dialogue@work 2021-2025
Our union partners work in extremely challenging conditions. In the countries where we do our work, matters of safety, health, and economics for the workers are under great pressure. The space for social organisations like trade unions, is also shrinking. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought these issues to light even more. Informal workers, especially women and youth, have been hit extra hard by the pandemic and its consequences. We strive to achieve a more fair division of income and prosperity through the use of inclusive constructive social dialogue between governments and the private sector and by supporting labour rights and trade union freedom. The new trade union financing programme, Dialogue@Work, is one way we and our union partners are showing our efforts to create fairness and justice in the world. CVN Internationaal is using this new programme to build upon our successes and translate what we’ve learned into new ways of working.
Our Theory of Change shows what we want to achieve and how we plan to do so. We focus on achieving 4 results:
- Strengthening inclusive social dialogue at national and de-centralised levels
- Improving labour rights for workers in the supply chains
- Increasing youth employability
- Achieving equal labour rights for women and ensuring them greater input in the workplace
Our main work is, as always, to support our partner unions in getting results for (vulnerable) workers. In essence, this means setting social dialogue processes in motion between trade unions, governments, and employers. It also involves managing obstacles and resistance. We look into issues like who would want to create resistance to this process and why? What interests are at stake? And how can we exercise our influence to eliminate these obstacles?
Chains
We work in a number of international supply chains for industries like palm oil, sugar cane, mining, and textile. We bring together parties with opposing interests. When we work together, it’s easier to expose weak spots. Then we cooperate to create strategies and projects which promote social dialogue and a living wage. During these processes, we work closely with regional union networks whose role is essential.
And finally, our new programme invests in the development of modern means of communication, like apps, digital platforms, and social media. This is important for sharing and receiving information and for improving social dialogue. We support our partners and encourage them to use these technologies when they lobby. They increase their visibility and allow them to reach new target groups.