International Federation of Workers' Education Associations

IFWEA is the international organisation responsible for the development of workers' education. It brings together national and international trade unions, workers' education associations, NGOs and foundations engaged in the provision of adult education opportunities for workers and the communities in which they live throughout the world.

IFWEA is part of the family of international democratic labour movement organisations. It has observer status with the ILO and UNESCO, maintains close relations with the International Trade Union Confederation and the Global Union Federations, and shares mutual membership with SOLIDAR in Brussels.

IFWEA and Solidarity

Many IFWEA member organisations undertake their work under very difficult conditions, particularly where workers' rights are routinely violated or threatened. In these circumstances, IFWEA also has to respond to requests for support from members facing repression or attack. Co-ordination of such solidarity forms an important part of IFWEA's responsibilities. Simple acts of solidarity, such as letters of support or protest, and the popularisation of these struggles by member organisations, have proved of major importance in the defence of workers' education organisations, their staff and their representatives.

IFWEA and International Development

Many IFWEA affiliates are based in developing countries, and play an important role in local and national development. While IFWEA is not an third world development agency, a significant number of affiliates in the North undertake programmes in support of workers' education development in the South, particularly in building the capacity of democratic workers' movements to have a positive impact in pursuit of social and economic justice.

IFWEA, along with its partner organisations in the international trade union movement and labour-related development agencies (particularly with SOLIDAR, and its member organisations), plays an important role in bringing together labour organisations in North & South, initiating development programmes, and building new partnerships between trade unions and labour NGOs.