- May 30, 2022
The ILO project on “Informal Economies Recovery” has concluded with vast importance given to assisting workers who were now part of the Informal economy as a result of the pandemic. The short yet crucial highlighted the need for unions to engage vigorously in organizing activities to attract and serve workers who had transited to non-formal mode of employment.
Through this project, we were able to :
- build on capacities of our organizers who are part of the FTUC National Organizing Academy
- develop strategies for various sectors to organize these workers
- share, learn and network with unions in the pacific who had already organized successfully in emerging sectors during the pandemic
- where possible form new associations or recruit members to become part of existing unions
The multi agency collaboration was the result of recommendations included in the ILO / FTUC Rapid Assessment survey report found here : https://ftuc.org.fj/ftuc-rapid-assessment-report/
The ILO component of the project focuses on Improved employment and business environment in the informal sector through sustainable businesses, access to social security and organising. The Union related output is on organizing component and focusses on informal sector workers in agri and creative industries establish links to national workers and employer organisations .
Our interventions focussed to achieve :
- a voice and protection to all workers including those operating in the informal economy to strengthen occupational health and safety measures;
- Lobbying government and private sector to provide adequate protective equipment, ensure income security and social protection;
- Prevent discrimination and exclusion of workers in the informal economy to raise public awareness about the positive contributions of informal economy workers to society;
- Organise informal economy workers into trade unions to defend their interests and protect their rights;
- Working together with the ILO and UN to ensure decent work for all .
Here is a short video summarizing the activities and impact of this initiative :