Current Projects

Project: Assistance to the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) to conduct a series of Workshops on Trade.
Agency/Counterpart: Caribbean Policy Development Centre

Overview

C-TRADECOM, under its Civil Society Outreach Program, is supporting this CPDC project which is designed to raise the level of education and awareness among the region's trade unions on issues relating to globalization and trade liberalization.

CPDC, in collaboration with the Regional Labour College, will conduct four regional education and training seminars for shop stewards on key aspects of the ongoing trade negotiations and the likely challenges and potentials of trade liberalization. The seminars will be supported by the development of a manual and other resource material to support ongoing training in this area.

The objectives of the seminars are:

* To increase the awareness of trade union officials on the nature of trade liberalization and the ongoing negotiations particularly the WTO and FTAA

* To develop a training manual to support ongoing training of union officials

* To encourage union officials to engage in ongoing training of workers.

Rationale

As the Caribbean engages the trade liberalization process in several arenas, fundamental changes are taking place. While the trade unions are expected to face a number of challenges, this constituency must also be exposed to the potential positive gains from trade liberalization. Some of these challenges may result in some worker dislocation but at the same time trade liberalization can provide new opportunities in other areas. In light of this, it is important for trade unions to understand and be prepared to deal with these issues.

Topics to be covered will include: The Caribbean in the International Trading Environment; The WTO, FTAA, Cotonou - History, Evolution, Opportunities and Challenges; The CARICOM Single MArket and Economy - Freedom of Movement; The State of the Game - Where are the Negotiations Currently; The Changing Nature of Work in the Global Environment; Services, INvestment and Government Procurement - Where is the Worker in These Agreements; Effective Trade Union Responses in the Present Environment.

The first seminar will be held in Barbados on July 19-20, 2004. For more information, please contact CPDC at (246) 437-6055 or cpdc@caribnet.net