On Tuesday, November 22, in Melbourne, delegates of the V Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation summed up its results and adopted a Declaration on a New social contract.
“The world is on the verge of a historic economic downturn with disastrous consequences for workers in all regions if governments do not urgently implement a new social contract. The world needs a new economic model with new business models based on full employment, decent work and universal prosperity,” the delegates of the Congress noted.
Sharan Barrow, who is completing her work as the Secretary General of the ITUC, addressing the heads of three hundred national trade union centers from 161 countries of the world, noted that the global pandemic showed the greatest act of human solidarity that the world has ever seen. According to her, the trade union movement has consolidated even more in the protection of workers’ rights. However, the difficult years of the pandemic also became an indicator of “corporate greed”, when unscrupulous employers profited, broke contracts with employees and demonstrated a lack of corporate regulation. According to ICP statistics, the ten largest corporations in the world announced a combined profit of about 360 billion US dollars in 2021.
“Working people and their trade unions demand a new social contract between governments, workers and businesses. It should reflect stable jobs, sustainable wages, rights, equality, inclusivity and social protection. Updating national and international legislation, it is necessary to strengthen the responsibility of employers. The trade unions will support the adoption by the International Labour Organization of a new Convention to eliminate gaps in standards and labor management,” Sharan Barrow said and thanked the national trade union centers for their fruitful work over the past few years.
The Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Motley, former UN Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh wished the Congress delegates success in the further development of trade union activities. They noted the relevance of the issues raised by the heads of national trade union centers.
The head of the Kazakh delegation, Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan Satybaldy Dauletalin also shared his impressions about the work of the Congress. According to him, the participants of the global trade union forum demonstrated their solidarity and unity during the six days of the Congress.
“The strength of trade unions lies in their unity, solidarity and justice. It was useful for all of us to participate in the discussion of program documents, communication and acquaintance with colleagues and like-minded people. The Federation of Trade Unions, in close cooperation with foreign national trade union centers and the International Trade Union Confederation, will continue to fight for social justice, universal promotion of the idea of decent work, equality of labor rights and opportunities without any discrimination, further strengthening and development of the international trade union movement,” stressed Satybaldy Dauletalin.
It should be noted that traditionally the professional leaders of the ICP participating countries have also formed the traditional rating of the “worst employers”. This time it included the heads of the largest multinational companies. The worst bosses are recognized: P&O Ferries CEO Peter Hebblethwaite, Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Emirates Airline and Group CEO Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairman Gina Rinehart.
Recall that the V Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation was held in Melbourne from November 17 to 22. More than a thousand trade union leaders and activists representing 300 national trade union centers and uniting about 200 million workers worldwide gathered to discuss the global agenda and adopt a Declaration on a New social Contract. On the first day of the Congress, the General Council of the ITUC decided to restore the membership of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan