The 13th Ministerial Conference, which took place from 26 February to 2 March 2024, was unable to lead the World Trade Organisation out of its deadlock. The organisation has been in crisis for some time and has been deemed incapable of acting since 2019. The reasons for this are to be found in long-standing structural weaknesses, which are exacerbated by current geopolitical developments. Socially and environmentally sustainable global trade remains out of reach.

On 1 February 2024, the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the so-called Single Market Emergency Instrument, which was proposed by the EU Commission in September 2022. The aim of this instrument is to ensure the supply of goods and services as well as the free movement of goods, services and persons for people and businesses even in times of crisis. However, the instrument has weaknesses that are to the detriment of employees.

On the occasion of the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2024, the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) wish to highlight the urgent need for reforms to achieve a socially just, less crisis-prone and environmentally sustainable global economy.

In November 2023, the EU Parliament has adopted its position on the Forced Labour Regulation proposed by the EU Commission, followed by the Council in January 2024. Trilogue negotiations will begin shortly. Together with civil society organisations and trade unions, AK EUROPA points out in this open letter essential elements that the proposed regulation should contain in order to effectively combat forced labour.

The EU's trade and investment agreement with Chile will be put to the vote in the European Parliament on 29 February. From AK's point of view, the agreement is highly problematic, as it has a negative impact on environmental and social standards, among other. The EU is thus moving a step further away from its goal of using trade policy to contribute to the objectives of the Green Deal.

The Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK) strictly rejects the new principle of "priority for SMEs" in the SME relief package, because prioritizing SMEs raises fears of negative effects for all other interests (consumers, employees, climate, etc.) and thus no balance with other policy areas is possible.

On 24 January, the EU's trade and investment agreement with Chile is on the agenda of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) and on 29 February the vote will be held in the European Parliament’s plenary session.

The Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) resolutely oppose the agreement with Chile.

The EU Supply Chain Law obliges companies to identify, eliminate, prevent, mitigate and account for negative impacts of their business activities on human rights and the environment in their global value chains. On 14 December, the EU Parliament, Council and Commission announced the trilogue agreement.

According to a recent estimate by the International Labour Organization, around 28 million people worldwide live in forced labour, including more than 3 million children. Forced labour is a global problem that also affects Europe. In September 2022, the EU Commission presented a proposal for a regulation banning products made with forced labour on the EU market.

The Brussels Offices of the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) are pleased to invite you to the joint event "75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - How can we put an end to products of forced labour?"