Chapter 1 - Preamble

Section 1 - Social & Economic Dimensions

Section 2 - Conservation and Management of Resources

Section 3 - Strengthening the Role of Major Groups
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32

Section 4 - Means of Implementation

Complete text of Agenda 21: Chapter 29
Chapter 29: Workers and Trade Unions

Workers will be among those most affected by the changes needed to achieve sustainable development. Trade unions, which have experience in dealing with industrial change, have a vital role to play in achieving sustainable development. They see protection of the workplace and the related environment and the promotion of socially responsible development as priorities.

Governments, business and industry should foster the active and informed participation of workers and trade unions in shaping and implementing environment and development strategies at both the national and international levels. These strategies will affect employment policies, industrial strategies, labour adjustment programmes and technology transfers.

The goal is full employment which contributes to sustainable livelihoods in safe, clean and healthy environments, at work and beyond.

Groups involving workers, employers and governments should be set up to deal with safety, health, environmental awareness and sustainable development.

Unions and employers should design joint environmental policies, and set priorities to improve the working environment and the overall environmental performance of business. Trade unions should develop sustainable development policies, and there should be more collective agreements aimed at achieving sustainability. There is a need for more worker education and training, both in occupational health and safety, and in skills for sustainable livelihoods.

For labor to fully support sustainable development, governments and employers should promote workers’ rights to freedom of association and the right to organize.

Workers will be among those most affected by the changes needed to achieve sustainable development.

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