Commonwealth Summit: Unions Call for Action on Jobs, Democracy, Development and Climate

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC)  

https://www.ituc-csi.org/commonwealth-summit-unions-call

Commonwealth Summit: Unions Call for Action on Jobs, Democracy, Development and Climate

16 March 2018 (ITUC OnLine): Trade unions from the Commonwealth countries are calling on leaders at the 52-member Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London on 19-20 March to act on jobs, democracy, development and climate.  The biennial summit brings together national leaders from the grouping that includes more than a third of the world’s population.

In a submission to the meeting, the Commonwealth Trade Union Group puts forward a set of priorities which Commonwealth countries should implement.  They include:

- an annual Commonwealth Labour Ministers meeting to tackle the jobs crisis
- full ratification of the ILO core conventions by all Commonwealth countries 
- action against modern slavery including due diligence in supply chains 
- the development of a youth employment strategy with support for vocational education and quality apprenticeships 
- adoption of ambitious climate plans to keep the global temperature rise below 2 degrees 
- resources and support for development of small island states 
- strong audit and peer review mechanisms to implement the Harare Declaration 
- maintaining pressure for the restoration of democracy in Fiji and for an end to persistent breaches of the Commonwealth Charter by Swaziland 
- incorporating LGBTI rights in the 2018 CHOGM Declaration.

“The Commonwealth is founded on the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.  At a time when these values are under strong attack in every region of the world, this large gathering of national leaders in London should adopt clear and robust measures to defend democracy and human rights, create jobs and ensure economic development.  With Commonwealth countries amongst those hardest hit by devastating climate disasters, a just transition to a zero-carbon zero-poverty future must be an absolute priority for the Commonwealth’s member states,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

The ITUC represents 207 million members of 331 affiliates in 163 countries and territories.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department press@ituc-csi.org

Above media advice from ITUC 

A significant number of PSI Union Affiliates , in the Asia Pacific Region, reside in Countries that are part of the Commonwealth . 

The Commonwealth is made up of Countries see  http://www.commonwealthofnations.org/commonwealth/commonwealth-membership/commonwealth-members/  

As well as Associated & Overseas Territories http://www.commonwealthofnations.org/commonwealth/commonwealth-membership/associated-and-overseas-territories/ 

When governments refuse unions the right to protest, it's because they know: union power is real l! Solidarity with our comrades in Fiji.

Fiji Trades Union Congress-FTUC

Fiji Trades Union Congress Womens Committee

Public Employees Union (Fiji)

From PSI https://www.facebook.com/PSIglobalunion/photos/a.393592470717.178097.56171560717/10155223110495718/?type=3&theater

Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments

In the lead up to the United Nations (UN) HABITAT meetings , an organisation , named the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments has been building an alliance of Local Government Networks 

The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments is a coordination mechanism that brings together the major international networks of local governments to undertake joint advocacy relating to international policy processes, particularly the climate change agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals and Habitat III.

The Global Task Force, is calling on UN member states to give local authorities special status to play their full role as active partners both at Habitat III and the overall UN system.

More on this can be located at 

https://www.habitat3.org/

https://www.habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda/about

http://www.gtf2016.org/

CLGF Pacific coordinates Vanuatu consultation on localising SDGs

Following the suggestion of the CLGF Board to include a Pacific small state in the UN consultation on the SDGs, Vanuatu has been included as a Pacific case study. CLGF Pacific with support from the UN-Habitat and UNDP Pacific has helped coordinate various territorial and national dialogues in Vanuatu, in accordance with the UN Guidelines. The report will be published alongside other consultation  reports.

Advice from CLGF - news 

Local government across the Commonwealth - news items from the CLGF

Bangladesh: PM backs decentralisation

Prime Minister Sheikh Kasina has given her commitment to decentralise power for empowerment and more participation of the people in running state and national development activities, and to strengthen local government by decentralising power. Read more

Canada: Ontario makes gas tax permanent for municipal projects

The federal government of Ontario is making the federal gas tax fund a permanent fixture for supporting infrastructure projects in Ontario municipalities. The deal is part of the federal Building Canada plan, which transfers $53 billion to Canadian local governments over 10 years. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford called the move “absolutely fantastic.” Read more

India: City-wide low carbon lighting in Kolkata

Kolkata has reduced its street lighting costs by 40% according to the results of a LED street lighting pilot in the city. The compelling energy savings has led to the local government deciding to make the switch to low carbon lighting across the city. Read more

Jamaica: Local elections in 2015

CLGF Patron and the Prime Minister of Jamaica Hon Portia Simpson Miller has announced that Jamaicans will go to the polls in 2015 for local government elections. Read more New Zealand: Strengthening local economies More than 550 delegates representing central government, stakeholders, and the councils around New Zealand came together at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) 2014 Conference in Nelson on 20-22 July to discuss the theme Powering local economies, building vibrant communities. CLGF Chairperson and LGNZ President Mayor Lawrence Yule said, “We are seeking a commitment from central government to work on a joint national strategy to strengthen the future of provincial New Zealand, and ensure growth across all of the country.” CLGF Deputy Secretary-General Lucy Slack represented CLGF at the conference. Read more

Uganda: Bonds to provide new funding source

Local governments are being encouraged to look at new ways of raising funds following new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Local Government on how to source funds from the capital markets by issuing bonds. Read more

UK: Ambitions for local government in Wales

Local Government Minister of Wales and CLGF Board member, Lesley Griffiths has unveiled a consultation paper setting out the Welsh Government’s ambitions for the future of Local Government in Wales. The White paper includes ideas on merging local authorities, changing the way councils make decisions, improving how they connect with their communities and developing how they improve performance to achieve better outcomes. Read more

UK: Number of councils in Northern Ireland reduced

The number of councils is being reduced from 26 to 11 following the implementation of the Northern Ireland Local Government Act 2014. There will also be a transfer of powers to the 11 councils in the areas of planning, roads, housing, community development, local economic development and tourism. The new structure will come into existence in April 2015. Read more

CLGF local government awareness workshop in Sri Lanka

Over 85 local government officers participated in an awareness workshop conducted by CLGF and FSLGA in partnership with the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry and the Commonwealth Secretariat on Strengthening Local Governance for National Development in Colombo. The workshop explored the national policy on local government and ways to strengthen participatory governance and effective service delivery. Read more at http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/over-85-local-govt-officers-participate-workshop


Advice from CLGF 

Improving source revenues in Sri Lanka - CLGF

A workshop on improving source revenues of the Matale District Local Authorities was held in Matale undas part of the Strengthening Local Governance for National Development project,  a joint programme of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities with the support of the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The project also ran a provincial dialogue on national local gvoernemnt policy in Sabaragamuwa province on 16 June. The event was Chaired by Chief Minister Hon Maheepala Herath and involved provincial administrative officers, council chairpersons and council secretaries of Ratnapura and Kegalle districts. Read more

Strengthening LED in Bangladesh - CLGF

A pilot project on LED in Bangladesh will look at strengthening local government's own-source funding, community participation and awareness of LED, supporting the development of local LED strategies and building partnerships with civil society and the private sector. CLGF is working with the Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum (BUPF) and Democracy Watch on the implementation of the project as part of its work in South Asia under the DFID-funded programme on Supporting Local Governance and LED. South Asia project office Anuya Kuwar visited Bangladesh recently to meet with partners and visited two of the three union parishads (UP) – Palashabari and Shahpara - where the pilots will be implemented to look at their key challenges and what LED activities would be most 
appropriate.

Pacific local government sets out agenda for the future - CLGF

Local government in the Pacific has a clear developmental focus and a key role in encouraging local economic development and in addressing climate change and responding to disasters, according to delegates at the recent 2014 Pacific Local Government Forum, held in Port Moresby from 19-23 May.
The Forum, which had the theme Pacific futures: building our local communities, was hosted by the Ministry of Intergovernmental Relations, Papua New Guinea. Speakers included PNG Prime Minister Hon Peter O'Neil and CLGF Patron and Prime Minister of Tuvalu Hon Enele Sopoaga,
Delegates agreed a set of recommendation in the Port Moresby Declaration on Pacific futures: building our local communities. Read more

Pacific Local Government Forum 2014 opens in PNG

Over 100 local government leaders from eleven countries in the Pacific region have come together in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea for the 3rd Pacific Local Government Forum (PLGF) that runs from 19-23 May. The biennial conference organised by CLGF Pacific is being jointly hosted by the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs and the National Capital District Commission of Papua New Guinea. The Forum is being attended by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon Peter O’Neill, CLGF Patron and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu Hon Enele Sopoaga, the PNG Minister for Intergovernment Relations, Hon Leo Dion, the Governor of the National Capital District Hon Powes Parkop, CLGF Chairperson Mayor Lawrence Yule and CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright.

Advice from CLGF 

PSI was able to have voice at the meeting around skills and training via ALGT - a skills an honourary skills and training organisation based in Australia that has a long history of working with local govt industry and Unions 

Building advocacy capacity of local government in Pakistan

Following the successful local government elections in Balochistan in December 2013, CLGF is looking at ways to further strengthen local government capacity in Pakistan by providing technical support and facilitate exchange of good practice.  Dr Munawwar Alam, CLGF Adviser, recently visited the Rural Development Academy in Quetta, and met with the Director General Mohammad Hanif Baloch along with the Academy Director Naimatullah Baber and discussed ways in which various courses are helping councillors and provincial government officials. Dr Alam also met with Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and congratulated him on the successful elections last year and discussed ways to help strengthen local government. CLGF will be hostin g a training event on ‘Strengthening advocacy capacity of local government associations in Pakistan’ from 6-9 May in London. The event being held in partnership with the Local Government Association of England and Wales (LGA) and will help develop a strategic plan for enhancing local government activities in Pakistan. Read more

Advice from CLGF www.clgf.org.uk

Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) - Strengthening provincial administration in Sri Lanka

CLGF hosted the first ever provincial dialogue on the national policy on local government in Kandy on 5 April, addressed by Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayake. The policy dialogue discussed ways to strengthen provincial administration for national development, as part of the CLGF DFID-funded project on Strengthening local governance for national development – an initiative of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), run in partnership with Commonwealth Secretariat, Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Associations (FSLGA)  and the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils. Officials from the provincial council of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts participated in the dialogue. Read more  

Advice from CLGF www.clgf.org.uk

Working towards localised " Sustainable Development Goals "

The eighth session of the UN Open Working Group (OWG 8) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took place from 3-7 February in New York. The Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments stressed the importance of ‘democratic self-governing, participative, efficient, accountable and resourced local government within the framework of a better intergovernmental coordination’ in order for the SDGs to be successful. CLGF and UCLG were part of the Global Taskforce delegation at OWG8. CLGF delegation included Jamaican Board member Minister Arscott and Secretary-General Carl Wright. Minister Arscott highlighted the role of local government in sustainable development and called for a broad SDG on sustainable urbanisation with strong components on safety, accountability, basic service delivery, equality and resilience that are underpinned by clear governance targets. Read Minister Arscott’s statement. Following the OWG8, CLGF Deputy Secretary-General Lucy Slack participated in a follow up meeti ng of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments in Brussels on 18 February to discuss the outcomes of the open working group and the way forward. Ms Slack presented CLGF Secretary-General’s report on the outcomes of OWG8 to the meeting. Read more

Port Vila Municipal Council

Newly elected members of the Port Vila Municipal Council took part in Local Electors Leadership (LEL) training on 7 February. Funded by Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)  Pacific and the Port Vila Municipal Council and hosted by the Director of the Department of Local Authorities (DLA); the training helped the newly elected Councillors to better understand their role and covered a range of areas including representation, communication, policy making, overseeing, facilitating, negotiation, decision-making, financing, institutional building and leadership. .... Advice from CLGF 
" Training programs such as this provided by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum , in turn benefit local government employees - for more work on the areas of interest to both local govt employees and and there councils, see a range of issues including good governance , transparency , equity and more at www.clgf.org.uk  - Greg McLean " 

Elected women in India win CLGF support

The Maharashtra Panchayat Elected Women Representatives’ Association is one of the first projects to receive support from CLGF’s regional South Asia programme. It will support newly elected women in their elected roles. CLGF funding will help the project to create strong institutional structures, track the progress of its members, increase the association’s outreach and impact, pilot intervention strategies and create knowledge management platforms for advocacy and dissemination. The anticipated outcomes include empowering women both as citizens and local government representatives and increasing the association’s capacity to empower and support women more generally. Read more

Advice  enews@clgf.org.uk

Implementing the EU Communication on Empowering Local Authorities and Transforming local government in Europe - CLGF

Implementing the EU Communication on Empowering Local Authorities 

Following the publication of the EU Communication “Empowering local authorities in partner countries for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes” CLGF and other members of the Platforma network (comprising European and international associations of local and regional authorities, as well as regions and cities, active in development cooperation) came together on 20 November in Brussels to discuss a strategic approach to delivering the objectives set out in the Communication. The meeting also facilitated exchange of views on the response to be given to the Communication and proposal regarding the European Commission support to the future activities. CLGF Deputy Secretary-General Lucy Slack presented th e draft proposal on behalf of the drafting committee and this will be further developed into a concept note to be presented to the EC. In addition, CLGF Deputy SG and South Africa Project Manager Nyasha Simbanegavi participated in a meeting of EU delegations from Africa in Nairobi from 11-14 November to discuss how their work could relate more directly to reflect the new Communication priorities and give support to local government.

Transforming local government in Europe

Better use of technology, energy reduction, and boosting economic growth are the key ways that local government in Europe is transforming local government in response to austerity measures, according to the participants at the recent CLGF European Members meeting in Dublin, Ireland, chaired by CLGF Board member from Cyprus Mayor Lazoros Savvides. The meeting, hosted by Dublin City Council brought CLGF members from Europe to the capital of Ireland to meet with their counterparts from the Emerald Isle, which is itself in the midst of a major reform of local government. Those addressing the meeting included Irish Tanaiste, Mayor of Dublin, President of Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) and Mayor of Belfast. Read more

Advice from  CLGF  enews@clgf.org.uk

Focus for LED in the Pacific & Promoting women’s participation in decision making

Local government officials from four local government associations and departments of national governments in Kiribati, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Marshall Islands met in Nadi from 14-18 October for a workshop to develop a strategic plan for the Pacific Island Local Government Association Network (PILGAN). The workshop provided a platform for dialogue on best practice strategies to promote LED in the region. The workshop was organised by CLGF Pacific, which also acts as PILGAN secretariat.

CLGF hosted a side event on ‘Building Women in Local Government Coalitions’ during the Triennial Conference of Pacific Women in Cook Islands on 20 October. The event heard voices of women in local government while showcasing examples of joint work done by women civil society organisations (CSOs) and local government to advance women’s participation in decision-making. The event brought together over 30 delegates who recommended development of training programmes to enable capacity building, in addition to establishment of a Women's Participation in Local Government Coalition consisting of women CSOs, media/community radio networks and local government networks. This work is in line with the Commonwealth Heads of Government’s endorsement of the importance of women’s economic empowerment and leadership. Read more

enews@clgf.org.uk