The Partnership for Workers’ Rights (PWR) is an initiative to advance the rights of working people in the global economy. PWR was launched in 2023 by the United States and Brazil. South Africa joined the Partnership in 2024, and it is anticipated that other countries will join in the near future. In its first year, PWR invested more than $30 million in programs around the world to strengthen workers’ rights.
Currently, PWR focuses on six priority areas:
- Empowering Workers
- Combating Forced Labor, Including in Supply Chains
- Countering Discrimination in the World of Work
- Leading a Global Campaign to Address Workplace Heat Stress
- Supporting Decent Work through Engagement in Multilateral Organizations
PWR builds on decades of cooperation between the U.S. and Brazil on labor and employment matters. This partnership also engages with unions and employers, in addition to the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Joint Action: Protect Workers from Extreme Heat!
In July 2024, Brazil and the U.S. launched a campaign to urge global collaboration to protect workers from extreme heat at the G20 Labor and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil. This PWR campaign aims to protect more workers and spur increased action not only within the U.S. and Brazil but beyond. Lines of effort under the campaign include:
- Strengthening partnerships with workers, employers, and other governments;
- Building the evidence base on how best to protect workers from heat stress;
- Raising awareness about the dangers of hazardous heat exposure and relevant rights and protections; and
- Expanding international cooperation and policy exchanges.
According to the ILO, more than 2.4 billion workers are impacted by workplace heat stress, posing a risk not only to the individuals but also to their families and communities, all around the world. Heat stress increases mental strain and other accidents and illnesses at work, as nearly 20,000 lives are lost annually due to the 23 million occupational injuries attributable to excessive heat. Heat can severely affect workers' mental health, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and cognitive impairments. Progress towards establishing regulations, standards, and industry best practices to combat heat stress has been uneven across the broader international community. This disparity underscores the necessity of a global campaign to address heat-related challenges in the workplace - and the importance of strengthening worker voice to address the problem.
Resources
G20 OSH Network’s Annex to the 2024 G20 Labor and Employment Ministers Meeting (LEMM)