The clock is ticking for a new social contract
Trade unions from across the globe have launched a #TimeFor8 campaign to highlight the centrality of the labour agenda within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the compelling need to address the big challenges to achieve the 2030 agenda.
Speaking at the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Vice Chair of the ICTU Global Solidarity Committee, Yvonne O’Callaghan, said: “The 2008 financial crisis together with the slow and fragile recovery that followed that crisis vividly shows that the current economic model has reached its limits. Economies are now caught in a ‘low wage/low growth’ trap, because wage and labour market flexibility have gone too far and workers’ bargaining position has become too weak even if headline unemployment rates have gone down.”
She added: “The #TimeFor8 campaign calls for a renewed contract for governments, business and workers, with a universal labour guarantee that provides a protection floor for all workers. This means rights and women’s equality are respected, jobs are decent with minimum living wages and collective bargaining, workers have some control over working time, social protection coverage is universal, due diligence and accountability drive business operations, and social dialogue ensures just transition measures for climate, technology and displacement.”