Developing trade unions capacities to promote social protection floor in Iraq
The workshop objective is to bring together the Leaders of the four main national trade union centers to discuss the unions’ policy and future strategy in relation to social protection and the new draft law.
4 August 2017
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العربية
BEIRUT (ILO News) - The ILO Regional Office for Arab States (ILO-ROAS) held a tailor-made workshop for selected leaders from of the main national trade union centers in Iraq, to build their capacities on social security standards, floors, principles, policies and financing mechanisms.
The event, held in Beirut, Lebanon, also aimed to enhance the capabilities of participants to influence the discussion on the new Iraqi draft social security law and ensure its provisions adhere to international standards.
“The workshop, the first of its kind for Iraqi trade unions centers, provided a good opportunity to establish coordination and cooperation among trade union organizations in Iraq in order to better represent their members, uphold workers’ rights, promote social justice, decent workplaces and inclusive societies,” said Ursula Kulke, ILO-ROAS’s Senior Social Security Specialist.
Senior ILO staff from ILO-ROAS facilitated the workshop which brought together 16 Iraqi Trade Union leaders from the four main national trade union centers in Iraq: the General Federation of Iraq Workers (GFIW), the Federation of Iraq Trade Unions (FITU), the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI), and the General Federation of Workers Unions in Iraq (GFWUI).
“The event enabled the trade union leaders to learn more about ILO standards on social protection and social protection floors and discuss the role of Trade Unions in developing social security schemes. Moreover, it assisted them to develop a unified trade union position on the draft social security law, and agree on a joint effort to impact the policy-making processes,” said Mustapha Said, ILO-ROAS Senior Workers Specialist.
Participants expressed their appreciation of the workshop. “I acquired a lot of information regarding the topics which were addressed during the workshop in a comprehensive way,” said Zaman Ali, who is on the governing body of the Construction and Wood Union, a FITU member. “I need to transfer all the knowledge to the other unions in the Federation of Iraqi Trade Unions,” she continued.
The new draft social security law aims to merge the private sector social security schemes with those of the public sector. The ILO is currently providing technical assistance to tripartite Iraqi stakeholders to ensure compliance of the draft law with international social security standards and best practices, and to guarantee the financial sustainability of the new social security system.
The event, held in Beirut, Lebanon, also aimed to enhance the capabilities of participants to influence the discussion on the new Iraqi draft social security law and ensure its provisions adhere to international standards.
“The workshop, the first of its kind for Iraqi trade unions centers, provided a good opportunity to establish coordination and cooperation among trade union organizations in Iraq in order to better represent their members, uphold workers’ rights, promote social justice, decent workplaces and inclusive societies,” said Ursula Kulke, ILO-ROAS’s Senior Social Security Specialist.
Senior ILO staff from ILO-ROAS facilitated the workshop which brought together 16 Iraqi Trade Union leaders from the four main national trade union centers in Iraq: the General Federation of Iraq Workers (GFIW), the Federation of Iraq Trade Unions (FITU), the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI), and the General Federation of Workers Unions in Iraq (GFWUI).
“The event enabled the trade union leaders to learn more about ILO standards on social protection and social protection floors and discuss the role of Trade Unions in developing social security schemes. Moreover, it assisted them to develop a unified trade union position on the draft social security law, and agree on a joint effort to impact the policy-making processes,” said Mustapha Said, ILO-ROAS Senior Workers Specialist.
Participants expressed their appreciation of the workshop. “I acquired a lot of information regarding the topics which were addressed during the workshop in a comprehensive way,” said Zaman Ali, who is on the governing body of the Construction and Wood Union, a FITU member. “I need to transfer all the knowledge to the other unions in the Federation of Iraqi Trade Unions,” she continued.
The new draft social security law aims to merge the private sector social security schemes with those of the public sector. The ILO is currently providing technical assistance to tripartite Iraqi stakeholders to ensure compliance of the draft law with international social security standards and best practices, and to guarantee the financial sustainability of the new social security system.