The L20 and the B20 presented the statement to the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers meeting in Mendoza, Argentina. The handover of the statement followed a dialogue between Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary and Gerardo Alberto Martinez, International Relations Secretary of the CGT Argentina, representing the Labour20 (L20) and the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers.
The statement calls on Governments “to adopt robust strategies for inclusive growth as a means of strengthening social and economic progress and social peace. The G20 can be an important driver for policies that promote more and better jobs that respect fundamental rights at work, comply with decent work standards and include vulnerable groups.”
“Our world is increasingly fractured today and with the climate crisis and rapid shifts in technology, the actors in the real economy want policies that reconcile economic, social and environmental demands. Investment in jobs through infrastructure and care along with education and life-long learning must be scaled up dramatically. Governments must ensure that all forms of employment, including that facilitated by businesses using digital platforms, fully respect labour rights,” said Burrow.
“The joint L20-B20 statement manifests a shared commitment to maintain social dialogue as a core principle of the G20 process. This year, we jointly identified quality employment, robust skills systems and access to social protection as core issues that the G20 should take on,” said Pierre Habbard, General Secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, TUAC.
“It’s important to implement the commitments made at the G20 concerning the labour income share, the principles which ensure wage justice, workers’ rights throughout global supply chains, equal participation of women and men in employment and wage equality, the inclusion of youth, health and safety at work and skills development" said Martinez.
The joint statement between labour unions and business groups has been crucial in demonstrating to G20 governments the urgency required to tackle the global jobs crisis. It sets out the need for the development of public policies which ensure social cohesion, with social dialogue, inclusion and social protection, as well as policies for investment in education and lifelong learning.
The joint statement outlines how the way people work is being challenged, “New forms of employment and work organisation are becoming dynamic and diversified, but risk falling outside of labour rights protections. While the accelerated pace of technological change may bring a wealth of opportunities, we need to better adapt to the future of work. Labour market systems should be adapted to fully regulate these new forms of work.”
The 2018 statement builds on the L20 and B20 statement prepared for last years’ German Presidency of the G20.
Ten years after the establishment of the G20 in its current form, the B20 and L20 are stressing the importance of a rule based multi-lateral system and international cooperation.
