UFCW Canada hosts North America’s first Social Partner Forum on Decent Work in the Agrifood Sector
08 Mayo 2024 - 1:49PM
On May 2, leading voices from labour, industry, and government met
as social partners in Toronto to discuss the Decent Work Guidelines
for the Agrifood Sector, as recently established by the
International Labour Organization (ILO). In addition to the social
partners, experts from academia and civil society also contributed
to this milestone event and discussion.
UFCW Canada hosted the meeting in conjunction with the
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,
Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), a global
union federation of agrifood workers.
The promotion of decent work for all is a key objective of the
UN’s 2030 sustainable development goals. Goal 8 states to “promote
sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and
productive employment and decent work for all.”
The ILO has called for organizations to host events that foster
discussion about using social dialogue to advance the guidelines.
While Europe has held social partner discussions on decent work for
many years, this forum was the first of its kind for Canadian
stakeholders.
“Canada must be a leader in advancing decent work,” said
National President Shawn Haggerty in his opening remarks, “We have
the leadership here today to make it happen. Together, we are best
positioned to advance decent work throughout the food system and
supply chain.”
This forum brought together social partners from unions,
employers, and governments. Labour groups included the Canadian
Labour Congress, the Teamsters, RWDSU, IUF and UFCW.
Representatives from key agrifood employers included Loblaws,
Metro, Maple Leaf Foods, and the Canadian Meat Council. And
government was represented by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada,
Employment and Social Development Canada, and the Ontario Ministry
of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Dr. Elvis Beytullayev of the ILO led sessions on the
relationship between the guidelines and core ILO conventions, which
have all been largely ratified by Canada including C098: Right to
Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention – ratified by Canada
in 2017. In addition to Dr. Beytullayev, experts from the European
Commission also joined the forum to demonstrate the economic,
social and environmental benefits of advanced social dialogue.
“Canada has made a firm commitment to the UN’s 2030 agenda,”
added Haggerty. “It will only be possible to realize its ambitious
objectives with the full cooperation and collaboration of industry,
labour and government.”
Contact:Derek JohnstoneSpecial Assistant to the
National President, UFCW
Canada416-649-3417derek.johnstone@ufcw.ca