Freedom of association in practice: Lessons learned (Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Report of the Director-General, 2008)

This Global Report, like the two earlier GlobalReports on the same subject published in 2000 and 2004, is based on the premise that achieving the ILO’s goal of decent work for all women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity is only possible if they can have a say in what this means for them. Freedom of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively are fundamental human rights, the exercise of which has a major impact on work and living conditions, as well as on the development and progress of economic and social systems.