WASTE PICKERS
Resolution 1: on Social Protection
The 1st Elective Congress notes:
Whereas access to Social Security is a right for people in many countries, and we, waste pickers, do not have access to any health insurance, as we work long hours in very unhealthy conditions, exposed to high health risks, many in dumpsites without any type of personal protection. Whereas, many waste pickers are physically or cognitively handicapped due to age or health implications and are therefore unable to fully develop their recycling work. We believe that our activity is part of the popular and informal economy, with millions of waste pickers in the world and that we are part of the more than 80% of the world’s population that survives in the precarious working conditions of these economies.
We are subject to insecurity as a result of precarious working conditions, a lack of access to tools and personal protection equipment, health systems and decent wages. This puts our lives in danger in many cases, and makes the living conditions of waste pickers extremely risky, violating basic human rights. We believe that social protection is crucial to the lives of all workers around the world, and that it must be addressed in every country to build a more prosperous and humane future.
Therefore, it is resolved:
1. Establish national actions to access social security by identifying the waste picker population and including schemes and costs appropriate to their reality in order to be protected, as well as access to their family members.
2. Adopt as its own the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the application of Social Protection for All, articles 22 and 25.
Article 22: Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 25: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection
3. The whole informal sector faces serious hygiene problems; We’re calling for mobile toilets to be installed in markets and especially in dumpsites, to prevent workers from relieving themselves in the workplace, as is the case here in Guinea.
4. That the International Alliance of Waste Pickers actively participate in the UN and the ILO, to bring our voice to the discussions and ensure that every State incorporates Convention 102 on Social Security, Recommendation 202 on Social Protection Floors, and Recommendation 204 on the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy.
5. Support national requests from each AIR affiliate to their governments for the extension of Social Protection programs to workers in the popular economy.
6. Advocate with national authorities and international institutions for broader household awareness concerning the hygienic conditions in all the localities we cover.
7. Share the existing experiences of affiliated members that have made progress in these areas in order to support and assist other affiliated members.
Proposed by: FACCyR (Argentina) and EGIG BTP (Guinea).
Seconded by: 1st Elective Congress delegates.
