Arab Trade Union Confederation: From Research to Action

Arab Trade Union Confederation: From Research to Action… No Future of Work Without Social Justice and Effective Social Dialogue 

Malta – Special report for the Arab Trade Union Confederation website

Within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Employment and Labor, held in Malta under the theme “From Research to Business,” the Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) affirmed that the transition from knowledge to practical implementation in the field of employment cannot succeed without placing workers and trade unions at the heart of this process, as they are the true driving force behind every economic and social transformation.

The conference comes at a critical time for the Euro-Mediterranean region, where technological, environmental, and economic transformations intersect with growing social pressures, most notably unemployment, precarious work, and widening inequalities. While the conference’s theme calls for transforming research results and academic knowledge into tangible projects and job opportunities, the ATUC stresses that no transition toward a knowledge-based or green economy can succeed without ensuring social justice and workers’ rights.

In this context, the ATUC emphasized that the shift toward new forms of production and employment must not come at the expense of the working class, but rather serve as an opportunity to reinforce decent work, strengthen social protection, and ensure a safe and fair working environment for all. It added that workers are not mere beneficiaries of scientific research results—they are a fundamental pillar in transforming ideas into reality through their skills, expertise, and contribution to building resilient economies.

The ATUC also underscored that tripartite social dialogue—between governments, employers, and trade unions—represents the most effective mechanism to translate knowledge into sustainable policy outcomes. Knowledge alone is not enough without political will, genuine union participation, and a human-centered vision of development.

The ATUC reaffirmed its readiness to cooperate with all partners and stakeholders—governments, employers’ organizations, and regional and international institutions—to develop a shared roadmap ensuring that the transition from research to action is a just and inclusive one, investing in people, not only in capital.

The union’s position was made clear:

“Any employment policy that fails to place social justice, social protection, and workers’ rights at its core will inevitably lead to greater precarity and inequality.
We call for a just transition that guarantees workers’ participation in shaping their own future—rather than having it imposed from above.”

According to the ATUC, transforming research outcomes into real employment opportunities requires:

• Expanding social protection to include all categories of workers, including informal workers.

• Investing in skills development and in trade union and professional capacities.

• Ensuring gender equality in employment and in digital transformation.

• Involving trade unions in shaping national and regional employment policies.

• Strengthening social dialogue mechanisms at both national and regional levels.

The ATUC concluded its statement by affirming that:

“The future of work cannot be built without the voice of workers.”
Development based on social justice is not merely a moral choice—it is a fundamental condition for ensuring economic and social stability across the Euro-Mediterranean region.