The Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA), in force since 1 January 2021, contains a Chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (Chapter 22) and another on Trade and Labour (Chapter 23).
Chapter 22 creates opportunities for cross-border social dialogue by establishing a "Joint Civil Society Forum," whereby representatives of workers' and employers' organizations from the two countries are, alongside other civil society organizations, "to conduct a dialogue on the sustainable development aspects of this Agreement."
The Forum in question comprises members of domestic sustainable development and labour Advisory Groups. According to the Agreement, these Groups, tasked with advising on the implementation of the Chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development at the national level, shall comprise "independent representative organizations of civil society in a balanced representation of employers, unions, labor, and business organizations, as well as other relevant stakeholders.”
The Forum convenes once a year to allow its members to receive updates and exchange information on any matter related to the sustainable development provisions, including their implementation. Members may submit observations in case of dispute or any matter arising under this Chapter.
Chapter 23 of the Agreement provides that each Party “shall ensure that its labour law and practices embody and provide protection for the fundamental principles and rights at work," "that its labour law and practices promote the objectives included in the ILO Decent Work Agenda” and “its labour law and practices embody and provide protection for working conditions that respect the health and safety of workers”. Besides, each Party “reaffirms its commitment to effectively implement in its law and practices in its whole territory the fundamental ILO Conventions that Canada and the United Kingdom have ratified respectively” and “make continued and sustained efforts to ratify the fundamental ILO Conventions if they have not yet done so.”
The first Civil Society Forum took place on 20 November 2023.