On the World Day for Decent Work, 7 October, workers and organisations from across the world are coming together to highlight how we can create better jobs and workplaces.
This year’s global theme, “Change the Rules,” highlights the deeply entrenched injustice of the global economic system alongside shrinking democratic space and deteriorating labour rights in many countries, documented in the ITUC Global Rights Index.
“The need for change has never been clearer—with corporate power becoming increasingly concentrated, inequality at an all-time high, and a wave of right-wing nationalism crashing into country after country,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. “But workers are standing up for their rights and winning. These victories—large and small, against all odds—are inspiring, and they show what would be possible if workers had a level playing field. That’s why we are doubling down to change the rules that are rigged against workers.”
With the presidential election in Brazil also taking place on 7 October, unions will be continuing demand for former President Lula to be released from prison. Lula was unjustly sentenced to a 12-year prison sentence and, while he was by far the most popular candidate, prevented from standing in the election.
“The rules are stacked against working people, and that is why we have unprecedented and destructive levels of economic inequality and insecurity while a small number of global conglomerates like Amazon amass incalculable riches for a very few. There is enough wealth in the world to meet the challenges of our time – creating decent work for all, ensuring universal social protection, tackling climate change and all the other things that need to be done to ensure that people can live in dignity on a sustainable planet. But the rules need to change. And to achieve that, we need to build workers’ power,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
Other central topics of the day including closing the gender pay gap and ending gender-based violence at work.
To participate on the 7th, post on social media your story of why you want to “change the rules” and use the hashtags #ChangeTheRules and #wddw.
