About us

Get to know our work

CNV Internationaal, with its roots in the CNV trade union, has been working to promote decent work around the world for almost 60 years. Our commitment to a just society does not stop at national borders. Everyone deserves safe and healthy working conditions and a living wage — whether at a nursery in Senegal, in a mine in Peru or in a textile factory in Vietnam.

We are proactive, focused on:

Workers and trade unions in value chains

We work directly with trade unions that represent local workers. They know what is really going on and what is needed. Through our Fair Work Monitor, we collect data on working conditions and wages.

Fair Work Monitor

Collaboration

We work in partnership with trade unions, Dutch and international companies, public authorities and organisations. We also do so through sector-specific agreements on Responsible Business Conduct.

We seek feasible solutions and work closely with companies through our Fair Impact Programme. Discover how we can achieve more together:

Fair Impact Programme

Sustainable change

We train trade unions to become strong, constructive negotiators. They bring about lasting improvements in their own countries. We help to facilitate sound collective agreements in which these arrangements are set out. We work at both national and international levels to improve legislation and policy for lasting improvement.

Our vision

Fair and decent work is a prerequisite for an inclusive and sustainable international society. It means a living wage, safe and healthy working conditions, and respect for labour rights, underpinned by constructive social dialogue between employers and employees.

Decent work is crucial to reducing poverty, tackling inequality and promoting sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), across the public, private and informal sectors.

Trade unions play an indispensable role in this. They represent workers, safeguard labour and trade union rights, and contribute to the development of and compliance with legislation and regulations on corporate social responsibility. As independent organisations they ensure that workers are supported and that abuses are addressed.

In doing so, trade unions are keeping pace with current developments, in which (international) corporate social responsibility is the norm.

More about Corporate Social Responsibility

Our impact

We deliver results, particularly in the following areas:

A just transition for miners

Metals such as nickel and copper are crucial, scarce raw materials for the global energy transition. We support trade unions in mining regions to ensure safe working conditions, freedom of association and fair working conditions.

A living wage in the agricultural sector and food supply chains

In supply chains for products such as palm oil, sugar cane, cashew nuts and mangoes, we advocate for better working conditions and living wages. We support trade unions in their collective bargaining negotiations and call on companies and global initiatives to take responsibility.

Improved labour rights in the textile industry

We are strengthening social dialogue in garment factories. With our support, trade unions are negotiating strong collective agreements. We also engage with European brands, hold them to account and help them to fulfil their commitments to improve working conditions.