ADVANCING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PROTECTION IN ASIA PACIFIC: THE ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS

Trade unions have used collective bargaining to address the many challenges of the crisis and to secure additional social protection measures. Unions efficiently negotiated social protection measures to mitigate risks associated with sickness, workplace injury, unemployment and old age (ILO, 2022). The four-week online training programme analysed lingering gaps in social protection at the country level and lessons and action areas to escalate trade union initiatives through collective bargaining, campaigns and advocacies in pursuit of better social security for workers, their families and communities. It built on workers’ experiences and knowledge and further enhance their capacities to implement the ILO normative framework on social protection at the country and enterprise levels. In addition, the course introduced strategic foresight as a framework for rethinking and shaping a plausible future on social protection for trade unions, including the transformation and revitalization of trade unions. Participants applied futures thinking methodologies to frame long-term plans on social protection, including policy proposals and strategic actions that unions could bring for discussions in tripartite and bipartite social dialogue and decision-making instituions. OBJECTIVES This regional online training aims to support workers’ organisations in contributing to the Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All with strong and effective positions in social protection policy-making and implementation at the national, regional and workplace levels. Specifically, the training aims to enable participants to: • analyse gaps and challenges, including union strengths through organizing and collective bargaining to gain better social protection benefits, • utilize tools and resources in campaigns for universal social protection through the effective implementation of Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) and effective implementation and promotion of ratification of the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and other relevant social security standards. • share and replicate good practices and experiences on comprehensive, efficient and innovative services to the TUs members concerning social protection; • understand and exploit futures thinking and strategic foresight methodologies as an approach to rethinking trade union visions for social protection, • develop trade unions strategies and long-term plans for social protection using futures thinking and foresight methodologies, and • establish a quasi-network of trade union advocates of social protection for purposes of knowledge sharing, continuing eduation and learning, and sustained networking. CONTENT The course covered two learning tracks, i.e. social protection and strategic foresight. The social protection learning track included (1.) The ILO normative framework on social security and protection; (2.) Extension of social protection coverage and the effective implementation of social protection policies; (3.) Financing social protection; and (4.) The role of social dialogue and bargaining in social protection. The strategic foresight learning track included (1) an introduction to Strategic Foresight, (2) The Futures Triangle, (3) The Hybrid Futures Archetype for Scenario Planning, and (4) Backcasting Methodology and Innovation Traingle. Learners spent an average of 40 learning hours to complete four (4) self-guided learning modules, five(5) live teach-ins/webinars and post a minimum of eight (8) weekly online forum entries and interactions with co-learners. NUMBER OF HOURS: 40