Please share your Resources with us. Resources include research, reports, education materials, journal articles, manuals, posters, pamphlets, videos. We welcome your contribution – you can send us files, or links to resources with an introduction of how to use them. Contact ifweasecretariat@lrs.org.za

Themes

All
Building Democratic Trade Unions
Collective Bargaining and Workers’ Rights in the Workplace
Gender Equality
Mobilising for socio, economic and political campaigns
Occupational Health and Safety
Organising and Educating Young Workers
Participatory Learning Methods and Popular Education
Precarious and Informal Work
Recruitment Campaigns
Using Media to Organise
Women’s Leadership and Development

World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO) – May 2025

WHAT’S INSIDE: The latest edition of the World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO) Trends reveals new data on job growth forecasts, shifting employment trends, income inequality, and the implications of technological change. It also explores the risks tied to rising geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions, and their ripple effects across regions and sectors.

ITUC Global Rights Index 2025

WHAT’S INSIDE: This is the 12th edition of the ITUC Global Rights Index, the only comprehensive, worldwide annual study of the violation of workers’ rights - freedoms that form the basis of the democratic rule of law and fair working conditions for all. The 2025 Index is an urgent call to action to resist this coup against democracy before irreparable damage is done.

None of Us is Free Until All of Us are Free: New Perspectives on Global Solidarity

WHAT’S INSIDE: This publication brings together essays from 2020 to 2024 on the theme of global solidarity in the early 21st century. Edited by William Minter in collaboration with Imani Countess, it features a foreword by Graça Machel. The chapters in the book include sections on trade unions and workers, just transition and more.

World Social Protection Report 2024 – 2025

WHAT’S INSIDE: This ILO flagship report provides a global overview of progress made around the world since 2015 in extending social protection, with a sharp focus on the climate crisis and the need for climate action to transition to a more sustainable world. The report identifies protection gaps and sets out key policy recommendations, including targets.

The Future of Jobs Report 2025

WHAT’S INSIDE: This publication brings together the perspective of over 1,000 leading global employers - collectively representing more than 14 million workers across 22 industry clusters and 55 economies from around the world - to examine how macrotrends impact jobs and skills, and the workforce transformation strategies employers plan to embark on in response.

Global Wage Report 2024 – 2025

WHAT’S INSIDE: The Global Wage Report 2024-25 provides a detailed look at wage trends around the world and in different regions, highlighting changes in wage inequality and real wage growth. It explores key challenges workers face globally and sheds light on patterns of income differences between and within countries. The information is useful for collective bargaining.

A study on the employment and wage outcomes of people with disabilities

WHAT’S INSIDE: People with disabilities are less likely to be part of the labour market and they tend to earn less when they are, according to this new working paper from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Individuals with disabilities also face higher unemployment rates and are more likely to be self- employed.

Trade Unions and LGBTQ+ Workers in the Transportation Sector

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report investigates the experiences of LGBT+ workers in the transport industry, and the work of unions in finding creative responses to challenges facing these workers. Using a case study approach, the project interviewed eight unions representing global transport workers.

MOJA Journal of Adult Education

WHAT’S INSIDE: The second issue of the MOJA journal series focuses on Building Community Food Systems and Livelihoods. It arose from a broader discussion on conceptualising and fostering hope and possibility during crises, and draws attention to the work of adult educators working in community food systems and livelihoods.

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024

WHAT’S INSIDE: Now in its 11th year, the Global Rights Index offers an important status report on the worldwide struggle to defend and exercise core pillars of democracy: the fundamental rights and freedoms of working people and trade unions, which governments and companies are globally attempting to trample.

Learning from the past for the future: Signposts and landmark anniversaries in adult learning and education

WHAT’S INSIDE: This special issue is oriented towards the future of adult education, within the wider landscape of lifelong learning. In looking ahead, the publishers believe it is important to appreciate, develop and build upon, past developments.

ITF Proposals for Financing Sustainable Transport

WHAT’S INSIDE: This document prepared by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has two parts. Part one analyses the landscape of climate finance for transport in the Global South. Part two outlines ITF proposals for a new model for financing sustainable transport.

Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report estimates the profits generated from forced labour in the world today. These profits reflect the wages effectively stolen from the pockets of workers by the perpetrators of forced labour through their coercive practices. Understanding these illicit profits is critical.

Adult Education and Social Justice: International Perspectives

WHAT’S INSIDE: Lalage Bown, a prominent figure in adult education, dedicated her life to promoting social justice through education, particularly in post-colonial regions. This book explores the contemporary relevance of her work and aims to honour her legacy.

Preventing and addressing violence and harassment in the world of work through occupational safety and health measures

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report highlights the pervasive issue of violence and harassment (V&H) in workplaces worldwide, affecting more than one in five employed individuals. It underscores the significant impact of V&H.

Women, Business and the Law 2024

WHAT’S INSIDE: The latest Women, Business, and the Law report offers a comprehensive picture of the obstacles that women face in entering the global workforce and contributing to greater prosperity—for themselves, their families, and their communities. It expands the scope of its analysis, adding two critical indicators.

Craft Supply Chains in Africa: Consolidating our findings

WHAT’S INSIDE: The indigenous knowledge, traditions, creativity and skills encapsulated in the crafts we find across Africa give them an intrinsic value that no industrial production can match. But is that value recognised, and are the craft makers – many of whom are women home-based workers – rewarded?

World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2024

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report reveals a complex global employment scenario. It forecasts a slight increase in global unemployment in 2024, signalling labour market challenges. It notes disparities between high and low-income countries, with higher unemployment in lower-income nations.

Civil Society Spotlight Report: How far is Europe from achieving the SDGs?

WHAT’S INSIDE: This civil society spotlight report, prepared by the civil society organisations that are members of the consortium of the REAL DEAL project and members of SDG Watch Europe, explains why the EU’s SDG reporting creates an illusion of sustainability and flags up serious gaps and challenges.

Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2023

WHAT’S INSIDE: This annual review by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) offers the latest set of global renewable energy employment estimates. IRENA launched this series to provide regular updates to its assessment of renewable energy employment.

Digital Working in the Media, Arts & Entertainment Sector: Challenges and Opportunities

WHAT’S INSIDE: The Media, Arts, and Entertainment sector has seen a significant shift towards digitalisation. It has become more challenging to protect the rights, working conditions, and interests of atypical workers in this field. This study addresses these issues.

Transport 2040: Impact of Technology on Seafarers

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report confirms what the trade union movement has been arguing for decades: that humans are not going anywhere when it comes to the seafaring sector. Whatever technologies are deployed from among those currently available, seafarers and other maritime workers will continue to be critical.

Global Rights Index 2023

WHAT’S INSIDE: The 10th edition of the authoritative Global Rights Index shows that the global cost-of-living crisis has been met with a crackdown on the rights of working people in every region of the world. Key measures of violations of workers’ rights have reached record highs, recorded across both high-income and low-income countries.

Beyond Inclusion: A Queer Response To Climate Justice

WHAT’S INSIDE: Globally, LGBTQI+ groups continue to be marginalised in accessing rights, resources and decision-making processes, including discussions about climate change vulnerability and impacts. This must change to ensure climate action does not perpetuate these same injustices.

The Road to Decent Work for Domestic Workers

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report by the ILO presents key findings, country-level good practices, and detailed methodological advice regarding domestic workers and the essential role they play. Organisations and unions working with domestic workers and in the informal sector will find this useful.

The Value of Essential Work: World Employment and Social Outlook 2023

WHAT’S INSIDE: The Covid-19 pandemic has made evident the extent to which societies need key workers – in both good times and bad – but also how undervalued most key jobs are, raising concerns about the sustainability of these essential activities.

Defending Waste Pickers’ Livelihoods: Lessons from Litigation in Latin America

WHAT’S INSIDE: Waste pickers have won several legal actions in Latin America over the past two decades. This latest edition of Law & Informality Insights – Defending Waste Pickers’ Livelihoods: Lessons from Litigation in Latin America – reflects on how this was achieved.

Climate Change, Extractivism and Colonialism: Facilitators and Learners’ Handbook (2022)

WHAT’S INSIDE: This handbook aims to provide a framework for a process of co-(un)learning by exploring colonisation, colonialism and racialisation, and linking them to climate and environmental justice.

Essential Public Services, Essential Workers’ Health

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report showcases the research carried out on behalf of the ITF on the mental health of public transport workers, with a focus on young workers. The research carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021-22 shows its impact on young workers.

Winning a pay rise: Union strategies for securing minimum living wages

WHAT’S INSIDE: This new report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) illustrates the key strategies that unions around the world have used to win the introduction of or increases to national minimum wages.

Domestic Workers During the Covid-19 Crisis: Pathways of Impact, Recovery and Resilience in Six Cities

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report explores how the pandemic has exposed and worsened domestic workers’ legal, economic and social plight. It looks at how Covid-19 accentuated the mismatch between the necessity for domestic workers’ labour to sustain households and their precarious working and living conditions.

Waste Pickers During the Covid-19 Crisis: Pathways of Impact and Recovery in Five Cities

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report covers the effect on the waste-picking sector caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and presents findings from eight study cities, providing unique evidence and insight.

World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report covers the extent and consequences of the labour market disruption caused by overlapping economic and geopolitical crises, and analyses global patterns, regional differences and outcomes.

StreetNet International Global Report 2021 – 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report presents an overview of StreetNet projects, finances, activities and campaigns, as well as a snapshot of affiliate organisations regarding their membership, advocacy efforts, challenges and achievements.

ILO Global Wage Report 2022-2023

WHAT’S INSIDE: This ILO flagship report examines the evolution of real wages, giving a unique picture of wage trends globally and by region. The report also looks at changes in wage inequality and the gender pay gap brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic across regions.

Freedom Report 2022: Unions Building Peace

WHAT’S INSIDE: This Freedom Report and its case studies remind us of the critical role unions play in opposing conflict, authoritarianism, oppression and exclusion. It includes case studies on various countries, including Myanmar and Northern Ireland.

Beware of the Bot: A critical perspective on the 4IR

WHAT’S INSIDE: This booklet has been written to encourage debate amongst students and communities and to inspire much greater public debate about the 4IR, its meaning and value in contributing to a better society.

Let us not be slaves until we die: the lives of chokka fishers

WHAT’S INSIDE: A collection of life histories from South African fishers gathered through in-depth interviews, analysing fishers’ payslips, conducting desk top research on the squid fishing industry; and notes from numerous meetings.

What has a polar bear got to do with me?

WHAT’S INSIDE: This booklet contributes to the increasing body of literature, documentaries and popular texts which call for the development of a heightened consciousness about the ecological crisis and the devastating destruction of the Earth and all its life forms.

Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage

WHAT’S INSIDE: The findings presented in this report are aimed at encouraging further research and data collection efforts focused on the national and local dimensions of all forms of modern slavery.

Social Contracts and Informal Workers in the Global South

WHAT’S INSIDE: This publication draws on the accounts of informal workers to advocate for radically new conceptualisations of state-society, capital-labour and state-capital-labour relations characterised by recognition, responsiveness and reciprocity.

Advocating for informal cross-border traders

WHAT’S INSIDE: This short report showcases the experiences of StreetNet affiliates from West and Central Africa in advocating for informal cross-border traders.

Global Employment Trends for Youth 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE: Global Employment Trends for Youth sets out the youth labour market situation around the world. It shows where progress has or has not been made, updates world and regional youth labour market indicators, and gives detailed analyses of trends and issues.

The gender pay gap in the health and care sector

WHAT’S INSIDE: Covid-19 has shone a light on the critical importance of health and care workers. This report aims to drive commitment to integrated policy action on improving gender equality, decent work and economic growth, specifically in the case of health and care workers.

Global Rights Index 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE: This ninth edition of the Index ranks 148 countries by their respect for workers’ rights. As a comprehensive review of workers’ rights in law, it is the only database of its kind. Cases of violations and national ratings can be viewed by country and region. This includes the ten worst countries for working people.

Social Dialogue Report 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE: This first edition of this new ILO flagship report focuses on collective bargaining. The report examines the role of collective bargaining in mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on employment and earnings, helping to cushion inequality while reinforcing the resilience of enterprises and labour markets.

A Just Transition for the Global South

WHAT’S INSIDE: How to strengthen the collective power of civil society, trade unions and politics in order to achieve a just and democratic green transition for the Global South? Learning from alliances and movements in the Philippines and South Africa, this publication focuses on answers to this question.

ILO Monitor on the World of Work. 9th Edition

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report gives a global overview of how countries are tackling an uneven labour market recovery that has been further undermined by developments such as the Russian aggression against Ukraine, increases in inflation, and continuing strict Covid-19 containment measures.

A Transport Workers’ Tool Kit

WHAT’S INSIDE: Transport is identified in C190 as one of the sectors most exposed to violence and harassment, the toolkit helps to recognise different forms of violence and harassment; it addresses the myths, stigma and shame around these issues; and includes tools to encourage and support unions.

Citizenship and Lifelong Learning Monitor 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE: This is SOLIDAR Foundation’s flagship publication, coming into its 6th edition and analysing policy developments linked to citizenship education and lifelong learning at EU level and across Europe.

Care at work: Investing in care leave and services for a more gender equal world of work

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report provides a global overview of national laws and practices regarding care policies, namely maternity protection, paternity, parental and other care-related leave policies, as well as childcare and long-term care services.

Working for nothing in the platform economy: Forms and institutional contexts of unpaid labour

WHAT’S INSIDE: This paper aims to offer an in-depth account on the forms and conditions of unpaid labour in the platform economy, as these represent a crucial element in the way that working lives are precarious.

The Negotiator’s Guide – A guide to negotiating in a changing workplace

WHAT’S INSIDE: The Negotiator’s Guide is for working class leaders – the shop steward, the organiser, and the negotiator that wish to organise and represent workers in a world of work that has changed profoundly.

Shifting the focus: Impacts on workplaces when men engage in domestic violence

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report details the impacts of domestic violence (DV) on workplaces in Maharashtra, India and outlines eight core recommendations for employers to create safer workplaces.

World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE: This ILO flagship report details the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the world of work. The report examines the impacts of the crisis on global and regional trends.

“It’s a life-changing point for me”

WHAT’S INSIDE: This mixed method study proposes that the participatory, peer-to-peer learning during IFWEA's YGAP leads to positive, proactive activist identity change.

INAESIN Workbooks

WHAT’S INSIDE: : A series of practical workbooks which focus on a range of issues and topics including a Minimum Wage Guide, and a guide to Digital Literacy in Venezuela. (Spanish)

ENS: IVX National Report on Decent Work 2020-21

WHAT’S INSIDE: Decent work refers to four essential themes, for which this reports presents an overview in Colombia. (Spanish)

Promoting a Just Transition in Europe and Worldwide

WHAT’S INSIDE: This study stems from SOLIDAR’s growing interest in engaging with the topic of ensuring a socially Just Transition to climate neutrality.

ITF: Trade Unions and Equality: Fighting for LGBTQ Rights

WHAT’S INSIDE: This brochure outlines some of the excellent campaigning trade unions have done throughout the world on LGBTI rights. It provides practical examples of what has worked for them.

SOLIDAR Citizenship and Lifelong Learning Monitor 2020

WHAT’S INSIDE: This is a research report on the topic of policy developments in the field of attainment of skills, through lifelong learning, for active participation in society.

ITUC Global Rights Index 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE: Each year the ITUC rates countries depending on their compliance with collective labour rights, and ranks the ten worst countries for workers.

WEA Adult Education Impact Report 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE: The latest report on the impact and scope of the WEA in the UK incuding interviews and articles with staff and students.

WORLD EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE: This flagship report analyses the impact of digital labour platforms on enterprises, workers and society as a whole.

WORLD SOCIAL PROTECTION REPORT 2020 – 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE: A global overview of recent developments in social protection systems and of how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted them.

WIEGO Publications Catalogue 2020/1

WHAT’S INSIDE: WIEGO is a global network focused on empowering the working poor, especially women, in the informal economy.

Strategies for Embedding Community Engaged Learning within Universities and Communities

WHAT’S INSIDE: An action worksheet designed to facilitate community engaged learning at universities and in communities.

UNESCO Global Media and Literacy (MIL) Week: Media and Information Literacy (MIL) workshop in Cape Town, SA

Media and Information Literacy tools which promote an understanding of media content and the production and use of media, with everyday applications.

How do you smile at patient number 200? The #Care4carers campaign in South Africa

WHAT’S INSIDE: A focus on the situation of nurses and community health workers in South Africa.

Trusted to Make a Difference: Governing a non-governmental organisation

WHAT’S INSIDE: This workbook supports the effort to build trust in non-governmental organisations, both internally and externally, in order to be more effective.

ITF Youth Pack: Helping Unions to Help Organise Young Workers

WHAT’S INSIDE: A guide on how to organise and promote young worker activism. It is aimed at unionists who are seeking to strengthen their union by carrying out work with young people.

Global Labour University Programme South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

WHAT’S INSIDE: A brochure from the GLU site at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg outlining post-graduate programmes with commentary by alumni and associates.

2019 ITUC Global Rights Index: The World’s Worst Countries for Workers

WHAT’S INSIDE: This is the sixth edition of the ITUC Global Rights Index. It documents violations of internationally recognised labour rights by governments and employers.

World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2019

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report provides an overview of global and regional trends in employment, unemployment, labour force participation and productivity.

La situación de los derechos humanos de las personas recicladoras en América Latina: una mirada desde estándares internacionales

WHAT’S INSIDE: This report examines the human rights situation of waste pickers in six countries in Latin America.

Trade Unions in the Balance

WHAT’S INSIDE: A working paper by the ILO which looks at the challenges facing trade unions, and suggest four future scenarios.

Financial Reporting: 15 Key Terms to Get You Started

WHAT’S INSIDE: A guide to the tools for understanding the basics of financial reporting, which unions and shop stewards will come across specifically when bargaining for employee wages.

How to deal with the pain of others: Tips for educators, facilitators and researchers

WHAT’S INSIDE: An article which acknowledges the vicarious trauma which can be experienced by those working with trauma survivors, including victims of sexual harassment and gender based violence.

Building Bridges not Walls: The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report on migration, displacement and education

WHAT’S INSIDE: A publication by UNESCO which calls on countries to see education as a tool to manage migration and displacement and an opportunity for those needing one.

Women in Labour History

WHAT’S INSIDE: From championing better workplace conditions to cutting back the 12-hour day to demanding equal pay across racial lines, this web guide features a few of the women who have contributed to the labour movement in America.

Félagsmálaskóli alþýðu – The Shopsteward’s Handbook

WHAT’S INSIDE: A guide to the role of shopstewards, including the social and civil rights of employees.

Collective Bargaining and Workers’ Rights in the Workplace

WHAT’S INSIDE: A basic presentation that explains what collective bargaining is, and how to prepare for collective bargaining.

Future of Work in Sri Lanka: Shaping technology transitions for a brighter future

WHAT’S INSIDE: A study which asks what impact will emerging technologies have on the future world of work in Sri Lanka? Who will be the winners and losers and what can governments, industry, and citizens do to prepare for the changes that lie ahead?

Organising Manual

WHAT’S INSIDE: The ITF organising manual is for trade union educators and activists who want to develop and strengthen their organising skills.

Sacudir la indiferencia: Nuestras realidades como trabajadoras del servicio domestic

WHAT’S INSIDE: This booklet looks at the realities and challenges that face domestic workers in Colombia, and what can be done to improve the situation.

Labor Writes 2015: We are the City

WHAT’S INSIDE: A collection of essays, poetry and artwork by a diverse range of students in the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies at SUNY Empire State College in New York.

A quantum leap for gender equality: For a better future of work for all

WHAT’S INSIDE: A report arising from the ground-breaking work done by the ILO’s Women at Work Centenary Initiative, which highlights key gender gaps and obstacles to decent work for women.

Estrategias y Herramientas de Comunicacion / Communication Strategies and Tools

WHAT’S INSIDE: A course which aims to develop effective communication skills using basic tools and information technology.

Financial Education for SEWA Bank Members

WHAT’S INSIDE: A booklet for SEWA members to engage in a number of learning activities to discover how to financially plan.

The Transformation of Work: Challenges and Strategies | Putting Union Gender Equality Policy into Practice in South Africa: The Role of Transformative Leadership

WHAT’S INSIDE: A report which explores the disconnect between labour union policy and practice as it relates to gender inequalities in trade unions, workplaces and the broader community.

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