Karen Curtis, Chief of the Freedom of Association Branch at the International Labour Standards Department, addressed a Study Group Meeting of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on strengthening civil society organizations and social partner engagement in EU trade policy. The meeting took place in the context of discussions on the draft EESC opinion on ‘A new framework for free trade agreements, economic partnership and investment agreements that guarantees the real involvement of CSOs and the social partners and ensures public awareness’.

The ILO’s Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019) has called for countries to place decent work as a central objective of trade policy and for trade to support sustainable development and social justice with strong and engaged social partner organizations.

In recent years, civil society organizations and the social partners have called for greater involvement in trade policy negotiations between the EU and its trading partners to ensure fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and development. However, concerns have been raised about the capacity and ability of such actors to participate in a meaningful and substantive manner. Ms Curtis highlighted how domestic advisory groups (DAGs) and civil society fora play an important role in trade negotiations, their implementation, monitoring, and stakeholder ownership.

In her address, Ms Curtis explored ways to strengthen employers’ and workers’ organizations to ensure effective social dialogue could take place and provide a forum to discuss trade-related issues, information exchange, identification of priorities and stakeholder buy-in.

First, respect for core international labour standards such as freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining must be a necessary precondition and an enabling environment for effective engagement and dialogue.

Secondly, independent and representative organizations provide the necessary legitimacy and ownership for stakeholders, while active and meaningful engagement should be fostered through inclusion, long-term support and capacity building. On the latter, Ms Curtis stressed that special attention should be given to strengthening weaker social partners. The ILO’s Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) can support social partner engagement on business and human rights in international trade and supply chains.

“The ILO is committed to supporting stakeholder engagement and ownership of new and improved FTAs in the promotion of decent work, fostering inclusion, sustainability and building capacities,” she said. The ILO will continue to provide its member States the requested support and assistance for the ratification and implementation of international labour standards to ensure that the benefits of trade are shared on a level-playing field.

Ms Curtis also highlighted how the ILO’s Global Call to Action for a human-centred COVID-19 recovery calls for the ILO to strengthen its cooperation with multilateral and regional organizations to promote decent work and capacity-building assistance more closely with international trade and investment policies. This will widen the benefits of international trade and investment and promote decent work and inclusive and sustainable development. The ILO in cooperation with the EU has several technical cooperation projects such as Trade for Decent Work which helps ILO member States implement fundamental labour rights.