Free trade unions are democratic, self-organizing institutions of working people wishing to advance their rights as workers and citizens. Despite the denial of the right to organize in many countries the international trade union movement is the world’s largest and most representative organization based on voluntary membership. Trade unions are key civil society institutions in most democratic countries. In a rapidly globalizing world the challenge of securing decent work, safe conditions of work, living wages, basic social security, gender equality and fair income distribution call for better global governance and universal application and enforcement of international labour standards.
ILO as an essential institution for promoting the protection of workers through global social dialogue and standard setting. The Bureau of Workers’ Activities supports the link between the ILO and one of its three main stakeholders: the trade union movement. Different programmes are supporting trade unions.
