Research, Innovation and Strategic Engagement (RISE) Project to Promote Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

Freedom of association and collective bargaining (FA/CB) are fundamental human rights that are foundational to democratic and collective participation in work relations, and pivotal in advancing social justice, ensuring equal employment opportunities, and achieving a balance in labor relations. Their realization directly contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Goals 8, 10, and 16. However, significant challenges persist globally in guaranteeing and promoting these rights, including barriers in legal frameworks and implementation gaps in many countries. The capacity of workers' and employers' organizations to exercise their FACB rights effectively remains a concern. The Research, Innovation, and Strategic Engagement (RISE) Project to Promote Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Globally aims to strengthen policies and improve the capacity of governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and other actors in society to respect, promote, and realize FACB. The project's strategy is to continuously build and promote the application of critical knowledge needed to inform policy choices, strengthen the implementation of FACB in target countries, regions, and sectors, and communicate the impact and outcomes effectively. The project seeks to achieve three complementary outcomes: improving the knowledge base on freedom of association, collective bargaining, and industrial relations; enhancing the capacity of governments and organizations to realize these rights; and promoting innovative approaches for the realization of FACB at global, national, and sectoral levels. The project is implemented in overlapping phases and includes activities at the global, regional, and national levels. Under the first outcome, the project aims to build a robust knowledge foundation on freedom of association, collective bargaining, and industrial relations. This involves refining survey methods, enhancing data tools, and expanding the evidence supporting the benefits of FACB. Leveraging the expertise of the ILO, the project develops new statistical standards and enhances the ability of Member States to collect and report data. To achieve its second outcome, the project bolsters the capacity of governments, employers, and worker organizations to realize FACB rights. This involves direct engagement with selected countries, providing support for central registration for collective bargaining agreements, and offering capacity-building training. Through its third outcome, the project champions innovative strategies for FACB realization at global, national, and sectoral levels. This includes the creation of a knowledge hub, serving as a comprehensive repository for research findings, data, and best practices on FACB. The hub also supports the monitoring of SDG target 8.8.2, promoting national compliance with labor rights. Freedom of association and collective bargaining are among the founding principles of the ILO and are rooted in its fundamental conventions and supervisory mechanisms, and its commitment to standard-setting, research and advocacy. The project leverages the unique tripartite structure of the ILO (and therefore involve not only government counterparts but also employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations) and draws on the ILO’s specialized expertise and experience in providing technical assistance to member states to help them implement and promote FACB principles.

Project symbol

GLO/23/22/USA

Admin unit

ADG/GRD

Start date

01/11/2023

End date

01/05/2028

Total allocation

1421680

Total expenditure

Status

Active

1421680

Development Partners

USA, United States Department of Labor, Bureau for International Labor Affairs, Office of Trade and Labor Affairs

Country/Countries

Global
Guatemala
Brazil
Colombia

Outcomes

Outcome 2: Strong, representative and influential tripartite constituents and effective social dialogue