The Programme for Workers’ Activities is the training arm of the Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) of the ILO. The Programme responds to the training needs of workers' organizations through courses, materials, projects and advisory services.
It is the largest international labour education programme in the world and offers free training opportunities to leaders, senior activists and technical staff of workers' organizations.
The Programme runs:
- residential training courses in Turin
- follow-up seminars and training activities that assess the impact of its activities, as well as providing further advanced training
- online labour education
- staff training for ACTRAV.
Training courses mainly concern:
- international labour standards and the use of the ILO supervisory system
- implementation of the Social Justice Declaration and the Decent Work Agenda
- employment and development policies and poverty-reduction strategies
- social protection and occupational safety and health, with a focus on HIV-AIDS
- social dialogue
- collective bargaining and organizing
- gender and women workers' rights
- training of trainers and training methodology
- the use of information technology by trade unions.
The Secretary of the Workers' Group of the ILO Governing Body plays a central role in choosing the organizations eligible to send participants to the activities. No participant is enrolled directly in the activities without going through that process.
The Programme has developed a set of computer communication tools known as SoliComm, Solidarity Communications. It uses them for pre-course orientation and post-course follow-up. Moreover, labour organizations can use them for building networks, organizing educational activities, conducting campaigns and more. They encompass e-mail, mailing lists, computer conferencing, websites and an e-library.
Upcoming courses
Trade Union Training on the future of work/Formacion syndical sobre el futuro del trabajo
The role of tripartism, social dialogue and collective bargaining
The role of tripartism, social dialogue and collective bargaining
The rapid pace of change in economic globalization and technology, as well as demographic and climatic changes, has been accompanied by rapid changes in the world of work with high levels of uncertainty and insecurity. Read More
Trade union training on the future of work: The role of social dialogue and collective bargaining
Trade union training on the future of work: The role of social dialogue and collective bargaining
The rapid pace of change through economic globalization and technology, as well as demographic and climatic changes, has been accompanied by rapid changes in the world of work with high levels of uncertainty and insecurity. Read More
Global Workers Academy on Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience; Transition from war to peace - Recommendation 205 -
Global Workers Academy on Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience; Transition from war to peace - Recommendation 205 -
In June 2016, the International Labour Conference launched the revision of the Employment (Transition from War to Peace) Recommendation, 1944 (No. Read More
Trade Union Training on Labour Migration and Decent Work
Trade Union Training on Labour Migration and Decent Work
This course aims to strengthen trade unions' capacity to defend and promote the rights of migrant workers within the frameworks of the ILO's fair migration agenda and fair recruitment initiative, DWCP and SDG processes. Read More
Global Workers' Academy on the Future of Work: Organizing and Collective Bargaining
Global Workers' Academy on the Future of Work: Organizing and Collective Bargaining
The accelerated pace of change in globalization, technology, demographics and climate change has led to rapid transformations in the world of work and has been accompanied by high levels of uncertainty, fear and insecurity. Read More
