challenges we face as a world.

We continue to seek room to collaborate with other like-minded NGOs across the world to make society better through education “Since wars begin in the minds of women and men, it is in the minds of women and men that the defenses of peace must be constructed”

IMCS-MIEC Pax Romana joins JEC Spain’s 75th Anniversary

JEC Spain celebrated its 75th anniversary and the IMCS Pax Romana was invited to join them and share the joy. The International President, Ravi Tissera was present in Madrid on 19th and 20th of November 2022. He contributed to the session as a panelist together with European coordinator Anna Holtkamp and former Spanish regional and international representatives. He shared from the international perspective of the students Movement and how the Spanish students Movement can benefit by collaborating with the catholic students’ global mission.

Pax Romana dialogues at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Victor Ayertey, Secretary-General of Pax Romana moderated and shared some highlights the contributions of young people, especially from the global south, towards climate action from diverse faith traditions. Pax Romana is addressing the climate change crisis through the Continued Learning ann Action Program (CLAP), Laudato Si’ Commission actions, National Movements country-specific action projects. A message from a youth during the Interfaith dialogue reads “If your house is burning, you don’t plan how to put out the fire. You just put out the fire. We are in an urgent situation that requires action. We know that climate change is real. The science is there, the reality is there for us to see with our own eyes, the lived experience is there. We need action”

As part of the Catholic Actors present at #COP27 and having met with the Holy See delegation, we presented the following key calls and recommendations in our appeal to for more immediate, inclusive, and impactful climate actions at COP27 and beyond to take care of our Common Home (Laudato Si’):

Message to IYCS 75th Anniversary

International Preparatory Meeting for World Youth Day Lisboa2023 held in Fatima

Visit here for more information https://www.lisboa2023.org/en