Promoting decent work and capacity building for labour ministries, labour inspections and social partners in developing countries: advancing international labour standards and RBC through sustainable trade and investments in Southern Africa

SUSTAIN Southern Africa further harness trade and investment to advance decent work opportunities for women and men in Southern Africa through increased respect for international labour standards and the adoption of responsible and sustainable business practices. More specifically, the project: i) Strengthens knowledge base on the trade, investment and decent work nexus to inform evidence-based dialogue and policies; ii) Enhances capacity of government officials and the social partners to improve implementation of trade and investment agreements to advance respect for international labour standards and the promotion of responsible business conduct; iii) Increases dialogue and experience-sharing across and between governments and social partners to enhance policy coherence and synergies to promote responsible business conduct, sustainable trade and investments. International labour standards provide the foundation to this project. In particular, the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), founded substantially on principles contained in international labour Conventions and Recommendations is used as a framework for dialogue. Capacity of ILO constituents is strengthened to engage with national stakeholders to promote enforcement and compliance with national laws and respect fundamental principles and rights at work. ILO constituents in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa are supported through the organization of national dialogues to develop strategies and policies for longer-term and broader-based improvements in the world of work for the realization of social justice and inclusive growth. The project trains labour inspectors on their role in promoting sustainable and responsible business practices and investments for the realization of decent work. It includes capacity-building for employers' and workers' organizations on international instruments and recent developments for the promotion of responsible business conduct (including developments in the field of mandatory due diligence). The project extends its outreach beyond the four target countries to SADC member States through the delivery of online courses and webinars to facilitate experience sharing. The project builds on the ILO’s existing portfolio of global, regional and country-level programmes and projects to promote RBC, sustainable investments and to advance decent work in supply chains as well as on lessons learned of past programmes and projects.

Project symbol

RAF/24/01/EUR

Admin unit

DWT/CO-Pretoria

Start date

__EMPTY__

End date

__EMPTY__

Total allocation

627234

Total expenditure

Status

Active

347046

Development Partners

European Commission, DG Employment and Social Affairs

Country/Countries

South Africa

Outcomes

Outcome 4: Sustainable enterprises for inclusive growth and decent work