The International Labour Congress, organized by the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, took take place on November 13-14, 2024, in Madrid. The event gathered around 400 high-level participants from governments, international organizations, universities, trade unions, and civil society to address pressing global labor issues. Focused on both the Global North and South, the congress facilitated discussions on topics such as workers’ rights, the impact of technology, the climate emergency, and gender equality in the workforce.

The event featured four key sessions aimed at safeguarding workers’ power, expanding labor rights, depatriarchalizing work, and uniting workers worldwide to create a better future for labor. Isabelle Ferreras moderated the first session on « Safeguarding the Power of Workers and Trade Unions in the Workers’ Statutes of the 21st Century – Towards a True Democracy at Work. »

Key points discussed include:

  1. Strengthening Collective and Union Power: Enhancing the ability of unions and worker collectives to participate in decision-making processes within companies, which affects job security and work conditions.
  2. Democratization of Workplaces: Promoting mechanisms for workers to have a say in organizational and economic changes, especially in large corporations, through rights to information, consultation, and joint decision-making.
  3. Addressing Fundamental Rights Violations: In light of increased global violations of worker rights (e.g., the right to strike and collective bargaining), the session underscores the importance of safeguarding these freedoms, as outlined by international conventions like ILO Convention No. 87.
  4. Proposals for New Worker Rights Statutes: Establishing a comprehensive set of labor rights addressing pressing challenges, including wage recovery, working hours reduction, non-discrimination, migrant protection, workplace health, and equitable treatment.
  5. Debate Topics: The session opens the floor for discussion on several issues, such as:
    • National and international policy reforms to enhance workplace democratization.
    • Strengthening information and consultation rights for unions.
    • The potential for a global charter of labor rights or a World Workers’ Statute.
    • The role of social dialogue in these reforms and the necessity to protect the right to strike at national and international levels.

The session featured prominent speakers, including Li Andersson, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament; Míriam Roquel, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of Guatemala; Sarah Jaffe, journalist and author of Work Won’t Love You Back, Necessary Trouble, and From the Ashes; Luka Mesec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunity of Slovenia; Antonio Baylos, Full Professor of Labour Law at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and Coordinator of the Journal of Social Law; Joaquín Pérez Rey, Secretary of State of Labour of Spain; and Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Here is the video recording of Isabelle Ferreras’ panel, along with the rest of the sessions from the first day of the congress.

Read the press release from the Spanish Ministry of Labour (in Castilian)