The outcome of the discussion is expected to impact the entire world of work, including trade unionism, across the countries, since the achievement under plan of action 2017-23 will be critically reviewed in the light of the report submitted titled “Fundamental principles and rights at work (FPRW) at a critical crossroads” and the three chief components of the plan: focusing on the realization of FPRW at national level; mobilizing ILO means of action; and strengthening partnerships at the global, regional and national levels to promote FPRW. Outcome would also be a basis of determining future priorities.

The discussion is scheduled in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic that had not only a serious impact on public health, but also resulted in widespread loss of jobs and livelihoods across the world reversing progress on poverty reduction and leading to an increase in informality. Multiple and overlapping economic and political crises, geopolitical tensions – including several major armed conflicts – and ongoing disruptions in supply chains have continued to constrain labour market recovery.

“At the same time, a deterioration in the rule of law and in respect for civil liberties and human rights, and shrinking democratic space, have seriously undermined the realization of all FPRW in some countries,” the report has noted. “These global developments have combined with longer-term structural trends in the world of work – including persistent informality, the growing adverse impacts of climate change, and structural transformations in the organization of production and work – to create a complex and challenging environment for the effective exercise of all FPRW.”

Although national experiences have varied, this challenging global landscape has contributed to stalled progress – and in some cases regression – in advancing FPRW across the world. Major implementation gaps have persisted – and, indeed, in many instances have widened – across all FPRW categories since the last recurrent item discussion, the report says.

The pandemic affected FPRW in a myriad of ways. Workers with no income, little savings to fall back on and limited government support became more vulnerable to exploitative work situations, including various forms of forced labour, such as debt bondage.

Trade unions expressed concerns that in some cases COVID-19 was used to fast-track legislation restricting freedom of association and collective bargaining (FACB) rights in the context of wider restrictions on civil and political rights. The pandemic had particularly serious implications for a safe and healthy working environment, with governments, employers and workers facing unprecedented challenges in protecting workers’ health while maintaining essential operations.

The pandemic and multiple other political crises and conflicts has resulted in ongoing shortage of decent work opportunities that has pushed more workers into jobs of poorer quality and left a growing number of workers without access to adequate social and legal protection. Continuing elevated inflationary pressures are placing downward pressure on real wages and the purchasing power of other forms of labour incomes, with a disproportionate adverse impact on poorer households. High interest rates and a general tightening of financial conditions are increasing the risk of debt distress, particularly in highly indebted developing countries, with significant repercussions for their labour market conditions, wage growth and jobs.

According to ILO estimates, 58 per cent of global employment was informal in 2022 – 89 per cent of which was in low-income countries – indicating that over 2 billion workers were in jobs with little or no recognition of rights in law or practice. Informality adversely affects FPRW through numerous channels. The lack of legal recognition and protection means workers and economic units in the informal economy are often unable to form or join legally recognized trade unions and employers’ organizations. As a result, they are generally excluded from formal collective bargaining and have few opportunities to participate in social dialogue or otherwise exercise their collective voice. The high levels of socio-economic vulnerability and weak labour governance that characterize informal economic activity also heighten the risk of other FPRW deficits.

Now climate change is having a large and growing impact on the world of work, with important implications for the advancement of FPRW. The combined effects of marginal changes in temperature, accompanying modifications of physical and biological systems, and more frequent and intense weather events, such as droughts and floods, are increasingly threatening livelihoods, health and labour productivity. Risks are especially pronounced for rural populations engaged in agriculture, which continues to provide livelihoods for an estimated 874 million people worldwide.

Although not new phenomena, there has been a steady increase in the prevalence of temporary employment, part-time and on-call work, and work on or through digital platforms in recent years. These can also exacerbate decent work deficits and pose challenges to the realization of workers’ fundamental labour rights.

The digitalization of work driven by Artificial Intelligence, the report says, could lead to either job displacement or a transformation of job roles. It could profoundly influence working conditions, autonomy, the pace and intensity of work, skill utilization, and workers’ interactions with management and peers. AI can potentially lead to increased surveillance and restricted worker discretion, thereby degrading job quality.

The discussion will be also significant for the trade unionism in the backdrop of threats to trade union rights and civil liberties, protection against anti-union discrimination, the violation of collective bargaining rights, and protection against act of interference. These issues have been the topics most frequently examined by the Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) during the period since the last discussion in 2017. Trade union density rates have continued to decline globally since 2017 and gaps in representation for many of the most vulnerable groups of workers have persisted.

The report has suggest a more integrated and holistic approaches to revitalize action on fundamental principles and rights at work, and sustainable financing for policies and plans for advancement of FPRW not only by national governments but also by ILO. (IPA Service)