ITUC Conference on Global Crisis and Aid Effectiveness

Spanish Minister highlights role of trade unions in development.

Soraya Rodriguez, Secretary of State for International Development Co-operation in Spain, in her keynote address to the ITUC Conference on the Global Crisis and Aid Effectiveness held at the Economic and Social Council in Madrid on 16 March 2010, emphasized the role of trade unions in international development and pointed out that poverty was not only an economic problem, but it was also an issue closely related to the denial of the right of access to resources for a large section of the population and that trade unions were in a good position to defend the people's right of access to resources. She reiterated that Spain, despite the current economic crisis, remained committed to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), that her country would increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the agreed timeframe and percentages and that it could not go back on the commitment to 0.7% of GNI if it was to maintain its legitimacy as part of the donor community.

The Spanish Minister, detailing her country's priorities for the EU Presidency, stated that her Government would take new initiatives to set realistic targets for some MDGs, stressed the importance of aligning development strategies with the policies of recipient nations in improving aid effectiveness and called for effective measures to combat capital flight from developing countries.

Mr Octave Broohm, Minister of Labour, Togo, in his speech, told the Conference that the crisis could be an opportunity for renaissance of society, that Africa had been in permanent crisis and the current crisis had resulted in significant drops in official development assistance, investment and remittances. He concurred with the trade union call for employment strategies based on decent work to confront the numerous challenges - political, economic and social - facing the countries in Africa and for good governance, social dialogue and protection and the respect for core labour standards.

Mr Marcos Peña Pinto, President of the Economic and Social Council of Spain said that the crisis was brought about by systemic failures and that the co-operation and dialogue with trade unions should be an essential element of an exit strategy.

Guy Ryder, ITUC General Secretary, in his address to the Conference, noted the impact of the crisis as experienced by trade unionists in different parts of the world, that there were forces resisting change and that the current window of opportunity should not be allowed to close without appropriate action and expressed support for the financial transactions tax as an effective and innovative way of mobilising resources for development.

In a detailed analysis of the impact of the crisis on developing countries, Enrique Guerrero Salom, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Development Co-operation, pointed out that the ODA had increased before the crisis and that developing countries which played no part in bringing about the crisis had to face its consequences in addition to the difficulties caused by the food crisis, energy crisis and climate change.

Prof José Antonio Ocampo of the University of Colombia, in his presentation, traced the different stages of the crisis, detailed its impact on developing countries and reflected on effective action to minimize them. He underscored the need for maintaining countercyclical policies, employment generation and for strengthening social protection.

Trade union leaders and delegates from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, in their interventions, emphasized that recovery should be based on the fulfilment of the four strategic objectives of decent work; fundamental principles and rights at work and core labour standards; employment and income opportunities; social protection and social security; and social dialogue and tripartism.

Many trade union delegates welcomed the opportunity to take part in the Conference focusing on the global crisis and aid effectiveness and agreed with trade union involvement in the broad debate on development issues and recognized their role in development.

Madame Thiam Fatou, 40-year-old Communications Officer from the Confédération Nationale des Travailleurs du Sénégal (CNTS), found the presentations interesting, useful and informative and was particularly impressed with that of the UNIFEM representative. Thiam who has a ten-year-old daughter attending school in Dakar, was keen on the role of women in development in Africa.

'Our Confederation is beginning to take effective action to protect and promote the rights of women in Senegal. We have formed a Women's Committee which meets regularly to discuss issues of particular relevance to women. And I must say that the present leadership is very supportive of our efforts.' says Thiam.

'The Conference has broadened my understanding of issues affecting brothers and sisters throughout the world. It is a very useful experience. I am glad that I attended it. I learnt a lot in the past two days.' adds Thiam who very much supports trade union interest and involvement in development issues.

For Sandra Cruz Pimental, Administration Officer in the President's Office of the Central Unitaria des Trabajadores (CUT) in Peru, the Conference was a unique event which gave trade unionists like her the opportunity to participate in the debate on global issues.

'I knew that the European Union made a very significant contribution to the Development Assistance to countries like Peru. But it was a rare opportunity for me to listen to them and understand the crucial role the EU plays in development in our part of the world as well as elsewhere', claims Sandra.

She, too, was particularly keen on the role of women in development. 'I believe that women need to be more visible in development. In the CUT, we are determined to pursue the women's rights issues through the Women's Committee which we helped to set up five years ago', says the 38-year-old

Sandra.

'Violence against women is quite common in Peru. Moreover, women often get paid less even when they do the same job. The rights of working women are not always recognized or respected in my country. The CUT is campaigning for the ratification of ILO Convention 183', affirms Sandra. She has a nine-year-old son who goes to school in Lima and feels strongly about the need for the eradication of child labour in Peru

The ITUC Conference on the Global Crisis and Aid Effectiveness brought together some 150 trade unionists from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, provided a forum for them to reflect on their role in enhancing the effectiveness of ODA and highlighted the importance of trade union involvement in development.