Despite growing challenges to multilateralism, the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Ministerial Declaration marks a significant victory for workers.
The United Nations HLPF is the official global monitoring space on the implementation of Agenda 2030. From 14 to 23 July, it reviewed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) directly related to trade union priorities, such as SDG 3 (right to health), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth).
For the second year running, the Ministerial Declaration issued at the conclusion of the Forum was adopted by a majority vote rather than by consensus. Controversial issues included sexual health and reproductive rights, non-discrimination, and universal principles and rights at work.
This is an indication that both multilateral cooperation and the human rights principles that underpin it are under stress. As the UN80 reform marches on, the global trade union movement is determined to address these challenges by fighting for a stronger UN social development mandate rooted in international solidarity, democracy and human rights.
Notwithstanding the tense negotiations, the co-facilitators managed to ensure that an ambitious text was adopted, with many welcome commitments that can serve as strong levers for the international labour movement.
Notable commitments include:
- Reaffirmation that international cooperation, multilateralism, and international solidarity at all levels are the best means of addressing global challenges.
- Recognition that guaranteeing workers’ rights contributes to the achievement of sustainable development beyond SDG8: for example, SDG 5 (gender equality) recognises the importance of “promoting, respecting, protecting and fulfilling women’s rights to work and rights at work, including the right to organise and bargain collectively”; likewise, SDG 3 (right to health) recognises the importance of decent work for health workers, including a safe working environment and protection from discrimination and harassment.
- Strong commitment to gender equality in the world of work, including equal access of women to decent work and quality jobs, equal pay for work of equal value and investments in the care economy.
- Strong commitment to fundamental principles and rights at work, social dialogue and the role of social partners in advancing social justice: the text commits to “promoting and strengthening social dialogue” and “recognises the role and positive contributions of the International Labour Organization and its constituents, namely Governments, employers and workers, to promote social justice and decent work for all”. Moreover, it acknowledges that “fundamental principles and rights at work, including freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the effective abolition of child labour, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, and a safe and healthy working environment, are vital to the eradication of poverty and reducing inequality through decent work and the provision of universal social protection”.
The ambition of the text – in terms of its commitments to multilateralism, decent work and social dialogue – provides trade unions with a strong basis to keep pushing for governments to include social partners in SDGs policies at national and international levels.
“In spite of the current concerted attack against multilateralism, the HLPF 2025 Ministerial Declaration has delivered for workers.”ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle
“This achievement shows that the SDGs remain our best blueprint and proves what the UN social development mandate can deliver. To those who say that the SDGs are a lost fight – we say that the SDGs are the most advanced vision of sustainable development multilateralism has ever delivered. They unite us and give us a vision of the world we want and the world we must keep building.”
