Especially since the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, trade unions around the world have become more active on environmental issues, and on networking and building alliances with other groups.
Source: Agricultural Workers and Their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
Trade unions can use their workplace representation and structures, organizational abilities, experience of collective bargaining, technical know-how and education and training programmes, as well as their political commitment, to enhance their contributions to the achievement of sustainable agricultural production, food security and sustainable development.
Contracts of employment prevailing in agriculture display a great diversity, both within and between countries. Seasonal, daily and permanent contracts of employment can be found alongside task or piece rate employment. Permanent contracts are the least common form of contract and their share in total agricultural employment has been declining in most countries.
With a rising share of waged labour in agriculture and an increasing percentage of total output marketed domestically or internationally, concern for better conditions of employment at work should at least match concern for product quality standards. Improvements in conditions of employment at work are a necessary prerequisite to modernization and the opening of markets and they can stimulate economic efficiency by raising labour productivity. Such improvements should be considered as an investment rather than a social cost.
Source: Agricultural Workers and Their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
Written by Peter Hurst in collaboration with Paola Termine and Marilee Karl
Food and Agriculture Organization
International Labour Organization
Translated and adapted version in Bulgarian
Access to labour markets is particularly important for many of the rural poor as hiring out their labour power may be their sole source of income. Often, the only asset possessed by waged agricultural workers is their labour.
Agricultural Workers and Their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
Written by Peter Hurst in collaboration with Paola Termine and Marilee Karl