According to the International Labour Organization, more than 43% of the world’s population who actively work, live on less than 2 dollars per day. To ameliorate the lives of these labourers and their families, the trainers underlined the importance of pay rises, the right to dignity, recognition at work, but also the right to collective negotiation, or in other words unionization.
The first week, Duarte Barreto from Fedina in India and Abelardo Vildoso from Adec-ATC in Peru spoke on the challenges of decent work and the collective initiatives conducted by their organizations. Nieves Thomet, from the International Labour Office, came to present the international organization. Uniting governments, workers and employers’ syndicates, this organization was created in 1919 for the purpose of promoting decent work based on 4 pillars of action: rights, employment, protection, and dialogue. “Hemispheres” also welcomed Hélène Bouneau, from the General Confederation of Work (CGT), the oldest French syndicate, founded in 1895. She presented one of the principal challenges for trade unionism which is to rise up namely the internationalization of politicians in the following years, for more international solidarity.
The last two weeks were reserved for the preparation of the sensitization events organized by the youth, which they put into action after returning to their countries. The association Matières Prises that develops ways of mobilization in order to spark debates and encourage encounters, trained the participants and accompanied them from the conception of an idea to execution of their local event. From documentaries on the working conditions of tea pickers in Sri Lanka to the publication of caricatures for the World Day of Decent Work on October 7th in Estonia, stopping by the theatre for a play on child labour on the way, youth of “Hemispheres” prepared these projects the during the whole of the training.
- The participants during the work workshop.
If you would like a lot more information on "Hemispheres”, or if you’re interested in participating; don’t hesitate to contact us.
