Congress 2014 Resolution 69 - International support for freelance and atypical workers

Congress welcomes the positive outcome, in particular for freelance and other ‘atypical’ workers, of the ILO Global Dialogue Forum on Employment Relationships in the Media and Culture sector held on 14–15 May 2014.

The Forum emphasised that fundamental principles and rights apply to all workers regardless of their employment status and that competition law should not be used to undermine workers’ rights.

The Forum further recognised the need for governments and social partners to promote gender diversity and for good practice guidelines covering internships, Apprenticeships, volunteering and other placement schemes. The media industry is one where jobs have become increasingly casualised and where the competition for work has seen a drastic rise in the number of young aspiring journalists being exploited through unpaid internships. What is required is a basic floor of rights that will support all workers.

The discussions and the consensus reached underlines the potential benefits of greater involvement by the TUC and its affiliated unions in international affairs and inter-union cooperation both in recruitment and campaigns to defend and enhance the rights of workers, nationally and internationally.

Congress calls on the General Council to encourage and, as necessary, assist affiliates to participate in similar international forums. Congress further calls on the TUC’s delegation to the ILO’s 322nd Session in November 2014 to support and then work to promote and seek to implement the conclusions of this Global Dialogue Forum.