Conference on the New Social Contract - A Trade Union Perspective for Asia and the Pacific

The world is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by changing patterns in globalisation, rapid technological change and the ever-present climate crisis. These changes are profoundly affecting the world of work, threatening sustainable economic development and social cohesion in many countries, particularly in Asia and the Pacific. This has challenged the capacity of many governments to provide adequately for its people and to honour its social contract, given the fact that regulatory systems, structural reforms and other public policies are oftentimes not keeping up with changes in the world of work.

This is particularly striking in the current poly-crisis environment, where many countries are struggling; they are not only recovering from a pandemic but also dealing with geopolitical crises, high inflation and increasing indebtedness that is constraining fiscal capabilities. These factors have collectively prompted a fundamental shift in the macroeconomic environment, with long-lasting consequences for workers. Consequently, changes in macroeconomic policy regimes have often led to increased economic uncertainty. Governments around the world have been grappling with the challenge of addressing higher levels of inflation without stifling economic growth nor cutting crucial fiscal spending much needed by many. This has come after decades of liberal economic policies, characterized by deregulation, privatization, financialization, and a reduced role for the state in the economy. While these policies can sometimes stimulate economic growth, if not properly regulated they do so at the expense of decent working conditions and workers' rights, or do not foster decent job creation. Such policies can therefore lead to increased inequalities and social instability if they are not accompanied by a coherent set of public policies aimed at generating decent jobs for all, advancing social justice and fostering sustainable and inclusive economic development.

At the same time, in today's rapidly changing world, critical gaps remain in relation to decent work, which include, in addition to the scarcity of quality employment opportunities, a growing array of barriers to fundamental principles and rights at work, as well as the stark reality that many workers are simply forgotten, remaining outside the ambit of essential protection. This undermines the march towards any inclusive and sustainable economic development, that is human-centred, as it exposes people to exploitation, while preventing them to ''claim freely and on the basis of equality of opportunity their fair share of the wealth which they have helped to generate, and to achieve fully their human potential” (ILO Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work).

In this context, the concept of a “new social contract” has emerged as a framework for rethinking the relationships between the state and its people. This new social contract aims to foster social progress and social justice, to ensure systematic inclusivity in every dimension of social and economic life, and to provide our economies and our societies with the necessary agility to adapt to a world undergoing rapid and profound changes. In this sense, any future social contract, should recognize the decisive role of the labour market, in particular of decent work, by ensuring employment priorities are aligned with economic, social and environmental priorities. This ensures that everyone can benefit from economic development through decent work, social protection, and a just share of the wealth they help to create regardless of the type of work or their employment status. It calls for a more inclusive and equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth, and for a strengthening of social dialogue and collective bargaining as means to achieve this.

The new social contract also recognizes the need for a just transition towards a more sustainable economy. The transition towards a green economy, driven by the need to combat climate change, can create millions of new jobs in sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture, however only if this is done in the context of a just transition ensuring that workers are not left behind by the profound transformations of the economy this would require.

Trade unions have a crucial role to play in shaping this new social contract. As the largest membership-based organisation in the world, they must advocate for more inclusive and equitable economic policies, and for a just transition towards a more sustainable economy. However, to effectively play this role, trade unions need to adapt to the changing world of work and to strengthen their capacity to represent and protect workers in non-standard forms of employment.

This conference aims to provide a platform for trade unions from across Asia and the Pacific to discuss these challenges and opportunities, and to support them in shaping the new social contract in their respective countries and at the regional level. It is an opportunity for trade unions to learn from each other’s experiences, to develop common strategies, and to strengthen their collective voice in shaping the future of work, in particular towards the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025. It is an ample opportunity to evaluate the involvement of the labour movement in the Agenda 2030, and to discuss the way forward, including their continued participation in the multilateral system to shape public policies for renewing the social contract, through initiatives such as the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

In that regard, the conference will focus on the concept of a new social contract, how existing social contracts have failed in providing for the needs of its people, and delve deeper on two key aspects of the new social contract: macroeconomic policies for economic development and fundamental principles and rights at work, including collective bargaining and freedom of association. These two are foundational to any effort aimed at profoundly transforming societies, towards a new social contract that fosters inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and equitable economies that create decent work for all, ensuring lasting social cohesion and peace. They are also areas where trade unions can have a significant impact. By focusing on these areas, the conference aims to equip trade unions with the knowledge and tools they need to shape the new social contract and to promote decent work and social justice in the region.

Day 1:

• Opening Session
• High level Session: Panel discussion on establishing a New Social Contract: Limitations of existing governance structures at national and international level in light of transformational change in the world of work and the way forward. 
• Session 1: Panel discussion on economic development: recovering in a “poly-crisis” environment and the impacts of macroeconomic policies on the world of work.
• Session 2: Workshop on the importance of policy coherence and social dialogue in achieving cost-effective, meaningful and sustainable results in relation to the objective of decent work for all and sustainable development 

Day 2:

• Session 3: Panel discussion on the growing array of barriers to fundamental principles and rights at work including the many exclusion of workers from essential protections. 
• Session 4: Workshop on social dialogue as a key institutional mechanism to set labour legislation and govern world of work at national and international level. 
• Session 5: Roundtable discussion on the concept of a new social contract: Development of a common agenda and strategies for the continued involvement of trade unions in the region.
• Closing Session

The panel discussion will involve trade union leadership, but also academic experts, government and employers’ organisations, to provide a comprehensive platform for discussion. The workshops will give the ILO constituents the added opportunities to exchange more practical experiences on each of the topics at hand. Lastly, the roundtable discussion is a collective exercise, giving all participants the opportunity to reflect on the outcomes of the meeting. The ultimate goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and tools they need to shape a new social contract in their respective countries and at the regional and international level.