Concept Paper

The ILO plans to produce a video to increase awareness about the rights of people with disabilities to decent work and what trade unions can to make those rights a reality. It will build awareness but more importantly suggest and illustrate concrete actions that trade unions have taken in various countries. It will build on the ILO principles outlined in Convention 159 for equal treatment and opportunity for workers with disabilities and the use of special measures, as needed.

The video will film trade union personnel and activities as well as disabled persons in the workplace showing the impact that the trade union action has had on their work lives, for example, by showing workers accommodated on the job, in training or simply doing their jobs day to day because of a trade union activity that contributed to their chance at decent work.

It will follow the approach used in the AbilityAsia video. While it will be produced in the region, the video will include examples from around the world and is expected to have global appeal. It will stress the following messages.

Key Messages:

·       Decent work is a human right; for all workers, including those with disabilities.

·       People with disabilities can and want to work. Even those injured on the job often want to return to work and would return to work if given the opportunity.  

·       Advocating for the rights of people with disabilities in fully in line with trade union history and mission.

·       Trade unions can take on many of their traditional activities and apply them to this issue---organizing workers, worker education and awareness, promoting rights, using collective bargaining, providing services for workers, etc.

 Purpose: The primary purpose of the planned video is to encourage trade unions and workers' organizations to take a more active role in addressing the needs and rights of people with disabilities. Specifically, the video is designed to:

·       Raise awareness among trade union and workers organizations about the needs of workers with disabilities, including those who are seeking employment as well as those injured on the job. This will be achieved through worker interviews supplemented, as needed, by expert interviews (kept to a minimum) or narration.

·       Demonstrate how addressing disabled workers needs and rights is an integral part of the trade unions' mission and history related to anti-discrimination, workers' rights and social justice.

·       Provide specific guidance to trade unions about how they can support and advocate for workers with disabilities and facilitate their inclusion in the community and the workplace through advocacy, collective bargaining, establishing programs and other means of action. Illustrating these means of action is the key point of the video and will be achieved primarily through footage from work places, union meetings or other settings that illustrate such activities and their impact.

Funding: The video will be funded by the Irish-funded project, Promoting the Employability and Employment of People with Disabilities through effective Legislation.

Production Plans: Production is expected to begin in September 2006 and to be ready for distribution by the end of the calendar year.

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