M-POWER is a historic global initiative focused on ensuring working families thrive in the global economy and elevating the role of trade unions and organized workers as essential to advancing democracy.

Introduced in December 2021, M-POWER is a partnership of governments, global and national labor organizations, philanthropic institutions, and civil society stakeholders committed to working together to uphold workers’ rights, strengthen the capacity of democratic unions to organize and represent all workers, and facilitate conditions for unions to be active participants in a vibrant civil society.

The goals of M-POWER are to ensure that:

  • Workers can exercise their rights to organize and collectively bargain;
  • Workers shape public policy; and
  • Workers access ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. 

The M-POWER Action Plan includes four pillars:

  • Global issue campaigns supporting local action on worker priorities;  
  • Country-level coordination to advance worker rights;
  • Urgent action to protect labor activists and organizations facing threats; and
  • Strategic communications to elevate worker voice and priorities.

Why is M-POWER important?

Strong labor movements are essential for healthy, inclusive democracies. Independent and democratic trade unions provide workers a voice in the workplace, community, and the political system making it possible for them to defend their rights, advance their interests, improve wages and working conditions, and have a voice in the policies that affect their lives. For global democracy to thrive, the international community must strengthen the capacity of democratic worker organizations, particularly in countries where worker rights and democratic values are under threat.

How Does M-POWER Work?

Working together through a steering committee that balances worker and government voices, diverse advisory and action committees; and an independent secretariat. M-POWER acts through:

  • Technical assistance projects to support worker rights
  • Diplomatic action to protect and uplift democratic worker organizations
  • New research to demonstrate the impacts of protecting worker rights on democracy and inclusive economic growth
  • Stakeholder engagement to promote labor rights enforcement in trade, global industries, and supply chains

Who are M-POWER Partners?

The initiative convenes a range of partners to coordinate efforts, review progress on commitments and drive action.

For the latest full list of partners, visit the M-POWER website.

Further Resources