American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
The goal of this program was to integrate rule of law dialogue into international labor issues and to improve awareness of the rule of law in labor and employer communities. This entailed surveying labor organizations and employer associations to identify the top three rule of law issues they face, as a means to catalyze open discussion and reform. AFL-CIO also implemented an education campaign for union and business leaders to improve their understanding of rule of law discourse and norms.
Challenge
The Rule of Law is of critical importance to all working people – whether they are unionized or unorganized, employees, employers or independent workers, in global supply chains and in the formal or informal economies. The absence of the Rule of Law has negative consequences for the capacity of workers and their representatives to defend their rights. In many countries trade union and labor rights continue to be violate, many countries still exclude important categories of workers from general labor laws.
Program Summary
The goal of the project is to integrate the Rule of Law dialogue and international labor issues and to improve awareness of the Rule of Law in the labor and employer communities.
There are three components to this project:
- Integrating the Rule of Law Index and international labor law
- Identify the top three Rule of Law issues confronting both the labor and employer communities and the employer community. A survey instrument that we will be developed and used to canvass labor representative bodies and employer associations, working through the International Trade Union Confederation ("ITUC") and the International Organization of Employers ("IOE") on the major Rule of Law Issues that each is confronting.
- Implementing an education campaign for union and business leaders
This important project component aims to build capacity in trade union and employer organizations to better understand and use Rule of Law discourse and norms in raising awareness of Rule of Law.
Impact
The goal of this project is to level the playing field and allow labor to advocate for their basic rights. The survey will raise awareness about the top issues which affect laborers and serve as a catalyst for open discussion and reform.