Socially Responsible Public Procurement: what opportunities for LRG unions?

In 2018, public procurement amounted to 11 USD trillion out of global GDP of nearly 90 USD trillion, 12 percent of global GDP. Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) are major public procurement agents, accounting on average for almost 50% of public procurement OECD countries.

Even in times of crises, austerity or bankruptcy, major local institutions such as schools and hospital need to procure vital goods and services linked to local public service delivery. Public procurement contract specifications are powerful tools to ensure that public money is used in a way that promotes, enables and strengthens social and environmental objectives, including freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Adrian Kane, Divisional Organiser Public Administration & Community Division, SIPTU, Ireland