Congress participants can register at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at the following times:

• Wednesday 16 November: from 09:00 to 18:00
• Thursday 17 November: from 09:00 to 18:00
• Friday 18 November: from 09:00 to 12:00

The draft Congress Statement will be debated in the plenary, and any amendments will be decided upon in the plenary.

If any resolutions on urgent matters are proposed, the Congress Standing Orders Committee will first decide if the proposals really are urgent and if so, they will then be sent to the plenary for debate.

Official speeches from delegates for the Congress record can be given using the “Congress Live” broadcast facility (Foyer area) – the speeches will be live-streamed via the Congress website and recorded for the official report of Congress.

Congress Live speeches will be grouped by region, according to the following schedule:

Friday, 18 November
15:00-18:00 Asia-Pacific

Saturday, 19 November
15:00-18:00 Americas

Sunday, 20 November
15:00-18:00 Africa

Monday, 21 November
15:00-18:00 Europe

There will be a time limit of four minutes per speech. Requests to be included on the “Congress Live” speakers’ list can be made at the Congress Live facility.

Languages
Media and social media content will be mainly in English, French and Spanish.

Social media
Social media will be an integral part of the Congress discussions and of the external communications strategy.

News and updates about what is happening at Congress will be posted on the ITUC Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Check these regularly and post your comments about the Congress.

During the plenary and Forum debates, you can use the Twitter Congress hashtag #ituc22 to get up-to-date information about what is happening at Congress, to share your thoughts and to make comments.

Equal Times
Equal Times will be reporting from Congress. Regular news and TV studio debates will be available on www.equaltimes.org.

ITUC Congress website
The ITUC Congress website will feature daily news and updates about Congress events and activities. Live streaming of the plenary sessions, lunchtime TV studio panel debates and leaders’ speeches will also be available on the website.

Interpretation in the four official Congress languages – English, French, German and Spanish – will be provided in the main plenary and Congress forums. Official Congress documents will also be translated into these languages.

In the main plenary, interpretation will be provided in:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Japanese
• Arabic
• Participants may also speak in Portuguese.

In the thematic forums (Trade union lessons from global shocks, Technology and impacts on work, An inclusive union movement, Climate and Just Transition) interpretation will be provided in:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Japanese
• Participants may also speak in Portuguese.

In the Organising forum, interpretation will be provided in:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• German
• Arabic
• Participants may also speak in Portuguese.

Interpretation headsets will be made available each morning at the Congress venue. The headsets are expensive, and each participant is required to leave their headset at the collection point in the Congress venue each time they leave the building.

Journalists who wish to apply for media credentials should contact the ITUC Campaigns and Communications department.

The business of Congress will be conducted online.

Participants will be able to access the background information, draft decisions, reports during Congress, multimedia materials and other relevant ITUC products via their electronic device (laptop, tablet or mobile phone).

As documents will be ready in advance, delegates will still have the option to download and print their own documents before coming to Melbourne. Documents modified or created during Congress will, however, only be made available electronically.

Seating at Congress will be “free”, i.e., there will be no pre-allocated seating of delegations. In the main plenary sessions, official delegates, advisers and interpreters should sit in the front section and observers should take their seats in the rear section.

For the opening ceremony on Thursday 17 November, participants are requested to collect their interpretation headsets and take their seats by 15:30.

The venue for the Congress is:

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC 3006
Melbourne, Australia

Click here to view a map of the Congress venue and the Congress hotels.

Click here to view a map of the Congress venue and the Congress hotels.

The ITUC has prepared a list of hotels with negotiated rates and conditions for accommodation in Melbourne. Using the list below, delegations are able to choose their hotel and make their reservations directly. The ITUC will make the accommodation bookings for participants whose accommodation expenses are being subsidised by the ITUC.

For participants covered by the ITUC:
Please contact the ITUC as soon as possible at [email protected].

For participants covering their own costs:

1. Pan Pacific Melbourne 5*
2 Convention Centre Place South Wharf, Melbourne Victoria 3006 Australia
Phone: +61 3 9027 2000
Email: [email protected]

Special rate per night for a single room, internet and VAT included:

• Deluxe King Room – AU$309,00 (breakfast AU$27)
• Premier City Room – AU$339,00 (breakfast AU$27)

Book online using the following link to get the ITUC rate:
https://book.passkey.com/go/ITUC2022

Location: Adjacent to the Congress venue

2. Novotel Melbourne South Wharf 4*
7 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne Victoria 3006 Australia
Phone: +61 3 9058 0444

• 10% discount on the best available rate

Book online and use “MCEC” in the “Preferential code” field to get the ITUC rate.

Location: Adjacent to the Congress venue

3. Crown Plaza Melbourne 4*
1/5 Spencer Street, Melbourne Victoria 3008, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9648 2777

Special rate per night for a single room, breakfast, internet and VAT included:

• Standard Room – AU$290

To make a booking please call +61 3 9648 2777 or email [email protected] and quote the booking code ITZ

Location: 500m from the Congress venue

4. Crown Metropole Melbourne 5*
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, Melbourne Victoria 3006, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9292 6211
Email: [email protected]

Special rate per night for a single room, breakfast, internet and VAT included:

• Standard Room – AU$325 (except night of 19 November: AU$445)

Book online using the following link to get the ITUC rate:
https://reservations.travelclick.com/73179?groupID=3535118

Location: 700m from the Congress venue

5. Crown Promenade Melbourne 4*
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, Melbourne Victoria 3006, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9292 6688
Email: [email protected]

Special rate per night for a single room, breakfast, internet and VAT included:

• Standard Room – AU$275 (except nights of 18 November: AU$303 and 19 November: AU$403)

Book online using the following link to get the ITUC rate:
https://reservations.travelclick.com/3513?groupID=3535030

Location: 1000m from the Congress venue

6. The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins 4*
630 Little Collins Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000, Australia
Phone +61 03 9622 8888
Email: [email protected]

• 15% discount on the best available rate

Book online and use “TH14620512” in the “Promo code” field to get the ITUC rate.

Location: 1100m from the Congress venue

7. Travelodge Hotel Melbourne Docklands 4*
66 Aurora Lane, Docklands, Melbourne Victoria 3008, Australia
Phone +61 3 8615 1000
Email: [email protected]

• 15% discount on the best available rate

Book online and use “TH14620512” in the “Promo code” field to get the ITUC rate.

Location: 1100m from the Congress venue

8. Holiday Inn Express Southbank Melbourne 4*
35/47 City Road, Southbank, Melbourne Victoria 3006, Australia
Phone: +61 3 7505 5444

Special rate per night for a single room, breakfast, internet and VAT included:

• Standard Guest Room – AU$199

Book online using the following link to get the ITUC rate:
https://www.hiexpress.com/redirect?path=hd&checkInMonthYear=102022&checkInDate=15&regionCode=1&localeCode=en&checkOutDate=22&checkOutMonthYear=102022&brandCode=EX&hotelCode=MELMS&GPC=J58

Location: 1500m from the Congress venue

There will be three food outlets available for participants in the foyer of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC):

• The Plenary Café
• Kiosk B
• The Aussie Café

All three offer a variety of food including vegetarian choices.

Restaurants
Participants will receive a 10% discount in the following restaurants, within two-minutes’ walk of the MCEC, upon presentation of their lanyard/badge:

• The General Assembly
• Bangpop
• Common Man
• Plus 5
• The Boatbuilders Yard

Food court
There is a food court, with cheaper eating options, on the basement level of the shopping mall DFO South Wharf

Payment information
All of the venues listed here only accept card/cashless payments, with the exception of Bangpop, Common Man, Plus 5 and the food court that also accept cash.

As of 6 July 2022, requirements for travel to and from Australia have changed.

All travellers should be aware that:

• People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status
• People entering Australia do not need to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration
• People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status
• Unvaccinated visa holders do not need a travel exemption to travel to Australia
• Masks are still required on flights travelling to Australia (the ITUC recommends using FFP2/N95/KN95 masks).

It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

All participants are advised to periodically check the Congress website for any changes to public health measures relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, please visit https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/entering-and-leaving-australia

Participants wishing to attend the ITUC World Congress will need a visa to enter Australia.

The ITUC has been in close contact with both the ACTU and Australian Department of Home Affairs and we can advise you of the following visa recommendations for all participants.

All visas are electronic, and all applications must be made online.

Depending on the issuing country of your passport, you will have to apply for one of the following visas (by order of preference):

Subclass 651 - eVisitor
Eligible countries: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651#Eligibility

Requirements:
Apply from outside of Australia
A valid passport from an eligible country

Justification:
Undertake business visitor activities: take part in a conference.

Stay:
Up to 3 months at a time

Cost:
Free

Processing times:
75% of applications: Less than 1 day
90% of applications: 6 days

This visa can be requested at any time between now and Congress. You don’t need a flight or hotel booking to apply.

Despite quick processing times, it can sometimes take more than a week to get the visa. It is therefore strongly recommended to apply for this visa as soon as possible.

Full details about the subclass 651 eVisitor visa: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651#Overview

Subclass 601 – Electronic Travel Authority
Eligible countries: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601#Eligibility

Requirements:
Apply from outside of Australia
A valid passport from an eligible country
Use the Australian ETA app to apply

Justification:
Undertake business visitor activities: take part in a conference.

Stay:
Up to 3 months at a time

Cost:
There is no Visa Application Charge. There may be an application service charge of AUD20.

Processing times:
This visa can be requested anytime between now and Congress. You don’t need a flight or hotel booking to apply.

Australian authorities do not provide information about processing times. Since it can sometimes take a few weeks to get the visa, it is therefore strongly recommended to apply for this visa as soon as possible.

Full details about the subclass 601 – Electronic Travel Authority: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601#Overview

Subclass 600 – Business visitor stream

Eligible countries: All countries not eligible for a subclass 651 or a subclass 601 visa.

Requirements:
Apply from outside of Australia
A valid passport from an eligible country

To successfully apply for this visa, you will be required to provide additional documents:

1. Identity documents:
Your passport and, if available, a copy of your national identity card.

2. An invitation from a host organisation:
The ITUC will send a personalised invitation from the host organisations (ACTU and ITUC) to all eligible participants.

3. Conference registration details:
The ITUC will send a registration confirmation letter to all participants

4. A letter from your employer:
You should provide a letter from your union or your employer (if you are not employed by a union) stating that you are currently employed and that they expect you to return to your job. The letter could also indicate how long you have been in your current employment. It is also recommended to include in the letter that you are visiting Australia to attend the ITUC World Congress and underline the importance of your participation in the event.

5. Your plans for your stay in Australia:
You should provide all the relevant information regarding your travel to Australia: flight booking, hotel booking, health insurance, …

6. You may also be asked to prove that you have reasons to return home:
Any proof could be useful for your application, for example proof that you have close family members in your country (marriage certificate, children’s birth certificate), proof you own property in your home country.

7. You may also be asked to prove that you have enough funds for your stay in Australia.

All non-English documents must be translated into English. On each translation, the translator should include the following information about themselves: full name, address, phone number and qualifications and experience in the language they are translating.

All these documents must be scanned or photographed in colour and must be clear and legible. If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.

Biometrics:
Visa applicants outside of Australia will need to provide biometrics when they apply for a visa that is part of the Australian biometrics program, or where they are from a country, or located in a country at time of application that is part of the Australian biometrics program.

For information regarding Australia’s biometric program including visas and countries that are part of the program, please see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/biometrics

Justification:
Take part in a conference.

Stay:
Up to 3 months

Cost:
AUD150

Processing times:
Despite the processing times announced on the home affairs website, it is required to apply for this visa 6 to 8 weeks before travelling to Australia. Applying more than 8 weeks in advance is not recommended by the Department of Home Affairs.

Full details about the subclass 600 – Business Visitor Stream: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream#Overview

To facilitate getting your visa, we remind you to only apply for one of these three visa subclasses. Any other visa subclass application may complicate your receipt of a visa.

Any participants who experience difficulties obtaining a visa are requested to contact the ITUC immediately, citing their full name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, nationality and passport details (number, date and place of issue and expiry date).

Australia has a strict policy of what you can and can’t bring into the country. There are limits as to how much alcohol and tobacco you are allowed to import:

Tobacco
One unopen packet of up to 25 cigarettes (or the equivalent of 25 grams of tobacco products) and one open packet of cigarettes.

Alcohol
Up to 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages.

For more information about what you can bring into Australia, see: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/overview.

In Australia it is against the law to smoke in indoor public places. This includes the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, restaurants, cafés, bars, all forms of public transport and taxis. Hotels determine their own smoking rules for hotel rooms, but most hotels rooms are non-smoking.

The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar.

For current exchange rates, see http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/.

The ITUC does not provide insurance cover for self-paying participants and does not accept responsibility for medical problems or other losses incurred during travel to or from, or during attendance, at Congress. Self-paying participants are strongly advised to take out appropriate travel insurance to provide this cover.

November is the last month of spring in Melbourne. Temperatures can range between 11°C and 22°C.

In November, there is an average of 10 days of rain, so be sure to bring an umbrella and/or a waterproof jacket.

In Australia the power plugs and sockets are of type I. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Please make sure to bring a power plug adaptor with you.