Research, Innovation, and Strategic Engagement (RISE) Project to Promote Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

The strategy of the project is to build and promote the application of critical knowledge needed to inform policy choices, strengthen the implementation of freedom of association and collective bargaining in target countries, regions, and sectors, and communicate the impact and outcomes effectively.

Freedom of association and collective bargaining (FACB) are fundamental human rights that are foundational to democratic and collective participation in work relations, and pivotal in advancing social justice, ensuring equal employment opportunities, and achieving a balance in labor relations. Their realization directly contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Goals 8, 10, and 16. However, significant challenges persist globally in guaranteeing and promoting these rights, including barriers in legal frameworks and implementation gaps in many countries. The capacity of workers' and employers' organizations to exercise their FACB rights effectively remains a concern.

The Research, Innovation, and Strategic Engagement (RISE) Project to Promote Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Globally aims to strengthen policies and improve the capacity of governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and other actors in society to respect, promote, and realize FACB. The project's strategy is to continuously build and promote the application of critical knowledge needed to inform policy choices, strengthen the implementation of FACB in target countries, regions, and sectors, and communicate the impact and outcomes effectively.

Objectives

The project seeks to achieve three complementary and mutually reinforcing objectives:

• Improving the knowledge base on freedom of association, collective bargaining, and industrial relations.
• Improving the capacity of governments, employers and their organizations, and worker organizations to effectively realize freedom of association and collective bargaining.
• Promoting innovative approaches for the realization of FACB at global, national, and sectoral levels.

Target beneficiaries

Beneficiaries of the project include governments and their relevant ministries, which will receive tailored technical assistance, research, and support to build their capacity to enable industrial relations and FACB rights. Equally important are the employers' and workers' organizations which, as integral constituents of the ILO, will be closely engaged in and targeted by the project's activities. In addition, the project places a special emphasis on traditionally excluded workers, such as those in the gig economy, domestic workers, and migrant workers, among others. By addressing the unique challenges faced by these groups, the project aims to ensure that its benefits reach the most vulnerable and marginalized, and to foster an inclusive approach to labor rights and industrial relations.

Beyond these immediate beneficiaries, the project will also impact a wide array of stakeholders in the broader international and research communities. This includes UN agencies, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), international organizations and NGOs. Moreover, the broader research community stands to gain from data repositories, innovative methodologies, and the FACB Knowledge Hub to be created as part of the project.