The Labour International Development Program (LIDP) 2007-12, delivered by the Canadian Labour Congress and seven affiliated trade unions consists of a series of small to medium-sized projects developed in partnership with national trade unions and labour servicing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in selected countries in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It is a cost-sharing programme supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

It is aimed at strengthening trade unions and their labour allies in selected countries. The LIDP consists of two components: The first component, which is the main focus of the program, supports and strengthens labour unions and labour minded organisations in over 15 developing countries. Initiatives include training, sharing of good practices, and mentoring. The second component aims to enhance Canadian male and female workers’ knowledge of and involvement in development issues. Gender equality and results-based management are integral to both program components.

Results achieved as of September 2012 include:

• In Africa,
  • (i) a rights instrument, the Declaration for Workers in the Informal Sector was adopted by the Southern Africa Development Community;
  • (ii) new legislation was drafted on sexual harassment in South Africa and on minimum wages in Nigeria; and
  • (iii) training on how to collectively bargain for decent working conditions was given in Nigeria, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
• In Asia,
  • (i) leadership training on the rights of women in the workplace was given to mid-level women workers and 6,738 female garment workers in Bangladesh; and
  • (ii) 14 villages and 249 worksites in India were declared child-labour free, and former victims of exploitative child labour were given basic education and vocational skills training.
• In South America,
  • (i) 185 Bolivian mining union leaders were trained to negotiate better working conditions;
  • (ii) the number of women affiliated with the metal workers’ union in Brazil grew from 15% of total membership before the project to 19%; and
  • (iii) 150 steel plant workers in Columbia learned how to detect and react to potential safety problems. In the West Bank and Gaza, youth departments were set up in 13 Palestinian labour unions.