70 Supporting international development

Submitted by Accord

Congress reaffirms the ILO Philadelphia Declaration that ‘poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere’ and notes that half of the world’s workers continue to exist on less than $2 a day. We believe that contributing to the struggle against global poverty is a moral imperative but also a vital part of trade union solidarity. International development is about much more than overseas aid, but Congress welcomes the commitment of the leading UK political parties to spend the UN target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income on aid and urges the Government to put that commitment into law without delay.

Congress believes that trade unions have a huge amount to contribute in the field of international development and welcomes the work being done by the ITUC, the TUC and individual unions. Drawing on funds from individual members and from the Department for International Development, they are already assisting unions in developing countries to challenge and reduce poverty, hold leaders and politicians to account, build quality public services, and promote equality. Congress urges the Government to continue funding trade union work in this area, as governments across the developed world do. And Congress urges unions to promote the work of the TUC and its appeals for funding for trade union projects in the global south.