This unprecedented event, organised by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and including the participation of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), gives trade unions worldwide an opportunity to join a broad global mobilisation.

In the context of this World day for decent work, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, will take part in the activities organised by ETUC’s Belgian members on the morning of 7 October.

A European trade union delegation will also be in Paris that afternoon to participate in the event organised by ETUC’s French member unions.

In the UK, the TUC is calling for:

• trade justice: a boost to world trade by opening global markets to goods from the global south, and pro-development agreements between developed and developing countries;

• an emphasis in environmental policies on creating new, green jobs, with help to protect the livelihoods of workers in other industries;

• more teachers, nurses and other workers to provide decent public services, funded by more aid and debt relief; and

• building equal treatment for people at work – based on core labour standards such as no forced or child labour, no discrimination, and rights to join unions and bargain collectively – into the work of international trade and financial institutions and migration systems.

The point being made by the TUC is that unless Governments NGOs and Unions place a strong emphasis on work, then effectively we are doing nothing more than providing charity, which doesn't bring any sustainable solutions to the issue of poverty.

“Earlier this summer, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recognised the importance of work, including job creation and employment rights, with its ‘decent work agenda’. We want more organisations to make this call a central plank of the campaign to make poverty history.”

The decent work agenda elaborated by the UN’s ILO has four pillars – job creation, social security, social dialogue and rights at work. The UN has recognised the role of decent work in delivering the first of its eight Millennium Development Goals. At its international conference this June, the ILO adopted a declaration on ‘social justice for a fair globalisation’.

Trying to find press coverage so far doesn't give much but perhaps it will grow. It is a large scale event but as with Saturday's Child Poverty rally in London, people won't look if they don't care and don't see how it could affect them.

Organised by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), more than 170 conferences and protests are being held during the day that begins in Fiji and ends in Alaska.

"On this day we are raising our voice together to deliver a single, strong and united message," said Guy Ryder, general secretary of ITUC.

"We know that in each of our countries, working families are bearing the brunt of the financial, food and energy crisis, the deepest crisis that this globalised economy has ever known."

The day aims to promote decent work conditions, while drawing attention to international labour laws, such as the ban on forced labour and child labour and the respect for union freedoms, and the fight against poverty.

Here we have a Global Unions website which provides more information on why decent work is so important.

Any news from your countires?