The Due Diligence Directive has come under severe pressure since the new European Commission took office, against a backdrop of increased pressure from US lobbies and major polluting industries, the strengthening of conservative and far-right alliances within the European Parliament, and in the Council, where a majority of Member States are now governed by right-wing or conservative governments. This article looks back at the ‘saga’ of the first Omnibus Directive and analyses the effects of this initiative, which has contributed to weakening (or even unravelling) what was initially an ambitious directive. The directive aimed to guarantee the protection of human rights and the environment, whilst establishing corporate responsibility throughout the value chain. The aim was, in particular, to prevent regulatory forum shopping and a race to the bottom between legal systems, which tend to erode working conditions in countries where labour is cheaper. Above all, however, this directive would have held companies accountable for preventing and remedying human rights violations and environmental damage, the effects of which are most often felt at the end of the supply chain.
Read moreWith more than 150 million people worldwide working in the digital platform economy across a wide range of sectors—including transportation, delivery, personal and pet care, home services, tutoring, and data processing—it is essential to establish an appropriate and effective regulatory framework so that these workers can assert their social rights and benefit from social protection. This publication brings together our main demands aimed at genuinely ensuring formal and decent work on digital platforms, in line with the key recommendations of a recent study by HIVA (KU Leuven—a Belgian university) on digital labor platforms in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights the main challenges related to social protection and informal work on digital labor platforms around five key principles: legal recognition of the employment relationship, social protection, anti-discrimination measures, algorithmic transparency, and worker representation.
Read morePending challenges for workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC's) | With more than 150 million people worldwide working in the digital platform economy across a wide range of sectors - including transportation, delivery, personal and pet care, domestic services, tutoring, data processing services - it is essential to ensure an appropriate and effective regulatory framework so these workers can uphold their social rights and benefit from social protection. This recent study from HIVA (KU Leuven- a Belgian University) shows that the vast majority of digital labour platforms in low and middles income countries score very low on the five Fairwork principles. It highlights the main issues regarding social protection and informal work in digital labour platforms, presenting key recommendations to ensure decent work regarding the legal recognition of work relationship, social protection, anti-discrimination measures, algorithmic transparency and workers representation and guides us through the reality in 4 countries : Brazil, Peru, Burkina Faso and Indonesia.
Read moreFrom November 4 to 6, 2025, 30 years after the Copenhagen Summit, the 2nd World Summit for Social Development will be held in Doha to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals agenda and ensure the effective re-engagement of states in the fight against inequality. WSM and members of the INSP!R Network will be present at this Summit to advocate for global investment in Universal, Comprehensive, and Sustainable Social Protection as a driver of development and a transformative force for greater social justice. In the publication below, you will find the demands of WSM, ACV-CSC, the National Alliance of Christian Mutualities and the INSP!R network for this Summit.
Read morePOLICY BRIEF | WSM’s work over the past 50 years demonstrates the critical role that trade unions and other civil society actors can play in advocating for a transformative development model that recognizes the right to universal social protection and decent work as key drivers of resilience, social justice and sustainable development.
Read morePOLICY BRIEF | This policy brief presents key insights on strengthening social protection governance through civil societyi participation. It summarizes a larger study on the role of civil society in social protection governance1 to inform policy makers, civil society actors, and other actors of Belgium’s international cooperation working on social protection. The brief first discusses how civil society participation can strengthen different dimensions of social protection governance, in different stages of the policy cycle. It then turns to key strategies, opportunities, and challenges for enabling and promoting the contributory roles of civil society towards stronger social protection governance. Both this brief and the larger study depart from the premise that the structural and meaningful participation of civil society in a so-called tripolar governance model can contribute to inclusive, democratic, and effective governance for sustainable development; social protection is a key aspect of sustainable development and therefore a key policy area for exploring the potential value of a tripolar governance model.
Read moreThe representatives of several organizations and international institutions met in a webinar on February 23, 2023, to share goals and with the objective of chieving global social justice for all citizens of the world. Indeed, WSM, INSP!R, WIEGO, RIPESS Intercontinental and IYCW, together with the ILO, members of Civil Society organizations and more than 150 participants from all over the world discussed the ins and outs of the Social and Solidarity Economy — SSE —, which was the subject of a Resolution adopted at the 110th International Labor Conference — ILC — on Decent Work and the Social and Solidarity Economy.
Read moreSummary of the world social protection report 2020-2022
Read moreA vision and strategy paper of INSP!R on the right to social protection
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