Trade union rights are democratic rights. This is becoming increasingly clear in a world where more and more regimes are limiting freedom of speech and the right to organise. Trade unions are often amongst the first to be banned from operating in countries where authoritarian leaders hold power. Through cooperation agreements with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swedish trade union movement, like other areas of civil society, has long been an important part of Swedish development aid.

The international trade union activity is based on our core trade union mission and is grounded in conventions from the United Nations and the International Labour Organization on human, trade union and democratic rights, which Sweden has also endorsed. Sida’s decision to terminate all agreements with Swedish civil society, announced in March, is likely to have severely negative consequences for the ability of Sweden’s development aid sector to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’s goals of poverty reduction and democracy development, amongst others.

In cooperation with local organisations, trade unions and the rest of Swedish civil society are well anchored in the societies where we work, which is often a prerequisite for effective development aid. Through the development aid organisation Union to Union, the Swedish trade union movement supports, for example, 100 trade union development projects in as many countries.

Through development projects, we collectively work for secure employment conditions, against threats, violence and harassment, for increased democratic space, strengthened gender equality, and the sustainable use of the planet’s resources. In a globalised world, corporate operations extend across borders; therefore, trade union activities must do the same.

One example of a first step in trade union activities supported by Union to Union could mean strengthening the possibility for employees to organise at a factory and start negotiating with the employer for better wages and more reasonable working conditions. This is not an easy step. In many countries, forming a trade union can mean a threat to life or health.

Reconsider the decision, Sida!

More than a hundred years ago, organising in trade unions was the first step towards the successful labour market model we have today in Sweden; a model that has contributed to few strike days and thus to the economic development for Swedish companies and Sweden as a nation.

Sida has, for some time now, been responsible for the task from the government to investigate changes in the financial support to the strategic partner organisations. One of the proposals the government wanted to investigate is that Sida itself takes over the distribution of financial support to local organisations in partner countries.

This would mean that the role of Swedish civil society in Swedish development aid would more or less disappear. According to the assignment, Sida was to submit its proposals to the government by 8 April at the latest. Instead, Sida has choosen to terminate all agreements with civil society. For those impacted, the consequences will be severe cutbacks and the complete shut-down of operations in different parts of the world.

In its development aid reform agenda, the government clarifies that it wants to contribute to a strong civil society and support organisations, democracy movements, actors and networks that stand for human rights as well as monitor and protect democracy and the principles of the rule of law. Sida’s decision goes in the opposite direction. We urge Sida to reconsider its hasty decision, and for the government to promptly show that it is committed to the incentives of the reform agenda. It would not only anchor development aid in the recipient countries, but also provide a broad anchoring in Swedish civil society. Global trade union activity creates democracy. The world needs more of it, not less.