The Decent Work, Decent Life campaign seeks to build global awareness amongst the general public, governments, decision-makers and international institutions on the issues of poverty and massive unemployment and the severe lack of social protection that many workers suffer in developing countries. Many workers are denied the right to collective bargaining or strike action, and trade union rights are violated on a regular basis. In some cases trade union members have been murdered in order to silence the movement.

This campaign aims to influence policy and show that these trends will not be tolerated by the international community. It advocates decent work as fundamental for social cohesion and as a sustainable way out of poverty. Decent Work, Decent Life is building an international system based on solidarity and respect for people’s rights as enshrined in United Nations and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, putting these issues at the forefront of international concerns.

The campaign is led by the International Trade Union Confederation , Solidar, the Global Progressive Forum, Social Alert International and the European Trade Union Confederation, and is supported by many organisations from around the globe, including Banana Link.

The campaign seeks ratification and implementation of the ILO conventions as stated in the Ministerial Declaration adopted at the 2006 UN Economic and Social Council:

“We are convinced of the urgent need to create an environment at the national and international levels that is conducive to the attainment of full and productive employment and decent work for all as a foundation to sustainable development.”

To get involved you can sign the call to action on the Decent Work, Decent Life website which continues the petition, mobilising activists and supporters in anticipation of the World Day on Decent Work on 7 October 2008. Organisations can also send an official message to the campaign which will be published on the website.

The Decent Work, Decent Life website also has some useful downloadable resources, available in several languages, on case studies on decent work and tools for campaigning.

Click here to download the Call to Action lealfet.