Global Labour Institute

12/11/2025

12/11/2025

Read more about the 'Barometer Project' that we have been working on with StreetNet over the last year! The project uses participatory research methods to monitor and document the conditions of street vendors and market traders!

Data analysis is not only a technical exercise but a tool to build collective power for workers in the informal economy.

30/06/2025

Were there any “big wins” for workers in informal employment coming out of the International Labour Conference this year? Are there any concerns in the outcome documents by the International Labour Organization?

In our latest blog, WIEGO experts Christy Adeola Braham, Carmen Roca and Pat Horn discuss these topics, share their reflections, and highlight what might come next.

Read more: https://www.wiego.org/blog/2025-ilc-key-findings-informal-employment/

30/06/2025

Nothing for us without us! Workers in the informal economy have valuable knowledge, experience and proposals and can lead the way in transforming their livelihoods and economies!

30/06/2025

Global Labour Institute (GLI) and StreetNet International (SNI) collaborate on 'Barometer Project'

The Global Labour Institute (GLI) & StreetNet have partnered on the 'Barometer Project' - a participatory research project led by and for workers which aims to capture livelihoods and key issues of informal street vendors and market traders, identify opportunities for the formalisation of informal employment, and build capacity of workers and their organisations!

The project findings also contributed to SNI's participation in the 2025 International Labour Conference (ILC) during which a general discussion was held on promoting transitions towards formality.

Early findings from the project were presented at an ILC side event hosted by SNI - during which SNI presented its vision for fighting for a just transition to formalisation and GLI shared experiences from the project.

Read more about the Barometer Project: https://www.gli-manchester.net/?p=8314

25/06/2025

Global Labour Institute (GLI) at the VREF Global Summit!

A few weeks ago, GLI participated in the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) Global Summit in Gothenburg which brought together 150 people from 30 countries to exchange ideas from research programmes on transport.

The event was also an opportunity for us to present our new research paper which synthesised findings from our research and education programme and labour impact assessment methodology developed with ITF - International Transport Workers' Federation focused on labour and employment issues in the informal transport industry.

Read more about our participation in the event and the research paper!

https://www.gli-manchester.net/2025/06/global-labour-institute-at-vref-global-summit

25/03/2025

- Dave Spooner -

We are deeply saddened to share the news that our dear friend and colleague Dave Spooner, co-founder and co-Director of GLI Manchester passed away on Thursday 20th March.

Dave dedicated his life to the international trade union and workers' education movements and we at GLI will endeavour to carry on his work. We will all miss him deeply, as will his many friends and comrades throughout the world.

More reflections on Dave's life and legacy will be shared soon.

26/02/2025

As part of our ongoing research & education programme with informal transport workers, we were commissioned to write a paper exploring the potential of labour impact assessments as a means to enhance workers' conditions in Africa's informal transport sector.

The paper was launched at the VREF Research Forum. Read more and access the recording of the launch of the paper!

20/02/2025

🔉After 15 years as co-Director of GLI and over 40 years of dedicated work in the international trade union and workers' education movements, Dave Spooner is retiring from GLI Manchester.

Georgia Montague-Nelson is taking over as Executive Director, closely supported by rest of the GLI team in Manchester, UK and overseas.

22/03/2024

Joint GLI-ITF Initiative on Integrating Labour Impact Assessments into Transport Planning

We have announced a new initiative continuing our work alongside the ITF - International Transport Workers' Federation that will see the application of labour impact assessments in transport planning around the world.

Categories News and events Joint GLI-ITF Initiative on Integrating Labour Impact Assessments into Transport Planning Post author By Georgia Post date March 22, 2024 The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Global Labour Institute (GLI) have announced a new initiative that will see...

24/01/2024

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🇵🇭 Union win but the fight continues!

Thanks to the inspirational organising and campaigning of jeepney drivers, operators and transport unions in the Philippines, the proposed jeepney transport vehicle phase out plans have been delayed, and the franchise consolidation scheme deadline has been extended to 30th April - instead of in a weeks time.

Transport unions and their supporters in the Philippines have shown that collective action works, but now we must use this three months to fight for a worker led just transition that puts jeepney drivers first.

Watch this space 💪🏽
Piston: Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide

23/01/2024

Series: Labour Perspectives on China #2 -Jewher Ilham To understand working conditions, the best place to start is with worker interviews. But how about when this isn’t an option due to extreme gov…