Asia-Pacific has suffered some of the most dramatic social, economic and health impacts of the pandemic. This situation has also negatively impacted the region’s already limited progress in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG 8 (on decent work and economic growth) being one of the biggest areas of concern.

Key SDGs that will be under review in 2022 include Goal 4 on education, Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 17 on SDGs means of implementation. Achieving these goals is an integral part of building forward better after the pandemic, with resilience for future shocks. At the same time, SDG 8 constitutes a permanent point of reference given its multi-dimensional character and multiple interlinkages across other goals, especially for the Asian and the Pacific region with serious and persistent decent work deficits.

The ITUC’s Time for 8 Campaign reflects the engagement of trade unions in demanding accelerated actions to implement SDG 8 commitments, which will be crucial to achieve a New Social Contract between governments, employers and workers.

In this virtual discussion, trade unions aim at providing contributions and ways forward to the implementation of SDG 8 and Agenda 2030 in the lead up to the Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) and the HLPF.