Employment Security and Industrial Relations

In 2022, the International Labour Conference updated the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, incorporating "A safe and healthy working environment" as a core principle. This change elevates the status of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (C155), and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (C187), making them fundamental conventions. The FPRW, encompassing the right to safety and health, represents universal worker rights applicable across all economic development levels, forming the basis for equitable workplaces. This amendment marks a significant victory for trade unions, spurring concrete actions. In today's globalized world, Business and Human Rights (BHR) play a crucial role, outlining business responsibilities to respect and protect human rights. BHR emphasizes individual rights, including employment security, fair wages, and collective bargaining, eradication of forced labour, safe working conditions, and constructive industrial relations. The merging of BHR with fundamental principles is pivotal, guiding businesses to uphold these rights. The ILO's Strategy on Decent Work in Supply Chains underscores the importance of governance, international labour standards, responsible business conduct, and social dialogue in ensuring fair labour practices in supply chains. Trade unions are central in ensuring businesses balance economic growth with workers' rights and broader human rights. They advocate, negotiate, and challenge to promote human-centred development. A partnership with the Japan International Labor Foundation (JILAF) aims to enhance unions' proficiency in OSH and BHR, promoting worker protection and human rights through collaboration with social partners. OBJECTIVES By the training's conclusion, participants are expected to be proficient in: • explaining the fundamental principles of FPRW, ILO OSH conventions, Business and Human Rights, and key frameworks like ILO OSH guidelines and United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), • analyzing and addressing potential and actual OSH and human rights challenges in business through due diligence tools and effective mitigation plans, • actively collaborating with social partners and stakeholders, employing the POSITIVE approach to enhance workplace safety and health, • Establishing mechanisms to handle and rectify OSH and human rights issues affecting workers, stakeholders, and communities, and • integrating OSH and human rights priorities into workplace strategies, ensuring alignment with global labour standards. CONTENT The course covers essential subject themes to meet the learning objectives. 1. OSH a Fundamental principles and Right at Work (FPRW) This subject theme discusses the concept of the FPRW, with focus on OSH conventions. These conventions address various workplace safety aspects, emphasizing preventive strategies, training, reporting, and ensuring adherence through inspections. 2. The ILO Strategy on Decent Work in Supply Chains The ILO's Strategy on Decent Work in Supply Chains underscores the need for improved governance to ensure decent work throughout supply chains. The strategy aims to ensure that all workers, regardless of their position in the supply chain, benefit from decent work conditions, promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth. 3. Japanese Industrial Relations and Employment Security The subject theme discusses and allows participants to draw lessons from the historical to contemporary industrial relations and employment security practices in Japan based on the experiences and perspectives of a vibrant Japanese trade union movement. 4. Participation-Orientated Safety Improvements by Trade Union Initiative (POSITIVE) The "Participation-Oriented Safety Improvements by Trade Union Initiative (POSITIVE)" approach emphasizes the integral role of trade unions in enhancing workplace safety. It recognizes that workers are at the front line of operations and best positioned to identify hazards, POSITIVE promotes active worker participation in safety protocols. Trade unions collaborate with employers to assess risks, devise safety measures, and conduct training. 5. Business and Human Rights BHR is an important component of this course towards the pursuit for social justice and decent work. BHR enshrined in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) emphasizes the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights and ensure they do not infringe upon them in their operations. D. METHODOLOGIES The five-day training program offers experiential learning through practical workshops, role-playing, and interactive dialogues. Experts in OSH, FPRW, and B&RH provide tailored input, adapting to participants' needs. Group dynamics, gamification, and VR/AR enhance engagement and knowledge retention. An eCampus page supports ongoing learning and discussion.