A/79/159 F. International cooperation among workers’ organizations 28. There are encouraging examples of international cooperation among workers’ organizations beyond national borders. For instance, the Decent Work for All programme of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO Norway), which is designed to empower and train local workers’ organizations, operates in 16 countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. 105 The Japanese Federation of Textile, Chemical, Food, Commercial, Service and General Workers’ Unions (UA zensen) provides support for capacity-building for trade unions in Myanmar and Indonesia. 106 Further, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in the United States created the Fair Food Program, a worker-driven social responsibility partnership and network which aims to strengthen human rights due diligence in supply chains. 107 In addition to the United States, the Fair Food Program currently operates in Chile and South Africa, with operations in various industries, including aquaculture and horticulture. 108 29. Many also work with a range of other stakeholders. In Middle Eastern countries, Shramik Sanjal, a movement representing the voices of migrant workers from Nepal, engages with the Nepalese Embassies, migrant rights defenders, and civil society organizations across the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to support vulnerable workers. Although local authorities, companies and employers may not openly welcome worker-organizing initiatives, these partnerships have helped address human rights issues and created a more supportive environment for migrant workers in the region. 109 The All Indonesia Trade Union Confederation also collaborates with States, civil society organizations and international organizations across the globe in order to encourage the implementation of labour protection laws for Indonesian migrant workers abroad. 110 IV. Challenges experienced by workers’ organizations in preventing and addressing contemporary forms of slavery 30. It is clear that workers’ organizations play a key role in empowering workers and preventing contemporary forms of slavery directly or indirectly. However, they simultaneously face a myriad of challenges that undermine their work in this regard. In the following, an overview of the main hurdles encountered will be provided, underlined with specific examples. A. Limitations on trade union rights 31. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that in many countries there are limitations imposed on the right to form or join workers’ organizations in law and in practice. According to ITUC, 73 per cent of countries impeded the registration or recognition of workers’ organizations in 2023. 111 In the United Arab Emirates, trade unions are prohibited and in Oman and Saudi Arabia, domestic legislative frameworks regarding the right to form or join workers’ organizations for migrant workers fall short of __________________ 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 24-13043 https://www.lo.no/hva-vi-mener/decent-work-for-all/. Submission by Japanese Federation of Textile, Chemical, Food, Commercial, Service, and General Workers’ Unions. https://wsr-network.org/what-is-wsr/. Submissions by Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Fair Food Standards Council and Worker Driven Social Responsibility Network. Submission by Migrant-Rights.org. Submission by ITUC. Submission by ITUC; and https://www.ituc-csi.org/2023-global-rights-index-en. 13/21