G20 Finance Ministers are meeting for talks on the economic crisis in Mexico City this weekend, but the global jobs crisis appears to have been left off their agenda.

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said Finance Ministers are failing to see how employment can boost budgets and reduce debt.

“Until Finance Ministers recast the debt crisis for bankers as an unemployment crisis for workers, their actions will be out of step with the needs of everyday people,” said Sharan Burrow.

Unions expected movement on the ‘G20 Cannes Action Plan for Growth and Jobs’ by Finance Ministers, but little progress has been seen in the run up to the Ministerial meeting.

“Unemployment remains at unacceptable levels across the world and with the European economies slipping into recession, jobless numbers risk rising again. Finance Ministers need to take action to kick-start the global economy not talk up austerity,” said John Evans, General Secretary Trade Union Advisory Council to the OECD.

“Without people in jobs, earning money to pay for food, cover their rent or mortgage and provide for their children, we are not going to work our way out of the economic crisis,” said John Evans.

“We look forward to receiving the report on the Global Employment Outlook and how the G20 Framework can contribute to job creation led by the ILO and the OECD. Perhaps this report will inspire the G20 Finance Ministers to take action to support people, not banks,” said Sharan Burrow.

The international union movement will be working closely with the G20 Employment and Labour Ministers and their task force on employment to put in place measures to increase the jobs for people.

The Finance Ministers will next meet in April, ahead of the G20 Summit in June.